The Infinite Eye Why

Like many starting businesses, we started small, working out of our home taking on different photography jobs as the opportunities came up.  

Prior to making it official and incorporating Infinite Eye Photography Group in 2007, I had a love of photography and the best subject for me was nature – landscapes specifically.  They did not move much and there was no pressure to get it right.  I just enjoyed the experience of heading out with my camera, taking photos, playing with settings, and taking more photos and saying “Ohhhh, THAT’S what that does”.

But then I turned my lens toward friends and family - that was the moment everything changed for me.

I would “shoot’n show” and loved the reactions I was getting from people.  Lots of head nod’s and “Nice pic” comments which I liked, and so I did more. This was the start of me enjoying the positive impact that I was making with my images. Then came the tears. Every once and a while, I would get a shot that made Mom’s cry.  Not because they I messed up, but because I nailed a shot that they loved so much.  We would print them and hang them up with more tears of happiness flowing. I learned that I loved creating positive emotions for people through the images I was taking.

This brings me to what is currently the main image on our website home page. The girl with amazing blue eyes and calm expression. I would like to introduce you to Elizabeth.  Here is the story behind that image.

I had been shooting portraits for many years, getting more confident, and was progressing with the use of studio lighting. That is when we got an amazing opportunity to do portraits for an Anime conference called Animethon. Animethon is a large conference put on for fans of Anime and all things related.

What was so interesting, is all the individuals we would be photographing would be cosplayers, meaning they would dress as their favorite anime characters. It was amazing and I loved seeing all the talented, creative, homemade outfits, and the ones who really got into character.

So, we have a couple come up for what I though was photos of them together.  He was dressed in this amazing steam punk setup with an amazing top hat – such detail.  The girl was dressed up a little more subdued, but they matched and looked amazing!  The first thing I noticed was this girl’s eyes.  Amazing!

So, bit of backstory here, I named my company Infinite Eye because I am an eye person.  I love eyes of all kinds and how they can be so different with just small change of a little look.  Eyes are amazing – oh and I always look at people’s left eye only but that is for another article – it’s an interesting story.

Back to the steam punk couple.  He was all for getting his photos taking and started his mini session in our off-site studio set-up in the middle of Animethon. When I mentioned that it was her turn, she shared with me a polite “No thank-you, I don’t like photos.” I respected that and photographed him a bit more.  I offered again and asked if she had changed her mind, but even with her boyfriend asking her to join him, she declined. 

Now, when it comes to people not liking their photo taken, I respect that and never take an image with out having the go ahead first.  For me, taking the sneak shot goes against what I want for people in a photo which is a positive emotion.

With her amazing eyes I really wanted to photographer her.  So, then I turned to her and said in a soft and comforting way that I could and asked “Can I show you something?  You can stand next to your boyfriend, but you have amazing eyes, and I would like to show you how amazing they are.”  And she shyly agreed.

I had her stand next to her boyfriend and asked her to hold one side of a white reflector (we use these in studio to modify and bounce light where we need it) and I held the other end with my left hand.  With my camera in my other hand, I raised the camera while looking through it to see her looking down and unsure of herself or what was going on.  I then said, “Ok, now just look at me.”  Her eyes came up and I took the photo.  I knew I nailed it.

I looked at the image on the back of my DSLR and was stunned.  I turned the camera so she would see the image. She looked at it, stared, and said “Really?” in a calm quite voice.  My reply was “Yes. Really.”

At that moment she saw what I had seen, what her boyfriend sees everyday, and what she had been missing.  She was beautiful and did not know it…yet.  Her face then slowly lit up and a huge smile broke out across her face.  She tried to hide it, but it was bursting out!  She ended up shooting a whole session and loved the images, but for me, that one image and the impact, the positive impact it had on someone defined my WHY.  This is WHY I photograph people; this is why portrait photography is so amazing. It can change how someone sees themselves and creates that smile.  A smile that takes over and makes someone day, month, year, or lifetime.

That moment made her happy. The same moment defined my WHY.