Sophia.

On Saturday I spent an afternoon at the beach with my beautiful and talented friend, Sophia Mary Mac. I couldn't have asked for a better afternoon—even the 30 minutes of heavy rain we had at the start didn't dampen our spirits, and Sophia was so easy to shoot with, rarely needing direction (maybe huddling under a single umbrella in the rain was a very critical pre-shoot bonding experience).

It's been a long time since I've done a shoot like this, where it's just me, my camera and a friend (...and maybe some distracted surfers, wedding ceremony guests and the occasional passerby spectating). It reminded me all the more how much I love photographing people. It's not something I feel one can do well and do rushed—you both have to feel comfortable, confident and open to each other. It takes a little bit of guidance, mindfulness and intuition.

To capture a side of someone that may not always be seen; to create a space for them to completely let go in front of you, is to make a unique connection with them. To photograph another person is to try and tell the unique story of who they are in that very moment, knowing that they will never be that same person twice; their impermanent being permanently captured in the frame. That, to me, is the most precious part of being a photographer.