JPG Magazine: Stories: Photo Essay: Reality Shots

Reality Shots

By Linda Mishler

20 February 2008

One of my favorite things to capture is the expressions of children. My own two sons are grown now so finding little models isn't as easy as when they lived in my own home.

Some day,I'd like to learn more about portrait photography and eventually do that as a living.

I was missing the joy of little children and wanted some practice with family portraits so I told a friend if she ever wanted me to photograph her children to let me know.

She let me know immediately because she wanted to surprise her husband for Valentine's Day. Perfect.Family shot of mom & three kids under age four.

The mission was to show up at her house when her husband was not home and right before naptime.Almost impossible!

When I'm doing any kind of photography I'm kind of a perfectionist and will take hundreds of shots to get the perfect shot.Don't we all...

Well..this time perfection had it's fun with me.

When I came to do the family shoot, I was totally checked out by the two year old. She decided I passed inspection so off we go.

We found the room with the most available light.This is my first time shooting portraits inside and I quickly learn that moving children and low light don't mix.

I quickly become frustrated with myself because I'm getting lots of blurring and don't know how to fix it.

I managed to get some good shots,not as perfect as I would've liked but good.

Looking back now I realize that in trying to be perfect,we miss the beauty of the real.

Sometimes the oops and errors and unlovely shots are the loveliest of them all.

When I went home after shooting I was talking to my sister and her comment was...I guess this is not your niche!

I thought,no..you don't know the joy of capturing the look on the shy ones face who won't look in the camera for anyone,but somehow you catch it. You don't know the joy of seeing a mom catch her breath when she sees a sister loving a brother without being asked and capturing that moment forever.

In this world of photoshop and editing,we sometimes create an illusion of life that is not anything like the real. These portraits to me will always serve as reminders to relax and try to capture flawed perfection.