[Week 24.15] I See Me in You

My first career was as a professional photographer. I spent four years apprenticing for some of the world's greatest photographers (Denis Piel, a Vogue photographer I worked with for 2 years, currently has a retrospective in Paris). Then, I moved to Paris to continue my photography journey. While I called myself a fashion photographer and shot for fashion magazines and on the runway, I found my greatest joy in my portrait work. I really enjoyed the intimate relationship of working with someone to create their portrait. As my skills improved, I could capture the person as I saw them and how I experienced them. My portraits often highlighted features like serenity, depth, grace, and peaceful joy. Studying my own work and the work of great photographers, I have realized that a similarity runs like a red thread through the images each photographer shoots. Initially, I thought this was each photographer’s style and technique, but I have come to recognize that it is not what we see in the subject so much as the parts of ourselves that they reveal to us. Think about it, we are taking a picture of both of us. How I see the other is informed by how I see myself. This got me thinking about our relationships in and outside work, as with people, we experience a combination of who they are and who we are. This insight has profound implications.

Alain Mikli Paris, 1986

As a photographer I brought my unique perspective to make my work authentic and impactful. From time to time, I would take a portrait of someone famous enough to have different portraits from different photographers over time and each time they sat for photos, they showed up differently. Sometimes, they were funny and lively; other times, haughty and aloof. I sought to find their calm, confident center, which made them solid and approachable. As a leader, being authentic and true to your values helps you build credibility and inspire others. Leading authentically creates a culture of transparency and trust, enabling your team to thrive. And how you show up impacts how you see others and how they show up around you. The culture of a team or a company is directly influenced by how the leaders show up, the example they set, and the behavior they recognize. This is one of the most powerful leadership tools.

Lolita Lempike, Paris 1985

My work as a photographer reflected my perspective and biases; a leader's actions and decisions are shaped by their own experiences, values, and beliefs. To be an effective leader, it's crucial to develop a strong sense of self-awareness, seeking to understand how your perspective influences how you perceive and interact with others. As a young photographer, I decided which master photographers I wanted to emulate, and then I worked with them and studied their craft. Eventually, I developed my own style, which I derived from their contribution to my creativity and vision. Leaders can decide how to lead based on what they know and how they want to show up. Great leadership is a choice.

Les Rita Mitsouko, Paris 1984

While I was unaware of it at the time, I developed a sense of empathy and connection when I saw a part of myself in my subject. Creating a portrait can be very intimate and collaborative - the subject and the photographer engage in a soft dance of quiet conversation, gentle motion, and deep connection. It is an art both to see others and to be deeply seen. Similarly, great leaders strive to understand and empathize with their team members, seeing situations from their perspective. This allows leaders to build stronger relationships, foster trust, and create a more inclusive and supportive environment. Like a portrait photographer, leaders work to break down resistance through empathy and understanding, and they collaborate toward a common goal.

In life and leadership, understanding how your perspective influences your interactions with those you love and lead is critical to inspiring and empowering your team to achieve great things together. If we look closely, we will see ourselves reflected in others; perhaps they will see the same in us. When we show up and lead authentically, we can create a culture of trust and collaboration that enables everyone to thrive. I hope the lessons I’ve learned from the intimate and collaborative process of portrait photography can guide us as leaders to build stronger relationships, foster understanding, and create an environment where everyone can shine their brightest.

With love, gratitude and wonder.
Scott