Everyone knows that a compliment helps find a way to the heart of almost any person. This is true, but you should remember that the compliment must be “correct”, otherwise its effect will be exactly the opposite. You need to be especially careful when complimenting representatives of other countries, since traditions and ideas about decency are different everywhere.
The most important thing when communicating with foreigners is to remember that your culture and traditions may differ significantly. You should think about every word, including compliments. Reaction to compliments different countries may surprise you very much.
In which countries is it not customary to give compliments?
In Britain you shouldn't kiss ladies' hands or praise them. appearance– this is considered the height of indecency. In Norway, compliments are equated with flattery, and flattery is considered a terrible sin: even children in a Norwegian school are not praised for their success. In Finland, compliments are something very intimate, so praising someone in public is unacceptable. If you dare to publicly express your admiration, be prepared for the Finns to pretend that they did not hear you.
In Egypt, there is a legend that the son of the pharaoh died after being praised, so your compliments can be perceived extremely aggressively. In Italy, do not praise children under any circumstances, and if you still can’t resist looking at the nice baby, get ready for the parents to make a “goat” out of their fingers to protect the child from the evil eye, and they will rush to get away from you. Also, do not compliment women in Muslim countries such as Turkey - you risk encountering hostility from local men.
Avoid ambiguity
In countries such as Canada and the United States, compliments on a woman's appearance are perceived as sexual harassment, and a local woman may contact the police. In Greece, never praise interior items, paintings or vases. In accordance with the Greek concepts of hospitality, a hospitable host should give you everything that you liked. It is clear that such generosity is not particularly sincere. When complimenting a Chinese person, do not compare him with another Chinese person: they say that you are much better than him. The Chinese feel like one big family, so they will be offended for their compatriot, rather than happy for themselves.
Non-standard compliments
In Japan, if they want to express admiration for a woman’s appearance, they say that she looks like a snake. The most unconventional compliments are preferred in South Korea: here they believe that a woman should be fragile, weak, sickly and “problematic” on all sides, and a real man, in turn, should try to protect, heal and warm the girl in every possible way. Feel free to point out to South Korean women that they have bruises under their eyes, tell them that they look weak and exhausted, and assume that they have all sorts of illnesses.
The best compliment is praise for the country
Play on the national pride of foreigners, praise national cuisine and the architecture of the city, admire the people's achievements. The French, Germans and Chinese will appreciate such compliments more than others. For example, the Chinese are secretly competing with the United States; compare American and Chinese goods, drawing a conclusion in favor of the latter, and you will give the Chinese great pleasure.
Rules of conduct and etiquette are a rather complicated science, to say the least. It’s one thing to know which fork is intended for salad, and quite another thing to know how to avoid causing a mortal insult to the owner of the house using the same fork. Etiquette varies from culture to culture, country to country. What seems like a gross violation of the rules of good manners in one country may be the standard of politeness in another.
Compliments.
It's not always easy to break the ice when meeting someone new for the first time or when visiting someone else's home for the first time. Our most common tactic when doing this is to try to find something to praise. "I like your shoes." "It's a nice tie." “I’m just in awe of what you’ve done with this place.” "Very beautiful sofa." In most countries, such praise usually results in hosts smiling or blushing and saying “thank you.” Thus, the ice begins to melt. However, such compliments are completely unreasonable in the Middle East, as well as in African countries such as Nigeria and Senegal. In these countries, praise is interpreted as a desire to possess a certain valuable item kept in the house. Due to their customs of hospitality, the host will feel obligated to give the guest an item that he has praised. In addition, according to tradition, after receiving a gift, the recipient must respond by giving the giver an even larger gift. We can only hope that the custom does not extend to compliments addressed to one's spouse or children.
Arrive on time.
We are all used to the fact that our older relatives and teachers always scolded us for being late. "If you can't make it on time, leave 10 minutes early." Although this good advice when traveling for an interview or meeting, this would be considered bad manners in some parts of the world. In Tanzania, guests arriving on time are treated with disrespect. All polite, well-mannered people appear 15-30 minutes later than scheduled. This is partly due to the fact that not all citizens have cars or even access to public transport. Insisting that guests arrive at the appointed time is considered rude. In Mexico, it is also considered polite to be late for a meeting or party. And if guests suddenly show up on time, the hosts may simply not be ready. They may feel insulted because they were caught off guard.
Eating with your hands.
Eating with your hands has always been the surest way to upset your parents. dining table. However, in some countries people will be offended by your use of cutlery. Eating a taco or burrito with a knife and fork is frowned upon in Mexico. It's not necessarily impolite, but it makes the person seem like a snob. A similar reason may explain the disapproval with which people in Germany will react to your attempts to use a knife to cut boiled potatoes. Also, using a potato knife can offend the chefs. They see this as a way of saying that the cooked potatoes are not boiled enough. In many countries such as India, eating without cutlery is the only possible way. They consider this method the most natural. It is said that Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister, once joked that "eating with a fork and knife is like making love through an interpreter."
Tips.
There has long been a debate about whether or not to tip. As a rule, it comes down to whether we are afraid of appearing “poor” in the eyes of the waiter. Often the lack of a tip is the reason for disdainful looks. This is also a common reason why many people, having come to a restaurant for the first time, never visit it again. Some restaurants have even banned this custom to protect their customers from unpleasant moments at the end of the meal. Japan is ahead of everyone else. The Japanese are not used to tipping, and this often leads to confusion. The waiter wonders why he received the extra money and may make lengthy, awkward attempts to get it back. More importantly, tipping can be considered an insult. Sometimes they are understood as charity, which implies pity that no Japanese would tolerate. If the client wants to express his gratitude, it is best to do this by giving a small gift. Or, if money is being transferred, then you need to put it in an envelope, and only then transfer it.
