I hate smiling

"I HATE SMILING. IT MAKES ME FEEL WEAK AND POWERLESS AND SMALL. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THAT; I DON'T SMILE IN ANY PICTURES."

- BILLIE ELLISH

I came across this quote from Billie Ellish in Harpers Bazaar and it struck a chord with me because... I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE TELL YOU TO SMILE!

Why do we have to smile to be seen as a worthy in a photograph? Epecially as a woman! What if you don't smile? What if that's not you? Not everyone wants to or even likes smiling and photographers should NEVER ask people to smile!!!! It gets such false expressions and doesn't show the person in their true light, just a forced one.

How do you want to be photographed? Is smiling your thing? Sometimes smiling is what people love to go naturally and I've had subjects giggle all through a session and the pictures have been electric, but sometimes the most powerful of shots have been when people just breathe and soak it all in.

It's so important during a consultation with clients to find out and work out what is truly them. Adrianna below was so beautiful just breathing and soaking up the sun on her skin and I love this picture of her. It oozes feeling and really captures a moment.

How amazing would this look as a piece of wall art in a sunny room?!

As always, please message me with any questions or just to say hi! I'm always here to help!

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