Photography has fascinated me since I first laid eyes on a Polaroid camera as a kid. The tangibility of film, the instant result, and the candidness of the captured moment all coming together in one package. I became interested with only film and candid shots, being an elitist to any photo that was retouched or post processed. I wanted the image as raw and unposed as possible. I loved that feeling of looking at the photo and feeling its 'realness' affect me.
Since then, years later and after playing around with various cameras and photo software, my views on photography have flipped. While I still love film and candid photos, I no longer feel that a photo is only genuine if candid and unaltered. I've fallen in love with posed shots! Anything for the vision I have in mind! As long as the photo will evoke a reaction, feeling, or connection to the viewer, it does not matter that the photo is contrived or in its natural state. It's just like a good movie, everything is purposely done but you get lost in the story and in the characters. And just like making a movie, you don't have to wait for the story or characters to unfold by happenstance; But rather, you control every creative aspect and the limits are within you and your vision.