I admit, I struggle with outdoor portraits. Lighting is beautiful to me and I love to really try to capture lighting--the speckles the harsh angles and deep shadows....but portraiture...at least most commercial portraiture is based on a much more even toned lighting where the highlights and shadows are not too far apart from one another. My first thought is expose for the highlights and let the shadows just go, but this has bitten me in the you know what before as I've gotten a picture only I and some of my photographer friends would like....not the client. I still try these, but am super conscious about making sure I shoot pictures that capture full shadow details and not too bright of highlights. This summer I found myself finally understanding how to find this balance of light and shadow and this fall felt like I could see it and use it. Its still not easy for me--I have to remember to see first, but think throughout if that makes sense. It is important to me to make the work that I want, but it is equally important to the client to be able to trust that I will keep their needs first in mind. Finding that balance is where I want be in this business and eventually find that what I ultimately want to achieve, clients will come seeking. SayerMotter Photographs taken in the middle of the road near Conneaut Lake this past fall by Richard Sayer.