When I started to scan in pictures from my college years, I was surprised to see that I had taken pictures of quite a few of my friends. I got out of that habit when I stopped photography as a hobby for many years.

When I started again with digital photography, I avoided taking pictures of people for a while, so that I could focus on relearning how to use a camera.

As I started to gain in my photographic skills and had worked with a few professional models, I began to want to take pictures of people who did not make their living from having their picture taken.

I was incredibly nervous the first time I asked a friend to model (after my divorce). I think I gave about a 15 minute introduction to the topic.

“I won’t take nudes,” she said emphatically, when I finally asked directly if she would model for me.

“Oh,” I replied, feeling embarrassed and probably blushing, “I agree that that would probably be a bit weird. I wasn’t thinking of nudes, just normal portraits.”

She then agreed readily and we took pictures multiple times over a number of years.

After that, I grew in confidence and felt privileged whenever someone I knew either asked or agreed to take pictures together.