There were two parts to this Portrait assignment. First I have to shoot someone I know, then someone I don't.
Without informing her, or the family, I shot my Aunt Laura at my cousin Dan's house at her 62nd birthday party. When asked why I was shooting, I told them it was for family photos, which I also shot and everyone was happy. I did inform her the next day when I gave her an album of all of my favorites, including these four.
My Aunt Laura is truly the matriarch of our family. Our grandmother moved away a long time ago, and does not keep contact. My Aunt Laura has been through so much in her life including the lives and deaths of two husbands and both of those relationships had high highs and very low lows. She is a rock of strength and wisdom but she absolutely hate having her picture taken.
I went into the night hoping I could shoot her, but also knowing I should not do anything to make her uncomfortable.
At first, I used my flash, but noticed that it caught Laura, and everyone else off guard. Therefore, I removed any flash, using the natural light (creating a more sepia toned photo) and this allowed me to captue the warmth and the naturalness of the environment as well as put everyone in a much more calm state.
After the first few shots, those featuring only my Aunt, I realized I needed to include more of her environment which in this case, is her family. Her two children, their spouses, their children, her sister and her sister's children (only my brother however, since I was behind the camera).
I'm extremely happy with my shots since my Aunt HATES having her picture taken and I feel like I found some emotion and unposed shots without the hassle of arguing over if I should take the pictures or not. After the first few, it was as if I was not there.
Also, I realized I don't always have to have the person in the center of the frame. Odd lesson, but happy I learned it.
http://flickr.com/photos/26920055@N05/sets/72157605534879331/
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