Douglas Kirkland Quotes

When you look at my pictures, you are seeing my life.

The misfortune is that many people, men and women, think that the perfect face has no flaws, no pores in the skin; and that gives unrealistic levels of esteem. Somebody feels they're not right because they haven't got that type of refinement.

I like to talk to people and, obviously, to photograph them.

I will refine somebody in a minor way, but I don't want to totally change them. I don't want them to look like plastic dolls.

I have a genuine philosophy. I do not want to make negative pictures about people, and so I do everything I can to help make them feel comfortable in front of the camera. That is what is going to control your picture, because you are alone if your subject is not with you. And that's the simple answer to getting a good picture.

I did photograph Angelina Jolie up in Vancouver when she was making 'Life Or Something Like It', and they gave me the drawings they wanted me to photograph of her up there, but she didn't really care for them that much, and ultimately they weren't even used.

Whatever I did in 1960, half a century ago, I couldn't do that today and enter the field. The field has changed so much, you have to adapt to the times whatever you're doing. That's the reality of life: you have to be a different person today than you had to be then.

Respect and mutual respect are important. I, for instance, often show my latest work so that people can see how I work.

I consider myself very lucky. I'm known for photographing celebrities, but, in a nutshell, my first love is photography.

You must adapt to the situation. This is where the pictures come from.

I believe Photoshop is in some way the contemporary darkroom, the creative area that all photographers have available today.

I'll photograph weddings, friends - I'm not too good for anything.