I love hearing this phrase. Stan and I used to joke around and keep track of how often we would hear that phrase when working for Estee Lauder on their "Facebook" events. And every single time, they would look at their headshot, smile, and tell us "looks like I was wrong." We got hugs from these people more often than not.
Being photogenic is a lot like wearing a hat. It's not about the hat and how it sits on your head, but the attitude behind the person wearing it. Here is a secret. No one looks good in a baseball cap. But everyone can pull off the look because they think it makes them look good. It's the attitude, never the hat.
The same people that claim to not be photogenic are often the first to lunge out, smile, and make some goofy pose when the camera phones come out during happy hour. And those are cute pics. So why the difference? During happy hour, they aren't feeling self conscious, they are just having fun. A photoshoot can be the exact same thing. But photos by someone that knows what they are doing reach a whole new level. Photos stop being cute. They become "beautiful," "jaw dropping," "gorgeous," etc.
So instead of just clicking "like" on the photos posted by your favorite photographers on Facebook, try hitting them up for a shoot. And even though we charge more than Wal-Mart or Sears, the work we produce is infinitely better than a basic portrait studio is capable of. We put our hearts into the images you print and hang on the wall. You will never get that from someone that clocks in for a living.
