four days to new york city and i get to meet the photographer who made these:

duane michals. take me now.

also, things i learned while doing the shoot with vanessa last weekend:

1. there is a necessary warm-up time (i've noticed this before, but the strongest shots are usually the later shots once you get the blood moving)

2. i need to be more critical in the moment; most of the failed frames could have easily been saved with a hair more attention on my part

3. spontaneous is good

4. i need to be more comfortable and assertive in giving directions; sometimes i worry that it is going to be too posed, too-fourth-grade-yearbook, but sometimes directions can help with the sitter's confidence and that comes across in the exposure

sum: 45 minutes, 150 shots, 10 useable portraits/posters. i feel pretty good about that. there is art, and then there are things you do for money.

see, i can make usable and family-friendly fourth-grade portraits: