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I don't like to photograph children as children. I like to see them as adults, as who they really are. I'm always looking for the side of who they might become.

I still find doing portraits a terrific challenge, but even though I've done hundreds of them, I've never stopped questioning the very nature of portraiture because it deals exclusively with appearances. I've never believed people are what they look like and think it's impossible to really know what people are.

The best portraits are those in which there is a slight mixture of caricature.

You have to kind of be invisible when you photograph children, so you use a longer lens.

But you can't show some far off idyllic conception of behavior if you want the kids to come and see the picture. You've got to show what it's really like, and try to reach them on their own grounds.

Family photo albums are so powerful in that they make kids feel valued, cherished and respected.

I think it's important to try to get on a kid's level when taking their photo.

I would wish my portraits to be of the people, not like them. Not having a look of the sitter, being them.

I've always been concerned about kids - not just my own three, but all kids - what kind of an image I'm providing for them, what kind of inspiration. I don't know now. Maybe I'm leading them down the path to self-destruction.