Photography and Identity

I spent the afternoon yesterday working on an artist bio for a photographer friend of mine. Who knew ten sentences could be so difficult to craft? But then, cramming an identity, a round, complex self, into ten sentences—well, yes, that sounds difficult.

Anyway, reflecting on photography and on what makes portraiture so fulfilling, I wrote this, which did not make it into the final cut:

A good photographer sees things in you that you don’t always see in yourself. You feel tired, unattractive, or boring but the camera sees something beautiful, joy-soaked, distinguished, exciting, or free. And those photos, the tangible evidence of your best self, are priceless.