He walks in and after introductions, the first thing he says is, I absolutely hate having my photo taken. I start up a conversation about hotwire.com and ask him to tell me more about the once federal case. They are seeking class-action certification against the travel booking site for tax-juggling that puts the burden on the consumer and shifts the weight off of the company. Of course, customers don’t know they’re getting the extra fees tacked on and more than likely the judge will grant cert.
We end the shoot and then lean up against the wall and continue talking. The light is just pouring in behind him and I want to shoot more. I ask for one more shot and surprisingly he agrees. I notice some quirks about his face and although he definitely has a “good side” I completely understand why he hates having his photo taken. I am biased, and realize I am trying to create an ideal.
What ends in the frame begins in my mind. My perceptions about what is attractive, desirable, respected and accepted by our society are largely based on what society dictates. Sometimes you can break out of the box, other times you are merely just breaking into another one. Is beauty in the eye of the beholder and what if all the beholders are completely crazy? You decide.
