On Tuesday, May 24 at 7 pm the Bedford Center for the Arts Photo Group is pleased to present internationally acclaimed portrait photographer Maundy Mitchell; her topic will be Good Portraits:  Connection and the Myth of the Photogenic.  How can you create portraits that invite the viewer to take a closer look?  There are many elements that create the invitation:  lighting, body language, and composition, for starters.  Perhaps the most elusive is connection, especially for those who believe in the myth of being “photogenic.”  In this talk, Maundy discusses connection in portraiture, how other elements in the portrait contribute to it, and one of the biggest blocks to it:  the myth surrounding the word “photogenic.”  We’ll also take a brief look at different practices and the role of the photographer, how to recognize the best kind of light for the portrait you want to create, which lenses to use, and how to quickly determine someone’s “best side” — without asking them.  You’ll come away with concrete ways to create better portraits.  You’ll also begin to understand connection in portraits and learn how to dispel the myth of the photogenic for everyone who thinks they aren’t.

Maundy runs her portrait studio, Maundy Mitchell Photography, in Plymouth, NH.  She has exhibited her work throughout the U.S., and her photos have been published in magazines, on billboards, and online nationally and internationally.  She is an Associate Level Photographer with the Portrait Masters International, a member of the Professional Photographer’s Association of America, the National Association of Professional Child Photographers, NH Society of Photographic Artists, the Magic Hour Foundation Photographer Network, and the Women’s Caucus for Art.  maundymitchell.com

In-person meetings of the BCA Photo Group are suspended until further notice. However, we’ve been holding meetings online with great success.  Meeting links are sent to BCA members and registered guests shortly before the 7 PM start-time.  Non-members wishing to attend as Guests should use the Contact Form on bcaphoto.org; select Guest Attendee under Inquiry Type.  Guests are welcome to attend two meetings, and then should join the group if they would like to continue.  The event is free and open to the public.

This program is supported in part through a grant from the Bedford Cultural Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

For more information contact [email protected].