Photo by Lucille Khornak © 2018 Lucille Khornak Studios

Have you ever been the person to interrupt someone else by saying, “I don’t mean to interrupt, but…”? Chances are, you followed an impulse, and here at studio we’ve learned that sometimes following your impulse can be a good thing! There have been many writings published in attempts to disprove this theory, but we took the time to analyze scientific studies on when and why it might be a good idea to let your immediate will be your guide, and to consider how that can help you appear more confident in your photos.

At the start of our research, we discovered the work of Scott Dickman, who “proposed two subdimensions of impulsivity, dysfunctional (DI) and functional (FI). He defines the latter as the tendency for rapid, goal-oriented decision-making characterized by well calculated risks.” (Europe PMC 2012) This was encouraging news to us, because at Lucille Khornak Photography, we often receive queries from prospective clients who want to know when it is best to book a photo shoot. Well chances are, if you are interested in booking a shoot, then your overall goal is most likely to capture special moments to be shared with family and friends for years to come. This is why we always recommend booking your shoot now rather than later, because we understand the importance of documenting each precious moment of life, and we’ve made it our mission to preserve your legacy by producing prints of you and your family in fine art quality.

If you’ve been reading any of our blog posts over the course of the last year, or if you’ve ever enlisted the services of Lucille Khornak Photography, then you know for yourself that we believe wholeheartedly in the power of positivity. We believe that “positivity begins right at home,” but more specifically, we believe it starts inside of you. (Smith 2018) Once you unleash the true power of positivity, you begin to see some of the greatest possibilities in your life, and you move forward in that knowledge with gratitude, grace, and confidence. Once you acquire these traits, the way you photograph begins to change, and the quality of your life’s overall story is elevated.

Take a look at the above photo. This portrait is one of my more popular ones taken out in the Hamptons, and its grainy quality reflects its timelessness although it was in fact taken many years ago. As of this writing, the boy pictured here in his sweet mother’s embrace has just now entered adulthood, and he will always have this positive memory of love, as it was put on display for him to see while he was growing up. I had the pleasure of running into the mother -who looks exactly the same today as she did when she looked into the lens for that iconic photograph- not too long ago in Bridgehampton near the gallery. We caught up on regular things, such as family, friends, and pursuits of passion, and she mentioned how she is often stopped on the streets to be lauded as “that woman from the Lucille Khornak photograph.” What an amazing and positive effect. It wasn’t long before she had impulsively said to me that she would like to book another session soon, and I felt like that moment was particularly special, because it is my life’s passion to document people’s stories of love, of beauty, and of positivity.

The impulse of that mother to make the request to book another session came from a place of knowledge and strength. Given that she is aware of how important it is to capture the important moments of life on a regular basis, she (like many of my clients) expressed her desire to be photographed while keeping in mind that her goal is to receive beautiful prints that tell her story. She also understands that the risk of skipping or passing on a session is that she and her children would miss the opportunity to see the life that she lived, or the love and positivity they had shared as a family. By definition, this impulse can be described as “functional impulsivity,” where rational decisions can be made quickly to produce lasting effects of positivity in one’s life or in the lives of others.

Founder of behavioraleconomics.com and Chief Science Officer at Syntoniq, Alain Samson, states; “Important outcomes in our lives are often determined by the balance between functional and dysfunctional impulsivity.” (Samson 2014) Balance is extremely important! I strongly recommend for you to surround yourself and your children with positive energy, and photos that bring thoughts of joy and the fondest of memories. This way, when the inevitable feelings of impulse creep up in our lives, they produce positive results! We’ve seen it back by science, that the mind of positivity lives in a world of positivity- give yourself a chance to truly live your best life, to make even the most whimsical of choices with grace and confidence! After all, the way you are is the way you photograph as a person, all the other tips are accessories to the look.

Photography is more than just a snapshot of what you’ve done, or who you were with. The real power of photography is to tell of who you are. For that reason, if ever you should feel the urge to book a photo session with me, follow that impulse. Every photo is treated with white glove service, to highlight the truest and most beautiful qualities of who you are. You are going to love the way look- that’s an LKG (a Lucille Khornak Guarantee).

Snap you soon*

Love, LK