How I Became A Child Portrait Photographer

How Did You Become A Fine Art Photographer?

There is one question virtually all my clients ask me. And for the last 5 years, I have avoided the real answer because I felt it would ruin the whole portrait experience.

But after 9 months of COVID-19, the time seems better to talk about it. So I am going to. This story is sad; that is my warning to you in advance. But it is the reason I am here making the fine art photos I do. And it is the reason I focus so much on Mother-Child legacy images.

I taught special education for Los Angeles Unified for many years. MOST of that time, my students were what they used to call “learning disabled”. This meant that health wise, they were basically fine. But when it came to learning, life was a lot harder for them than their peers. There were years when I was a travelling teacher; when I did not have my own classroom, but instead moved from class to class to offer support. Some years, I had my own classroom and my students were with me virtually all day. Most would have special services like speech therapy or counseling for 20 minutes here and there. But for the most part, we were all together.

Reggie: Teacher’s Pet

I think any classroom teacher will admit to you that teachers have favorites. It is hard to avoid.; 6 hours a day together for 180 days, you get to know one another well. And while we are trained to NOT show favoritism, in our hearts, we have students we connect deeply with.

Reggie was that student for me. He was a fourth grader, aged 10. He had a a smile that would have taken him far in life. He was one of those kids, I don’t know, he just “had it”; personality, ability, charm, smarts, humor, good looks, insight. And although learning to read was not his strong suit, he had so many other assets, I think he would have been a very successful man.

One exchange I remember vividly happened in the classroom. He came up to my desk, out of the blue and asked, “Teacher, how old are you”?

In those days, I tended to just answer my students’ questions. Not because it was right or wrong but because it was easier than resisting. I was annoyed, and it showed as I looked back at him,

“40”, I replied.

Then Reggie flashed that huge contagious smile and quipped, “You mean like a 40 Year Old Virgin”?” (For those of you who don’t know, that was relatively recent film at the time).

All at once a roar of laughter exploded and hush came over the class of other students ooohing and awing wondering if Reggie was “in trouble”. All I could do is laugh. Because, it was funny, hilarious even. I don’t know if he actually knew my age in advance. He could easily have because he paid attention and listened to things around him. Reggie had set the whole thing up perfectly, like a professional set up guy on stage.

When a teacher admits to a kid that what he did was funny even at her own expense, a bond is formed. There is an understanding, a respect between teacher and student that is rare. Even with 10 year olds. Reggie could be very difficult to manage in class. I won’t deny that. But in spite of that, there was an understanding between us. He was my favorite; teacher’s pet.

Grief And Artistic Motivation

As is obvious to you now, I liked Reggie. No question he was that ONE special kid that year.

A couple of weeks after the “virgin” incident, Reggie collapsed on the playground and died. Just like that. Gone. I was one of those special ed teachers who spent most breaks on the playground with my students just to put out fires, and prevent situations from happening. But on that disastrous day, I was in the teacher’s lounge.

I ran out to the yard against orders from my principal and stood as close to Reggie as I could without interfering with the paramedics. It broke my heart that he was so ill, maybe dying, among strangers and that no one he knew was nearby. I called to him to let him know I was near as the medics worked on him. Of course, I’ll never know it it made a difference for him. But it did so for me.

Healing From Loss

When a child dies, it is tough to recover. After Reggie, things changed for me. I never got over it and I was never the same. I ended up leaving the profession a couple of years later. It was then that photography became a priority for me. Kids are my focus because they are amazing creatures. And I have to admit that I see a little bit of Reggie in almost all my clients. It’s also very clear to me that tomorrow is not promised. Any of us could go at anytime. So portraits matter. I care a lot that moms have portraits with their kids (Dads too, of course), but especially moms.

I can’t urge you enough, get those images you want now. You are not too fat or too old. Your hair is just fine. Your clothes are fine. Make time. Put the cost on a credit card if you have to. No excuse is important enough, because….you never know. You may not all be together next time.