Her ONLY Portrait!

Two weeks ago I was shooting portraits for a Relay For Life fundraiser event. One family showed up for a portrait and they had convinced mother/grandmother/gre​at-grandmother to come along.

We got the family portrait, and I asked Grandma to stay put and let me get a shot of just her. She kinda fussed a bit, but after a minute she looked at me and smiled and I took her portrait.

The family were looking at the images in the other room, and told my wife that she had never had a professional portrait taken. The family loved the one of just her and purchased some prints of it. The family were happy with the quick portrait that was her first!

Last night, "Granny Besson" passed away. Her first portrait became her ONLY Portrait. I have been thinking today, could have I done anything differently if I had known it was her first portrait, or even more so if I had know it was her ONLY portrait. Could have I posed her in any better way? Could have I done more to get a better expression?

Even in a fast paced photo session, I want to begin to think that it could be their ONLY portrait. I want to apply more to each session! I want to produce a memory that is worth a lifetime.

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You were blessed with being in the right place at the right time...cherish that memory as they will cherish the picture.

Strive for the best for your client/subject. What more can you do?

Thinking of a session as their ONLY portrait is a bit grim for me. Think of it as not having the convenience of a re-shoot.

It's wonderful you were able to give her family something to remember her by.

Blurr Cube wrote in post #12464860
Thinking of a session as their ONLY portrait is a bit grim for me. Think of it as not having the convenience of a re-shoot.

I should have said, I want to shoot their session as if it could be their only portrait! I want to put that much into it.

jmalonear wrote in post #12464429
...I want to produce a memory that is worth a lifetime.

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I dunno Jay...but I reckon you achieved that - no questions asked.
Even though it's posed, what I really like about it is that it has an element of candidness about it.
I reckon she's secretly enjoying the attention and feels a bit special, but she wouldn't admit to that.
She's probably thinking something like "Well, you talked me into this, now I'm going to enjoy the attention."
I think it shows a little bit of cheekiness, but also at the same time a maternal element of someone who has live a long but good and productive life.