hm.
aside from more about light, color, lenses, film, sensors, and editing software than you can imagine,

I learned that everyone wants to be seen past their exterior. even people at the peak of western beauty standards. or perhaps especially them. 
And that no lighting technique, lens compression trick, or talented art director, can ever produce as captivating a photo as looking through the lens at a human being with genuine love and acceptance. 

 that explains why your photos are nice! 

 um… thank you? 
i thought it was the phone. 😏 

 beauty fades but our soul stays

i’m glad you got to see the real beauty in the people you photographed