I actually met Mark some 20 years ago, when he rescued my head. In addition to being a talented photographer, he has also been a successful hair stylist for like 30 years. So, my mom has been his client forever, and when I, in a very teenage state of mind, decided it would be cool to be blonde, Mark was there to do his very best to reverse the damage. See, I stupidly went to some random person, who had no idea what she was doing, and proceeded to bleach my hair into oblivion. I really had no idea that blonde hair would make me look like a Martian! Seriously, I looked GREEN. My horrified mother marched me over to Mark's salon and, after a week of not having any fun as a blonde, I was a brunette again. Thank the Lord.
After several tasty cups of French press coffee, Mark took me out to shoot some headshots of me. I knew that I had to do it at some point. How could I ask people to trust me to take their photo if I wasn't willing to show my own face? It was time. But, let me tell you, it is not an easy thing to get in front of the camera! I am much more comfortable behind the lens. But I think most people feel that way, and it was helpful to me as a photographer to get out of my comfort zone and see how it feels. It helps to have a photographer that puts you at ease, and that can make you laugh. I hear from my clients often that their session was a lot of fun, they felt so comfortable during their sessions, and that it was a special time for them to truly "see" each other. That is always the most amazing compliment anyone can give me, simply because I want the entire experience with me to be fun and awesome. Ultimately, it's about making beautiful images, but the fact that they can also serve as a reminder of a special day spent with the one(s) you love... Priceless.