Well, I hope you've all had a wonderful summer, and if you are one of the fans of bstpierrestudiofanpage on FaceBook, you'll have seen the fun wildlife pics I've posted, to know that my summer's been great!
I wanted to share some insight with you today about how adults in general feel about being photographed. This morning, I had in my studio, an accomplished and vibrant woman who walked in confessing that she was nearly sick to her stomach in fear of the portrait she was here for us to create for her business. How awful! And, no reflection on my abilities... no, I knew exactly what she was talking about... for I've heard something similar from many. One earlier this year said that she would rather go to her annual physical than have her portrait taken. Isn't this heartbreaking??!!??
The reason is this. While the cameras have gotten better and they do a decent job taking pictures of what they see, they don't do the job of the professional. In life, we are most often photographed in snapshots, and sometimes, yes, there IS that time that the light was just right, and our head was tipped just right, and we were positioned just right, and WOW, was that a nice picture. But that is rare, isn't it. So over and over, to us gals, those snapshots confirm the fear in our heads... that we are getting older, maybe heavier, and we are just no beauty. I know some guys have these concerns too.
To that, I say, NO!, NOT TRUE!
Here's why. Do you know that digital cameras show EVERYTHING IN MINUTE DETAIL, as if under a microscope. All those pores and blotches and shadows that happen naturally with the planes of our face, the effects of exposure to sun, those are presented to you tied up in a pretty pink bow called "digital". When we look at you in person, we don't see all that. We see energy, movement, expression. The camera though, only sees details as they are put in front of it, good or bad.
A professional will pose and light you properly for presenting the 'best you' to that mean old camera. Additionally, a professional knows how to provide subtle and effective retouching and artwork to show you at your best. It's the same reason we put foundation, mascara and brow liners to our face, right ladies? We want to look our best.
To that end, I sacrifice myself here and share a self-portrait. I am just like all of you, in that fear that the portrait will show me the truth of my age. I shudder at the snapshots that show my current overweight status by including way too much of me at a completely wrong angle. I took this early this morning in the Studio, so you can imagine me running back and forth from the set to the camera on a tripod to do this before my first client arrived, and you get the idea. It took oh, about 20 shots for me to get the angle and pose that I'd naturally get my clients to when I am directing them from the camera position. I had to guess at what might be best for me. I am showing you the issues that a straight shot out of a digital camera, even well lit and posed, can cause, and then, please hurry over to view the portrait on the right, where I've done my little bit of magic to present myself in a way that I'm comfortable with. It's me, but without the intensification of those flaws that I see in myself. I still have texture to my face. I still have those character lines, and yes, I really do believe that's what they are... I laugh a lot and I've got the creases to show it, and in this portrait, I'm still me.
So don't be shy about having your portrait taken professionally. Those of us that are dedicated to creating something that makes you see your beauty, that's what we do. We are not just picture takers. We are portrait makers. Let us help you to celebrate YOU.
Sincerely, Bonnie
