When shooting, energy is exchanged. Yes, as photographers we are there to direct and lead the way but it should truly be a collaboration; even if I’m the one doing all the talking. Sometimes the collaboration on your end can be unspoken.

At times I have detected this uncomfortable feeling looming over me. When others look to me with closed off and constricted energy, waiting for me to pull a rabbit out of my hat on the spot. Almost as if to say, “now create something incredible!” because that’s what they’ve seen online.

Their story is a wild one.

Imagine, it’s 2017. She’s in New Orleans. He’s in San Diego. He sees her on “friends you may know” on Facebook. He slides in her DMs with a freestyle rap asking for a FaceTime date. Two weeks later he flies to meet her in person and even hangs out with her family and they knew it was the start of something special.