What Inspires Me as a Photographer?
I’ve recently had many conversations about what inspires me as a photographer. These conversations have felt meaningful, but also very vague. I have repeatedly struggled to put into words what I feel, what I see, what it awakens in me, and where all of this leads. Words don’t seem enough; their meaning feels imprecise, or I can’t quite grasp what I’m really trying to say. Now I will tell you what really inspires me as a photographer.
How can you be your true self in photos?
A photo session is always exciting. It’s hard to know how to be in front of the camera, how you’ll look, and whether you’ll look like yourself at all. You end up worrying about your hands, angles, and all sorts of things that are very difficult to grasp when you’re standing in front of a camera lens. In this text, I’ll share what you can do so that the real, authentic you shows up in your photos.
An Experience of Being Photographed
A few years ago, I booked a kind of boudoir shoot for myself. The session was short and the photographer was a professional. I planned the outfits and did my own hair and make-up. Visually, it sat somewhere between boudoir and pin-up. I arrived, changed clothes, and waited for my turn.
The photographer was professional and respectful. The set was ready, and they guided me through the shoot. I did everything they wanted, and none of their requests were rude, unpleasant, or offensive. Everything moved along smoothly. I received encouraging feedback, and in the end we thanked each other. All good — except that I felt uncomfortable.
Deconstructing the Roles of Photographer and Client
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.
What I Wish I’d Known About Being Photographed
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.
How do I get to know my clients as a photographer?
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.