Photography for me is a way to express myself and to direct my creative energies. The end result is the capture of an interesting or beautiful moment in time that can give me and others viewing pleasure long past that single moment. Considering that the human face and form are among the most beautiful and interesting things in the world, portraiture has been a natural fit for me.

My first portraits were made in 1975 of a very attractive young lady who was a close friend of mine. I was amazed at her grace and sense of comfort in front of the camera. The images we created were an inspiration to me, and I've never lost that sense of joy and accomplishment in the many portraits I've made since.

A photo that is pleasing to look at is usually my goal, so I try to start with a pleasing looking model. That doesn't necessarily mean a pretty face. It could just as easily be the innocence of a child, the weathered face of an elderly person, or the rugged look of a man. Choice of lighting and background is very important, but there are many places to read about how to handle those. What I want to share now is something that is apparently more subtle. I say apparently because I have seen so many technically perfect portraits that were without life or interest. Some models put on expressions that they've seen in fashion ads and that they think are what models are supposed to look like.

A big smile can add life to a portrait, and it can certainly make a pleasing image, but that style tends to be overdone. I try to get a look that combines happiness and contentment in a relaxed way. It's not easy to find a model you can get into this state, and it's probably even harder to describe exactly what it is or how to achieve it. It's that light in the eye that shows the model is engaged in the photo session and the relaxed expression puts the viewer at ease as well.

So how do you make a prize-winning portrait of, for instance, a young woman? Start with a pleasing looking subject - face, hair, eyes, figure. Add a pinch of compositional magic with the pose and lighting. And get her relaxed and comfortable and enjoying herself in the photo session. It never hurts to tell her how great she looks, and, lastly, know your camera so you can concentrate fully on the model rather than fiddling with your camera settings.