New Client Inquiry.

Christine

When someone submits a request via my website for more information regarding portraits, it shows up in my inbox with the subject line “New Client Inquiry.” They all follow the same generic format, answering pretty basic questions. But they’re not always as entertaining as the one I opened the day after Christmas:

where did you hear about us?:
Internet search
special requests:
Portrait
additional comments:
I have always shunned pictures for a number of reasons, but my octogenarian mother has made a special request for for a portrait. I would like to talk w/ you about how to take advantage of your talents, as evidenced by the photos in your gallery, in light of my apprehensions. Thank you so much.
Challenges: bald / big schnauz / soldier / old / cheezy smile

“Challenges” was a field he’d added.

This was going to be fun. I called him immediately and our telephone consultation resulted in a session the very next week. In the meantime, I was anxious to meet this old bald man with the big schnauz, soldier by trade, sporting a cheezy smile and I was equally curious to see if his view of reality resembled mine. So I gave him an assignment to share with me:
1) a photo of himself that he likes looking at;
2) a photo of himself that makes him laugh;
3) and a photo of himself that could easily pass as a snapshot of a great or famous person.

The photographs he sent told me much about the kind of man who had just commissioned me to make his portrait:
1) a father of seven, the kind of father a son would choose as best man for his wedding;
2) fun-loving enough to walk through Italy impersonating a walrus with the help of some bananas;
3) and an Army JAG, standing in the company of Supreme Court Justices one moment and unafraid to don a Navy sweatshirt the next (it was a gift from his daughter.)

This is what I saw:


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10 thoughts on “New Client Inquiry.

  1. I get the sense you are a woman to reckon with… a woman of substance. I love the questions you asked the client and the photos are stellar.

  2. Ok, the word’s not original but “Wow”
    I look at your photos and wonder “how can she get any better” and then you just do. Amazing collection. Amazing man. Really impressive. :)Thanks

  3. Pictures look fantastic and tell quite the story. I feel like I know who this person is even though I’ve never met him.

  4. Christine,

    Amazing! I especially like the shot with all the race numbers.

    You have such a gift!

    Please, please, please come to Oregon 🙂

  5. I just checked your blog by chance before preparing to retire. I sat there just mouthing “wow” repeatedly.

    Even if it weren’t me, the composite that you’ve created is fascinating – strong, hard, soft, easy.

    I was in the process of sending the link to my daughter in Uganda when your email arrived. I think she would be very moved by the collection, as I am.

    Nope, nothing makes me feel uneasy. Just pushes me a little a way from that comfort zone, which is good.

    You have such an insight. You help me see myself in both a different and, dare I say, better light.

    Thanks, Christine, so much.

    Burk

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