Being young

My child, who is 15, will often let me photograph him, still, and I love it.

He’s been photographed his whole life, and once he had an opinion about it, it’s only been when he is ok with it, and I never post anything or show it or what have you without his permission.

He’s not just a willing model, he’s also patient, and gives me great feedback on his experience, which I helps me be a better photographer.

This is a shot we took while I was on set, and he was along as my assistant, and we were waiting for talent to be ready.

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I see a lot of parents badgering kids to smile, and telling their kids they don’t have a choice about photos, and I wish it was different. I get it that smiling kids make people feel good, and having a sulky kid, or a kid missing from a photo seems like a comment on the family to some people. That a row of smiles is some proof that things are ok and you have a happy family. But looking back on years of photos of my kid, I’m glad that it didn’t work that way for us. I’d rather see him surly or angry and have it be real, than see him smiling a big fake smile (and he’s the king of fake smiles if someone pressures him to smile).
The photos I love best of anyone have some element of truth to them. And sure, I’ve photoshopped out a stray runny nose line here or there when it’s not going to work for my intended use of the photo, I’m not a perfect photographer (who would have wiped it) or documentarian (who would have left it).