<p>As someone who has strabismus (which has been surgically addressed, but I still have some asymmetry to my face), I'd make the following observations:<br>
1) The overweight analogy fails after a point because viewers are much more sensitive to symmetry (or lack thereof) than to figure variations.<br>
2) Photography freezes the micro moment. This isn't as obvious as it sounds: life is composed of an endless series of these micro-moments that are composited into the sum viewer experience. These micromoments taken in isolation can single out an unpleasant reality. Shoot people eating if you don't get this. You don't realize how ridiculous the act of eating is until you capture people doing it. It is your sometimes unpleasant task, and a test of your skills, to address this reality.<br>
3) Unless the bride has supreme self-confidence (or an utter lack of self-awareness), she certainly is aware of her condition and has some sensitivity about it at SOME level. She expects you to make her look good. If you hand her a lovely portrait with one eye shooting off-stage, it will ultimately ceremoniously hang in her closet. She may know she has the lazy eye, but I certainly wouldn't want such a picture commemorating the moment, much less my wedding pic.<br>
4) Ask her to show you some favorite pictures of herself. See how SHE thinks she looks best, stated or unstated.<br>
5) IF the bride seems reasonably confident and engaged, interested in the process, perhaps you will have an opportunity to say "As a photographer, it's my job to look intently at the world. I notice you have a bit of strabismus, and was curious how you feel about it, if it is a sensitive issue for you." You need to have a bit of this dialog somewhere. Do this with no one around. You don't want her b.s.ing in front of her mom, etc.<br>
6) If she seems generally sensitive, overly wired (you know the type), and you don't think you can discuss the subject, DO YOUR BEST TO MAKE HER LOOK GOOD. I'm gonna bet the subject that really doesn't bring it up may be the most sensitive. I'm also bald, I'm comfortable with it, but it doesn't mean I want pics that are a tribute to my dome.<br>
7) Shoot a lot. You'll find moments where she has better engagement and alignment than others. Some directions are harder for the subject to align her eyes in (either intentionally or passively.<br>
8) Straight on is the most precarious and likely to produce poor results. <br>
9) If you have a good dialog going with her, maybe even shoot some test shots before the wedding (I know, this is extreme...). Have her pose and ask her to look at you with the lazy eye. This is (I've never heard otherwise) the non-dominant eye, and by purposefully engaging it, you may find they align more photogenically. On the other hand, beware if she can't produce a relaxed expression while doing this. It's harder for some people than others, and not necessarily something extra you want to inflict on her wedding day.<br>
10) Loudly sing "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Strabismus!" This will either break the ice or find you out cold on the floor with the front door standing open.*<br>
11) Divert her attention to her big ears.<br>
12) Have her hold a Lab puppy over the lazy eye. +puppies -eye issue = win-win!<br>
I'll close with a story (not sure if it's true or not) a cosmetic surgeon once told me: Fresh out of med school, he started in with a new patient "I can really help with your ears!" To which she replied "I'm here about my nose." I guess, tread lightly and be sensitive is probably the bottom line with issues like this.<br>
Hope this helps, let us know how it turns out. Er, works out.</p>
<p>*As a member of this club, I can make this joke, and I've been waiting a long time to do so.</p>
Bride has a wandering eye
in Wedding & Event
Posted
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<p>
<p>As someone who has strabismus (which has been surgically addressed, but I still have some asymmetry to my face), I'd make the following observations:<br>
1) The overweight analogy fails after a point because viewers are much more sensitive to symmetry (or lack thereof) than to figure variations.<br>
2) Photography freezes the micro moment. This isn't as obvious as it sounds: life is composed of an endless series of these micro-moments that are composited into the sum viewer experience. These micromoments taken in isolation can single out an unpleasant reality. Shoot people eating if you don't get this. You don't realize how ridiculous the act of eating is until you capture people doing it. It is your sometimes unpleasant task, and a test of your skills, to address this reality.<br>
3) Unless the bride has supreme self-confidence (or an utter lack of self-awareness), she certainly is aware of her condition and has some sensitivity about it at SOME level. She expects you to make her look good. If you hand her a lovely portrait with one eye shooting off-stage, it will ultimately ceremoniously hang in her closet. She may know she has the lazy eye, but I certainly wouldn't want such a picture commemorating the moment, much less my wedding pic.<br>
4) Ask her to show you some favorite pictures of herself. See how SHE thinks she looks best, stated or unstated.<br>
5) IF the bride seems reasonably confident and engaged, interested in the process, perhaps you will have an opportunity to say "As a photographer, it's my job to look intently at the world. I notice you have a bit of strabismus, and was curious how you feel about it, if it is a sensitive issue for you." You need to have a bit of this dialog somewhere. Do this with no one around. You don't want her b.s.ing in front of her mom, etc.<br>
6) If she seems generally sensitive, overly wired (you know the type), and you don't think you can discuss the subject, DO YOUR BEST TO MAKE HER LOOK GOOD. I'm gonna bet the subject that really doesn't bring it up may be the most sensitive. I'm also bald, I'm comfortable with it, but it doesn't mean I want pics that are a tribute to my dome.<br>
7) Shoot a lot. You'll find moments where she has better engagement and alignment than others. Some directions are harder for the subject to align her eyes in (either intentionally or passively.<br>
8) Straight on is the most precarious and likely to produce poor results. <br>
9) If you have a good dialog going with her, maybe even shoot some test shots before the wedding (I know, this is extreme...). Have her pose and ask her to look at you with the lazy eye. This is (I've never heard otherwise) the non-dominant eye, and by purposefully engaging it, you may find they align more photogenically. On the other hand, beware if she can't produce a relaxed expression while doing this. It's harder for some people than others, and not necessarily something extra you want to inflict on her wedding day.<br>
10) Loudly sing "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Strabismus!" This will either break the ice or find you out cold on the floor with the front door standing open.*<br>
11) Divert her attention to her big ears.<br>
12) Have her hold a Lab puppy over the lazy eye. +puppies -eye issue = win-win!<br>
I'll close with a story (not sure if it's true or not) a cosmetic surgeon once told me: Fresh out of med school, he started in with a new patient "I can really help with your ears!" To which she replied "I'm here about my nose." I guess, tread lightly and be sensitive is probably the bottom line with issues like this.<br>
Hope this helps, let us know how it turns out. Er, works out.</p>
<p>*As a member of this club, I can make this joke, and I've been waiting a long time to do so.</p>
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