a portrait commission

check out this auction... portrait commission by edward mapplethorpe (younger brother of robert mapplethorpe) baby must be 11-13 months at time of commission commission to take place sep 7, 2010 - jun 7, 2011, in NYC one 24x20 gelatin silver print, selected by artist (proofs not shown to client) market value: $10,000

images copyright edward mapplethorpe

WOW!

reading the auction details brought me back to when i first started photography and attended cheryl jacob's workshop, in august 2006. i remember it like it was yesterday because it was a big turning point for me -- my aha moment -- where i realized i didn't need to be like everyone. it's okay to be different.  it's okay to just be me. at the workshop, cheryl suggested,

i think you should try something different; you should offer client sessions, where the goal is to produce only one or two large, framed prints.

one or two enlargement offerings, with one or two prices.  that's it.

and that idea has fluttered around in the back of my head ever since -- wondering if that concept (that type of portrait offering) would be possible.  obviously it is for edward mapplethorpe, at a price of $10K.  OH-MY-GOSH!!  i'm no edward mapplethorpe, but the idea of giving complete trust to the artist, from beginning to end, is something to think about and admire.

and i had no idea that the mapplethorpes had such a difficult past.  the article reminded me of jackson pollock's troubled past (loved the movie pollock).  thankfully edward mapplethorpe was able to pull away and better himself before total self-destruction.

+++

in celebration of photographing one-year-olds, i share with you P, who was one, in the photos below and is now almost four.  i will be photographing P (for the fourth time), along with her new little sister, in san diego next month.  i can't wait to see them again!! :-)