My favourite photographer Chris Buck + baby Olive

(He paid me to write that… just kidding.)

I have a fine arts background in photography. At Ryerson University, I studied the history and theory of photography. We discussed images, what they meant, what they projected, how they made us feel. I learned about the great photographers both past and present and I looked up to many of them. One of such people is Chris Buck. Originally from Toronto but residing in New York, Chris creates portraits of celebrities and everyday people in such a natural but often quirky way. The first time I saw him lecture, he came out onto the stage wearing red clown shoes. He spoke of portrait making and the projects that he has done and I left as an early twenty-something student photographer feeling good about the world.

Eight years later I am photographing people and doing it for a living. Chris Buck is lecturing in Toronto again during Contact and I see him. Much is the same but also different with him. He has grown more comfortable and he has worked on new projects. At the end there is a question period and many of the photographers are asking for the perfect answer of how to become a great photographer. Chris throws the questions back onto the questioner: there’s no perfect answer, there are just many factors that lead to it. It’s not that simple and it is hard work but in the end it is worth it.

From Chris I have learned that people are simply people. Whether they are Holloywood celebrities, CEO’s at large corporations or camping newlyweds, they are not that different than anyone else. They have good days and they have bad days and none of it can be taken personally. You should shoot for what you need and do not let what you think the subject wants to dictate how you capture them. You know what is best because you are the image maker. From Chris, I also learned that I am good at photographing babies. That maybe it is something that I should focus more on and he really helped me realise how much I love doing it.

And that is how it came about that Chris Buck, his wife Michelle Golden and their five-and-a-half month old daughter, Olive came to my studio. It began with Facebook:

They came, I photographed adorable Olive and it was great. Chris videotaped me photographing her and it was actually good (and pretty funny) to see how I am when I photograph a wee one. Photographing babies is hard but when you get the shot, it is incredibly rewarding. Babies grow and change far too quickly. It is humbling to have someone you admire in your space and letting you do what you do. I was nervous but I think I kept it cool.

Thank you for coming by Chris, and for continuing to inspire and encourage great image making. You really are one of my favourites.

Below are the videos that Chris took of me while photographing Olive. Thanks Chris!