A bridge too far

[Mike McCarty]

Kim,

I've got three grown daughters and as I recall they all went through the "too much makeup" phase. Fourteen is a pretty tough age for a girl I think. It's no picnic for a dad either.

As far as these images go ... I think I would trade but a few for a few minutes next to my dinning room window. It seems to me that all the posing and color can never substitute for good light. To get good directional light out of doors in the middle of the day you you have to be really really good, or just lucky.

I arranged to meet these girls and their mother at the museum instead of my house because I don't know them and they don't know me. No harm, no foul.

Michele,

First of all I thought they were identical twins, clearly they are not. When I first saw them a couple of weeks ago they were dressed identically and had their hair done identically. When I spoke to the mother I thought we agreed that they would dress the same. Most people don't have a clue what we are trying to do or the level of nitpicking we are capable of. I go under the impression that when you meet someone for the first time it's just a warm up. Most of the time the thing that messes the deal up is things like improper clothing and their failure to understand exactly what you are trying to accomplish. Lord knows it couldn't be my fault. It takes a lot of patience. I would dearly love to persue that one indoor composition, but, I don't think I will have the opportunity.

Patricia,

My philosophy is - it's better to seek forgiveness, than to ask permission. When we arrived in the lobby I had one of the girls carry my camera around her neck. My understanding is that if you are a professional, bringing you client to the museum, they will ask for an annual usage fee. I don't have any trouble looking unprofessional. Also it's typical that they allow no flash inside.