Last weekend I attended a wedding with my best friend... not really relevant to you but I'll explain what this has to do with portraiture. There's a quote about photography that I both love and hate: "If your photographs aren't good enough, you're not close enough." -Robert Capa. I love it because it's true; I hate it because it forces me to get close to people. I'm a firm believer in personal space but this is something that you need to get over in photography. No, not every photo shoot will be in your face, sometimes arm's length or a few feet farther is perfect. But to capture something that is moving or beautiful (to me) is to capture the eyes. They speak volumes.

Since I have a hard time photographing people and my best friend has a handsome face (he claims he doesn't while batting his mile-long eyelashes) I've found that it's easier for me to work on portraiture with someone I already feel close to. I don't mind getting up in his face and vice versa. He doesn't mind me constantly taking his photo and working on new techniques, he rarely says no and c'mon, he has a handsome face. He has become my muse over the last few years. I get into these documenting modes where he's basically having a conversation with a camera. So, if you're like me and find it hard to connect with people to take photos, try using your best friends. Ask them to pose for you. It's seems pretty simple, like duh, but a lot of people are not that into you sticking a camera in their face all day, every day... trust me. Even my dogs walk out of the room when I pull out my camera. And I buy them food!

So after the wedding we went back to the hotel where we thought the wedding party was going to, y'know, party... but they all went to sleep early - BOOOO! So we went back to our room and voila! A few beers and Dewar's later I have a few shots I'm OK with... I'm not that close, just across the table but baby steps people... baby steps.

I posted a few more on my Flickr for your viewing pleasure. I'll be working on more portraits over the next few months and I want to know any tips you have so leave a comment below!

-Helen

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