Photography is, for me, first and foremost an activity. Art takes shape in the creative space between photographer and subject, where both parties have full autonomy. The images emerge through negotiation, experimentation, play, and the testing of ideas. Naturally, there is an aesthetic dimension to the photographs, but what matters most to me is what happens during the photo session itself.

I’ve been photographed many times over the years. I’ve paid for photo shoots, been photographed for magazines, and been photographed simply because I’m loved. It’s clear to me now that it was in that last situation that I felt most at ease in front of the camera. Through all these experiences, I’ve learned a few very important things about being photographed.

Who stands in front of my camera matters deeply to me. It probably matters to other photographers too, but for me, getting to know each person properly is essential if I am to do my work the way I want to. “Properly,” of course, is a vague term; it means different things to different people. I have mentioned elsewhere that I was once a PhD researcher, and perhaps it is that researcher and ethnographer in me that needs a certain depth of understanding in order to work.