During the course of my career, I have been fortunate to have photographed people from all walks of life, and these interactions have impacted me greatly. I have become increasingly aware of the energy that is exchanged between my subjects and me during a session and the symbiotic result that often manifests itself in the finished image. With each encounter, I attempt to approach my subject with honesty, integrity, empathy and sensitivity…free of prejudice, artifice or preconceived notions about who they are or how they wish to be portrayed. I endeavor to be the catalyst for a dynamic equilibrium of energy to occur during our time together, and to capture the essence of their personality beyond the persona or facade they may have wished to outwardly project. Once I have the lights and camera adjusted, I typically don’t look through the eyepiece again until I change or re-frame the composition. This allows me to make constant eye contact with the subject and/or her actions, minimizing the barrier of equipment between us, facilitating the intimacy of our interaction, as I balance my quiet observation with my active participation. As I relinquish control, I gain power…not power over my subject, but the power of synergy with my subject. Spontaneity replaces artifice. And in that moment a portrait is more than a depiction of a face (or hands); it becomes a record of an act of personal relating—an encounter that has to include me beyond the act of pushing the shutter button. The awareness and understanding of this fact simultaneously fills me with humility and passion for what I do, and a sense of responsibility for how I practice my art.