Did you know that I like to make people cry? Well its true, I like to make people cry! Does this make me mean, nasty or horrible? Well I don’t think so! The reason I like to make people cry has to do with my MISSION!!
“To me, photography is an art of observation. Its about finding something interesting in an ordinary place … I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you seem them” Elliot Erwitt
My mission is to capture the beauty, personality and the spark of special needs kids! I want every child with special needs to feel beautiful and allow their personalities to SHINE! I achieve this using my camera and my unique style of informal portraiture using natural light. Our photo sessions together are relaxed and most of all fun!
So how does this fit in with liking to make people cry?
“If I could give you one thing in life, I would give you the ability to see yourself through my eyes, only then would you realise how special you are to me” Unknown
Most mum’s (and I must say quite a few dad’s) see the stunning photographs we create together and, well, cry! I’ve had all sort of crying from a single tear running down a cheek, to full on crying and needing to get the box of tissues. While I am used to this reaction now (and I know that when I get it I have nailed the photograph’s), it wasn’t always the case! In fact the first time it happened, I was terrified!
“At the end of the day, your feet should be dirty, your hair messy and your eyes sparkling” Shanti
Around 2 years ago I was showing a client the photos from her family photo shoot. This client was looking at the photos and was being very quiet which is very different to what I was used to! (I was used to a few oohs and aahs and the odd laugh!). When I looked closely at my client, I noticed that she was crying, and crying rivers!
Yikes I thought! My client hates the images! I am a disaster! Oh no! This is terrible!
“Life should be lived as play” Plato
I took a deep breath, counted to 5, gulped and came up with the courage to ask my client if everything was OK – braced for hearing the words any photographer never wants to hear – that my client hated the photos!
My client very quietly whispered to me “Its the photo’s (yikes I think to myself again!), you can’t tell my son is disabled. Look at him, you have captured who he is, not his disability”. So those of you who are wondering if I cried too (as I tend to cry a lot!), oh yes I did! I have tears in my eyes recounting this story.
“Enjoy the little things in life… for one day you’ll look back and realise they were the big things” Unknown
This brings us back to my MISSION!
I want every parent of a special needs kid to feel like my client felt. I want every special needs kid to feel awesome, beautiful and valued and for everyone to see beyond any disability!
And I know that if mum cries, I’ve nailed it!
So yes, I like making people cry.
