My Clients Say it Best
A testimonial for headshots at studio B.
When I was 19, my photography mentor introduced me to portraiture. Initially, I had no intention of photographing people, but he insisted that I could combine scenic photography with personalized client portraits.
Before I could enter the camera room, we discussed lighting, settings, composition, and analyzed hundreds of images in PPA Magazine. On the day we finally went to his camera room, he stopped me from approaching the camera, directing me to sit on the posing stool instead. He explained that I needed to understand what it felt like to be on the other side of the lens before creating portraits.
This experience made me realize why I preferred backpacking: I could capture beauty without engaging with anyone. Facing the lens made me anxious, and I started asking a barrage of questions. My mentor calmed me down, repeatedly instructing me to take deep breaths and assuring me that he would guide me through the process.
My mentor passed away before I opened my studio in 1996, but his teachings stayed with me. His voice echoes in my mind whenever I make mistakes, reminding me that learning is a continuous process.
Today, I felt his presence strongly. I was hosting a network meeting at my studio with over 50 attendees. Half of them were in the camera room, where I projected the happenings in the other room onto a large TV. A chamber board member stepped up for a paid announcement, and as I was framing him, someone behind me urged, "Hit record!"
Chamber member Tom Engel shared a heartfelt testimonial about his experience during our session, and followed up with me later to share how he felt before and after, praising the results. It reminded me of my mentor's lessons on channeling anxiety into empathy and understanding my clients' perspectives.
My mentor, Louis M. VerBaere, would be about 110 years old now, but his teachings remain timeless. He taught me to be present to my clients' energy, to empathize with them before starting any session. Today, a client remarked that a photo captured a micro-expression that reminded him of his grandfather, reaffirming my decision to pursue a career as a full-time professional photographer.
Thank you, Tom, for the great reminder to listen to the wisdom of my mentor and to never stop learning.
