what is genuine?

 
Imperfect as it is, getting this shot really was a minor miracle, with the peaceful appearing results almost feeling a bit fraudulent. The reality of the situation was that the two older girls weren’t into the idea of a cozy photo with their new baby sister……at all. Not so uncommon and something to contend with regularly in this work, where the perfect young sibling shot is pretty much the holy grail of kid photography.

The three sisters were laying in the middle of their parent’s bed. I was standing on the bed hovering over them, dad also on the bed crazily bouncing around directly behind me in an effort to keep them engaged, and mom just offside acting as spotter to all of us precariously grouped together as we were on the unsteady surface. The toddler on the left required a pacifer in her mouth constantly to even remain stationary, so dad would very quickly lean down, “pull the plug” and I would just as quickly take a shot before she’d howl in protest until the pacifer was in place once again. We continued this game for a good while, with the majority of the images reflecting the true turmoil of the morning.

I look at this image remembering the crazy antics the parents and I went through to get it, and have to question its integrity. I wasn’t a photojournalist happening upon the scene and recording it with honesty. I fabricated a story and took a photograph to make it seem real. Most of the time that is what I’m doing when photographing. Bending and molding “reality“ a little or a lot. Making up romantic and idyllic stories of the way I want to see things, and then standing back in just the right place, from the direction where the light is prettiest and the flaws minimized, releasing the shutter at just the right time, and then calling it authentic.

I like to think of myself as a photographer who always takes the time to make images that are thoughtful and genuine. But what is genuine, anyway? I suppose it’s whatever I decide it is, whatever “feels true” to me personally given my life experiences and unique perspective. In the end, I’m always in charge of scripting my life as well as my photo shoots, although typically I’m not as brave when it comes to creating the picture of an authentic life for myself.

In this way, the photographs I make may possibly be the most genuine statement of what is in me that I outwardly present.

~Cynthia