There are always two people in every picture.......

There are always two people in every picture:  the photographer and the viewer.  ~Ansel Adams

I like this quote very much.  What is a photo without a viewer?  It brings up the really interesting question when especially taking photos for other people such as paying clients. Are you taking the photos the way you want it to look or they way you think the client wants it to look?  Because there are 2 of you in that picture so to speak. The photographer and the paying client.


I love the thrill of the digital darkroom after a photo shoot.  I have spoken to the client about what type of photos they want and the shoot is done ( the usual request is "just make them look normal".  Then comes the editing process.  You know the behind the scene of the shoot and you know that now its up to you to make it look really flawless, or try to capture a moment for family portrait portraying the subjects as normal.  You do your editing and come up with what you think are a brilliant set of shots with obvious favorites.


You show the photos to your client and then they make no comment on the photo that you think sets the tone beautifully ( or changes the tone maybe) of the shoot and they pick an image that you like but really was not one that you would flag as a favorite shot and ask for it to be blown up on a canvas.  


So - really, when you have a paying customer, the photos are being taken for them as you have only met the subject for the day, but the clients has known the subject for a lifetime.  Your interpretation of a perfect shot and set up might be so opposite to how the clients know and love the subject.  


So next time you pick up the camera, ask who are you taking the shot for, is it for you , or for the viewer and that will help in the direction that your shoot will end up.


Until next time


Happy Snapping