BWW Blog: Amy Parrish - The Space Between

There's a concept I learned from a college acting class that I've carried with me into the world of photography: the space between. Essentially, this principle describes how an actor meets a fictional character in this "space between" each separate entity. Your own emotions and experiences help breathe life into the imagined world of who you portray.

In photography, I apply this to try and find that perfect balance between myself and my subject. I obviously want to express my own voice within a set of images, but at the same time I want to be sure that I'm also representing some aspect of who it is I'm creating a portrait of.

So many times, photographers ask me questions about how I create the images shown in my portfolio:

What camera do you use?

Which lens is your favorite?

Do you have a favorite color action?

How do you light your images?

These questions are all fine from a technical standpoint, but don't truly get down to the heart of what makes a portrait something beyond the documentation of a physical presence. That is something intangible that comes from within ourselves and pulled from the person we're hoping to connect with. If you want to create stronger portraits, try searching for the space between.