Making a great portrait doesn't come naturally. You can't wander into the studio and assume anything good automatically will happen. It demands a combination of patience and photographic knowledge, but mostly being able to listen and reach for the widest variety of connected ideas. I've worked with everyday people, models, actors and celebrities, and I have to know that they're all more nervous than I am. They want a great image - and they're depending on me to make it happen. There's usually a lot of pressure at the beginning of a session, but it soon turns to fun and experimenting. The most important thing happens long before the actual photography begins - discussing and planning are the key to great portraits.