OK, listen.... I'm gonna level with you. I'm not the biggest fan of the Communion Portrait. There, I said it. Granted, I haven't done a ton of research in this area, but when I think "Communion Portrait" it's usually set on a white (or *shriek* pink!) background, all is fuzzy and soft, light and ethereal. Dirty and sweaty second graders' hair is washed, slicked, tamed and combed or curled into ringlets. Pokemons, Mighty Beanz, Barbies and Bratz dolls are pried out of little hands in exchange for bibles and rosaries. After some debate and coaching by mom and dad on the perfect facial expression, and the all-important-last-minute-lick-and-comb from mom, these little ones are ready for their close-up! Now I have to be fair, there are some very lovely portraits shot in this style. But my problem is, not much about that look really appeals to me, personally. I guess for me, what it all boils down to is... the resulting portrait is a little too much "cheese!" for my taste. But just like a little plant waiting to emerge in spring... (Specifically, those patient little plants of Spring 2011) You know what? No matter how long it is put off... It's bound to come up eventually! Enter my first Communion Portrait shoot client...
Gianna is almost 8 and a life-long friend and neighbor to my little 8 year old daughter, Miranda. Gianna is making her first communion this May. To do this portrait, I had to really think. What is communion about? It's a rite of passage, an acknowledgement that this little one is now old enough to understand there is significance to their beliefs and religion, that they are crossing a threshold between small child dependent on their caregivers for everything, to the beginnings of independence and individual thought. And as a parent, everything about this step is, well, dramatic! But in my mind, drama isn't necessarily sappy, blurry and soft. I took a little bit of a different approach.
So dropping the white background and opting for black... Here are a few of my first "First Communion" pics with Gianna. After this, I am proud to say... I no longer dread the Communion shoot - on the contrary, I am so excited the next one!
Gianna was an AWESOME subject!! This normally silly, goofy and happy little girl was perfectly "pious" for our shoot! But toward the end.... well a little bit of the Gianna that I know just couldn't help but sneak out!!
