What We Learned From A 66 Year Old Photo
The year was 1948. Cat's grandmother, Sammie, was eighteen at the time and a student in business school. She rented a room from a wealthy socialite couple in Houston. The couple loved going to the "the-ate-uh" in the evening; Sammie babysat their children in exchange for her room and board. She still remembers the address: 2208 Dorrington Drive, right behind the Shamrock Hotel.
Gene was a student at Texas A&M, planning to join the Navy in just a few months. But first, he and his buddy, William, who dabbled in photography, would drive to Houston to call on Sammie. Gene and Sammie had been courting for a while; they'd be married with in the year. As the two shared a moment of intimate connection, William took the snapshot that has become one of our family's most cherished photos.
Sixty-six years later, we sat in Mawmaw's living room asking her to tell us more about that moment in the hammock with Paw. "What were you two doin'?" we asked, eyes twinkling. Mawmaw replied: "We didn't have any money, so all we could afford to do was look at each other." Mawmaw has taught us so many things over the years. But while speaking those words, she probably didn't realize that she was also teaching one of the keys to successful photography:
Ask your subjects to get close, real close. We tell our clients: "Get cross-eyed close!" with faces and hips nearly touching. They don't need to gaze into each other's eyes. In fact, it's better if they look into each other's lips. Look at Mawmaw and Paw; they're modeling the technique perfectly.
Although the photo above wasn't staged, and although William wasn't giving his subjects direction, he did the one thing that matters most - he stayed present and he caught the interaction, that shared moment of intimacy between two people in love.
Whether it's a successful marriage (Mawmaw and Paw shared 65 years together) or a successful photography business, getting close is the first step. So, we invite you to come closer... cross-eyed close. We've created a brand new newsletter for photographers, Life & Craft: Creating a Business and Photos Authentic To You.
If you follow along with our newsletter, we'll share more teaching stories like this one. We'll tell you about the techniques, tools, tricks, and tips we use when we're behind our cameras and behind our desks.
To capture a sense of intimacy and connection with your subjects:
1. Ask your subjects to get close, real close. We tell our clients: "Get cross-eyed close!"
2. Keep the couple's faces and hips close to each other.
3. They don't need to gaze into each other's eyes. In fact, it's better if they look into each other's lips.
4. Stay present for that authentic "stolen" moment when they have an authentic interaction based on their close proximity.
5. Print that shot so that 66 years from now their grandkids will ask them questions about their favorite romantic snapshot of "Mawmaw and Paw".
Are you a photographer looking to enhance your craft, infuse more authenticity into your work, and create an exceptional tangible experience for your clients? If so, join Luke and Cat in their new educational adventures for 2015, including the free e-newsletter for photographers, Life & Craft. Also keep an eye out for the exciting workshop experience they are planning to unveil in late 2015. Join their mailing list to stay up to date and receive free educational resources, or inquire for one on one coaching opportunities!
