Photo Live Magazine First Issue Photo live - cat's add in 2017 versioin | Page 46

I think if you had asked me this question 5, 10
or even 20 years ago, you would get a different
answer every time.
Today however, an important moment for me
came at a wedding I was photographing.
I had taken a photograph of a father of the bride
who had Motor Neuron Disease, and had only
weeks to live. ( I have included the image- see
page 48 )
The daughter organized a slideshow of photos
of her and her dad and various family photos that
had been taken throughout the years.
Instead of the usual father daughter dance, she
organized the whole reception to come to the
dance floor and watch it.
There were laughs and there were tears.
This moment h as been engraved in my psyche,
it took me many months to be able to recall this
without being visibly moved.
It gave me the realization that what we do as
photographers in capturing and photographing
families and portraits, we are privy to someone
most precious moments.
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A responsibility that has been taken for granted by
so many.
It was this AHA moment that made me feel proud
of all the photos I have taken over the years, and
how I have made a difference to people’s lives,
even if they themselves don’t know it yet.
My biggest awards are my clients.
Q - Many people know of your wedding photogra-
phy, tell us a bit about portrait work… are you doing
many of them and what does a client experience?
Weddings are, in essence a series of portraits put
together to tell the story of ones most memorable
day, their wedding.
I love portraits, and I usually tackle them in the
same way I would a wedding. Getting to know your
subject and delivering a fine quality product is just
the beginning.
I am not particularly good at taking newborns, but
anything from 3months and above I love.
When it comes to children, I become a child and
literally on my hands and knees trying to get ex-
pressions.
My skills as a wedding photographer certainly help