When I tell folks that I’m a photographer, they (more often than not) assume that means weddings and portraits. Hells no! As a full-time wanderluster, I’m not in one place long enough to set up a studio — not to mention the fact that I don’t have the equipment, the space, or patience for all that crap.

Making It Up As I Go Along

It’s difficult for me to describe why I take the pictures I take — if I could describe my inspiration with words, I prolly wouldn’t need the damn camera!

The best explanation I can offer is that I use my photography to see the world from a different angle. I have the great fortune of being able to experience the world from a somewhat unusual perspective. When I become a part of a place, that place also becomes a part of me, a part of my art — and I walk away with a broader understanding of the world around me and deeper respect for my fellow homo sapiens. My photography is very personal and very subjective — I try to offer folks the opportunity to travel with me, sharing the people and places and adventures that have changed my life. If it catches my eye, I hope it will touch your soul.

Creatures In Their Natural Habitats

That having been said, I do actually do portraiture — just not the stiff-posed-smile-for-the-birdie kind. If I’m going to take pictures of people, I want to do it in a laid-back, casual, organic way — capturing the perfect candid image by stalking folks while they’re moving and grooving through their day.

It all started when I offered to photograph a friend’s kid’s birthday party at McDonalds. You’d think this would be pretty close to my idea of hell (considering my attitude toward reproduction) — but I had a blast. I followed children around as they swarmed the Playplace, crawled on my hands and knees to join them in spaces never built for someone my size, and got some absolutely amazing shots.

In my albeit highly-untrained opinion, I think the biggest mistake people make when taking pictures of children (and parents, I’m speaking to you here) is failing to get down on their level. Adults tend to photograph their kids from up up high and far away — from the “grown-up” perspective. Then they wonder why the child seems to be at such a distance. I’ve found that kids are more likely to share their true selves with you when you’re willing to immerse yourself in their world. Crawl around on your knees, get dirty, get silly — take off your “adult” mask and get in the middle of their play, don’t just observe from the sidelines. I promise you’ll end up with a much more meaningful snapshot!

I have to tell you, I rarely care for “posed” photographs of children. Okay, some of those old-timey black-and-white nostalgic shots are cute. But generally speaking, I prefer my kids to be free and unfettered, to do what they want. My job isn’t to tell them to stand here or do this or do that or smile — my only purpose is to capture them in the midst of a spontaneous moment. That having been said, I do believe quite strongly in the power of the phrase “show me” to encourage kids to be at their best. Children are natural show-offs, but they aren’t accustomed to being praised for their antics (usually, some grown-up is telling them to calm-down, sit still, or be quiet!) So when I say, “Show me,” they go nuts! It’s an especially effective technique when you’re trying to capture an action shot. This little girl and her brother were filling up water balloons at a 4th of July block party, then squirting them in their own faces. I didn’t suggest the activity — I merely said, “Show me who can squirt the biggest balloon.” And voila — a great  picture!

I’ve used the old, “Show me who can climb the highest,” with a bunch of kids scaling a tree trunk — “Show me who can jump the farthest,” with children leaping off of a sand dune — and “Show me how you can hang upside down,” when a kid was playing on the monkey bars. And no, none of them got hurt. Kids are like Tiggers — they bounce! Folks compliment my kid pictures by saying, “You really make me remember what it was like to be a child.” That’s what it’s all about! The whole reason I photograph little people is because I love their exuberance, their energy, their passion for life. Children’s joy is undiluted, and they know how to throw themselves 100% into having fun (something we seem to forget as we get older). But I can’t capture this in a picture without stepping inside that child’s world.

Trying New Things

Then when I landed in Los Angeles, I discovered a whole new world of photographic opportunity — taking behind-the-scenes pictures of these Hollywood types while they’re making movies and rehearsing plays. Mah sweetie was shooting a web series — so I followed these intrepid entertainers out into the desert, spent two days trying to balance a DSLR in one hand and a parasol in the other (required equipment, otherwise those Irish genes of mine burst into flames under that harsh and unforgiving California sun), all while stealthily maneuvering my way into just the right action-catching position. (An impressive feat, if I do say so myself!)

I shot on-stage scenes and casual conversations during breaks, the production designer engaging in a little impromptu prop mastery, actresses fixing their hair and makeup — and (of course) a few dismembered-body-part-related gag pics. (You don’t get to leave decapitated heads, severed limbs, and a skeleton named “Charles” lying around, and not have them end up in my snaps!) I held bounce boards for the DP and clappers for the director. I even sewed fur bikinis for intergalactic Amazon women, and served healthy snacks (like cauliflower cheddar puffs and vegetarian meatballs and spiced pumpkin seeds) to the crew — photography meets costuming meets craft services, a triple-threat kind of gal!

I learned insider secrets and movie-magic tricks — I walked away with a better appreciation for the entertainment I consume, and a great deal more respect for the talent that supports my media-whoring ways. And I got some great publicity pictures of cast and crew — showing them individually practicing their arts, working together as a team, and coming together as a family.