The Tao of portraits | Ken Dolin | TEDxManhattanBeach

Ken Dolin is a portrait photographer who sees parallels between portraiture and life. Believing "you are enough", Ken urges us all to take off our masks when we are being photographed and in real life.
Kenneth Dolin is a Los Angeles based portrait and headshot photographer. Over the last 12 years, he’s worked with a clientele that’s included multiple Emmy, Golden Globe and Academy Award nominees and winners. His work has been featured in People, Us Weekly, Angeleno, Beverly Hills Magazine, L.A. Stage and more. Entertainment Tonight called him, “the go-to guy for great headshots”.
Kenneth believes that while most people pose for the camera, it’s his job to get them to stop posing. He describes his process as being part photographer, part life coach, part clown and part provocateur. Prior to becoming a photographer, Kenneth was a commercial producer, associate creative director for ad agencies, and a working actor. When not shooting, Kenneth also coaches and mentor photographers and actors. He does not own a tie.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@ursulavari]

This is the most heartfelt call to action from a brilliant photographer who has seen it all!

[@entreprenette1]

Ken I love what you had to say...... I think it's so important to stay true to YOU.

[@AntonKoryakovtsev]

Thank you for sharing this! Most of thoughts may appear obvious for someone but in this presentation they're so well structured and straightforward so I believe someone who lives in struggle to be liked may finally stop being an "every-day-positive", "every-time-smiling", or other forms of pretending, and start the actual life. And in addition I've noticed to myself that if I relax my face muscles as much as possible my mind becomes more calm.

[@stephenvictor8961]

Bravo my friend. Thank you for being who and how you are and doing what you do!!!!!

[@natashaduswalt2381]

This is awesome!! Thank you for sharing your light!! Your images clearly capture the light within each person you meet - can't wait to see more of your work!!

[@PedroDeBandit]

Wow, loved every minute of this. I saw this just today with a client. A single mother of a 6 month old that I was photographing. I asked her if she would like some images of them both together, her reply was an echo of what we have heard here. I'm not pretty enough, I look terrible, I'll make my baby look less. I asked her to give it a go and gently praised her. She absolutely shone and we have some stunning images of them both.

[@jaynamyet7221]

Beautiful thoughts eloquently spoken!

[@MyFranchiseFreedom]

Love your vibe and what you shared about how you work with your clients, putting them at ease, letting their heart shine ... I will definitely call you - thank you!

[@prkane1]

Wow,beautiful and inspiring.

[@BSF111]

*wow, this is gold.*

[@toshsimpkin4386]

Does anyone know who/what their true self is? Buddhists reckon there isn't one and I'm inclined to believe it. If the speaker means that we ought to try and get our ego out of the way, he's probably right, but that's easier said than done and I'm not sure what's behind it.

[@davidcantor1619]

The notion that the people who are photographed need to be empowered is misguided. It starts from the viewpoint that a hierarchy exists between the photographer and the photographed. A bad starting point.