Something dawned on me as I was editing the images from Susan and Jon’s engagement session…we as photographers really do ask a lot of our subjects. Let me use Susan and Jon as an example – Larry and I had just met them a couple of weeks prior to this shoot. While we had a really nice meeting which resulted in their hiring us to photograph their wedding, we were basically strangers when this session began.

Within minutes, we were asking and expecting them to kiss, hug and generally do things they most likely wouldn’t be doing in front of people they hardly know. As photographers, we are not content with just snapping photos of them looking placidly into the camera, noooo, we want to bring to light the tenderness and warmth that makes them unique as a couple. This requires a complete letting down of their guard and a shedding of all inhibitions, which is a weird enough request without bringing large lenses into the mix! Considering neither Susan nor Jon is a professional actor, it really is extraordinarly brave of them to go there with us.

 I’m always a little in awe when an intimate, authentic moment like this one appears in my viewfinder. And I never cease to be grateful for the trust our clients put in us.

We’ll be featuring lots more images from this lovely shoot tomorrow. Please stop in again!