Portraiture and the Joy of Communication

Photography, rather than writing, took over for the past year. I have finally become more relaxed about taking portraits of strangers on the street and am struggling to offer to take photos of people I actually know. The pleasure of making an image that the person in question will enjoy is what spurs me on most. I like when people look themselves and are not strained so the skills of communication needed must be thought through. Many people do not actually enjoy having their photo taken. How to encourage them is my new job in hand.