There was always a big part of me that absolutely adored portraiture. In my eyes, the tallest order of what defines you as a great photographer is your ability to take a great portrait. After all, if you take a great portrait, you can look at it for the rest of your life. A great portrait is not just a symbol of who you are, but a nod to who you were, and an acknowledgment of who you intend to be. It’s the past, present, and future all compacted into one two-dimensional frame.
And then, there’s me.
In the beginning, I often tried to take photos without putting too much of me in it. I was a big fan of documentary photography and I always found it quite peculiar how one can capture great photos while being a “fly on the wall”. However, after creating my own documentary projects, I found out that being a fly on the wall is a myth. There’s no way you can be a fly on the wall because you are physically there in the same space as your subjects and your mere presence changes the way they behave.
So then, what’s the role of the photographer?
Much more than just taking the photo, that’s for sure.
The photographer is equal parts magician, chef, therapist, a loving parent, coach, and so much more. But I think the most important role of the photographer is of acceptance and encouragement. As a photographer, you must welcome your subject into your frame with open arms, as they are. Furthermore, you must encourage them to be not just who they are, but who they intend to be. The photographer, in a way, is a sort of archaeologist, digging into the essence of who you are and what you represent in order to capture the raw essence of you.
And then there’s me, again, the inescapable me that just has to be in the photo.
But the question is, how exactly am I inserting myself in there?
And the answer: I insert myself in the photos with my values and what I believe to be not just a good portrait, but a good life.
I aim to take photos of people that are raw, honest, but most importantly, empowering. For you to feel confident for who you are at that very moment. For you to feel safe. For you to feel that wherever you are in your life, that’s exactly where you need to be. Wherever you want to go, you have it in you to get you there. I aim to take photos that speak to the most authentic parts of you, as I believe we live our happiest most fulfilling lives when we are able to not just truly express ourselves, but to be witnessed and accepted for everything that we are, and everything we will become.
by Jason Lam