The Magic is in the Moment

My goal as a portrait photographer is to find a balance between "posed" and "magical".  Posed pictures are important, because let's be honest: It is way too easy to take unflattering pictures of people when the person behind the camera is oblivious to angles or perspective.  I've taken pictures like that, and unfortunately, I've been IN pictures like that.  Posing is probably one of the most complicated pieces of professional photography, and most of us continue to learn about it our entire careers.  

Magical moments come and go every day, and they are often unobserved. The beauty of a magical portrait is that the moment was captured, and sometimes it is even more amazing in print than it was in real life.

This is an image I took this summer, and I was recently reminded how much I love it. This little boy, Ethan, wasn't even the client, per se. I was photographing his three darling sisters and he was along for the ride. I was lucky enough to be photographing them at a private residence that has the most amazing gardens, and in the center of one of them is you guessed it, the sword and the stone. Yes, the homeowner is a Disney fan. 

I was waiting for the girls to come along, and Ethan was wandering down the path towards me. I just happened to look up as he turned the corner and his eyes landed on the rock with the sword for the first time, and it was truly magical. His eyes got big, his step slowed, and he reached out his hand to gently touch it. He was in complete awe. Just after I snapped this, he unknowingly dropped the golf ball he held in his hand, and then slowly put both hands on the sword and pulled. He was so entranced it didn't even upset him that he didn't get it out, even after climbing up on it and pulling with all his might. 

It was a simple moment, but one that I am so glad I captured. 

If you enjoy photography, try to find the balance between posing and magic. Both are special, both are wonderful, and each requires a different approach behind the camera. Take a look at your work and as you scroll through images, decide which category it fits, and ask yourself if you want to shoot more of one or the other, and then try to think that way when you pick up your camera. You'll be surprised at what you create!