Doggy bag
Nowadays, if a visitor asks the waiter for a “doggy bag” (a bag or box in which visitors to some restaurants, mainly Japanese, can take away food they haven’t finished eating, as if for dogs), this is considered a sign of poverty . The waiter may even give such a customer an irritated look when he is forced to run through a restaurant full of customers waiting for their orders to get some kind of bag for a customer whose eyes are larger than his stomach. IN Ancient Rome However, "doggy bags" were a way of life. Whenever one of his friends invited guests to dinner, he would give the guests a fine cloth napkin so that the invitees could take home fruit. This was more of a requirement than a suggestion, since the decision not to take food home was interpreted as an insult to the owner. In addition, such a guest could quickly gain a reputation as impolite and ungrateful. "Doggy bags" may also owe their origins to Ancient China. Giving guests white boxes so they could take food home was considered a courtesy on the part of the hosts.
Leftovers in a plate.
Yes, we are all used to our parents telling us to eat every last crumb on our plate and not leave any food behind. In some countries, however, a clean plate can confuse and possibly offend hosts. In the Philippines, North Africa, and also in some regions of China, if the plate is empty, the owner will put more food on it. In North Africa it even turns into a little game: the host offers more - the guest says no, the host offers again - the guest refuses again, the host offers again - and the guest finally agrees. Only when the guest leaves some food on the plate will the host be sure that he has eaten enough. Failure to comply with this requirement in some situations may offend the owner. He will take the guest's clean plate as a signal that the service was not good enough, and may decide that the guest thinks he is cheap.
Flowers.
Flowers are often seen as a universal gift. They are good for first dates, graduations, weddings, funerals, sick gifts and apologies. It is important to remember that if you are not careful, giving flowers may be considered a sign of ignorance. Chrysanthemums, lilies, gladioli and other white flowers are symbols of mourning and are used for funerals in many countries. Brotherly cemeteries in Germany and France are decorated with carnations. When you give someone a bouquet of white flowers in China or a carnation in France, you run the risk of it being considered a "message of death." Yellow flowers symbolize hatred or dislike in Russia and Iran, while purple flowers symbolize bad luck in Italy and Brazil. Red flowers, especially roses, in Germany and Italy are intended only to express romantic feelings. In the Czech Republic, flowers are generally viewed as romantic gifts. So, giving flowers to your teacher or boss can get you into big trouble. Even the number of flowers can be considered rude. In some countries, such as France and Armenia, even numbers of flowers are suitable for joyful events, while odd numbers refer to sorrow. However, in countries such as Thailand and China, odd numbers are generally considered lucky and even numbers are considered ominous.
Showing tongue.
In many countries, sticking out your tongue is usually a rebellious or teasing gesture. At worst, it's an insult. This is why in Italy you can be fined for this as offensive behavior. In India it is not illegal, but even there sticking out your tongue signifies displeasure and is seen as a sign of incredible anger. However, there is a large area in our world, located in New Caledonia, where this gesture signifies a wish for wisdom and energy. In Tibet, showing the tongue is considered a sign of respect when meeting a respected person. Tibetans say that this custom comes from the belief that the evil king had a black tongue, and this gesture shows good will and proves that we are not his incarnation. This may explain why protruding tongues in the Caroline Islands are believed to be reliable way drive out demons. But honestly, if a person sticks out his tongue and doesn't brush his teeth, he'll probably be able to drive out anyone.
Sipping.
In most countries, sipping soup in public will at least result in some unambiguous glances in your direction. However, in many Asian countries such as China and Japan, slurping soup or noodles is considered the highest praise. This means that the food is so good that you can't even wait for dinner to get cold. Anyone who has burned their mouth with delicious deep-dish borscht will probably agree that there is some truth to this. Eating without slurping shows that you are unhappy with the food. In Japan the same is true for tea. By loudly sipping the last sip of tea, the guest lets the owner know that he has finished and is satisfied. This cultural difference makes many Japanese diners feel constrained in other countries, making it difficult for Europeans to dine in peace.
Spit
Spitting is generally frowned upon. Spitting in someone's direction is considered one of the worst insults. Police in the US regard this as an attack and may shoot you, which they are very fond of doing. Members of the Maasai tribe in eastern central Africa, however, have a completely different view of many things. They spit on each other the same way we shake hands. More precisely, they spit on their hands before shaking hands and, just in case, again after it. Most of us have to endure the reproaches of older people who adhere to the rule of “be specific, don’t talk too much,” but Maasai children have it even harder. Polite children who greet their elders may get thick spit on their backs. Of course, this is done with the best intentions and means that the elderly wish the child a long life, but for us it seems unusual. Friends and relatives walk many kilometers just to spit on a newborn - for the same reason. Tribe members spit at every opportunity. They spit on the gift they are about to give. When they move into a new house, the first thing they do is go outside and spit in all four directions. The Maasai also spit on everything they have never seen before, because they are sure that it protects their eyesight.
How many countries are located on our planet Earth, so many different traditions exist in these countries. Although the Italians say with their proverb that “All of us are one country,” this is not at all true. Rather, each country is a special world with its own traditions and customs.
Let's consider this tradition, which is inherent in the culture of communication in different countries:
- in Russia they say: “Hello!” or “Hello!”;
- in China - “Have you eaten?”;
- in Iran - “Be cheerful!”;
- Zulus greet each other with the words: “I see you!”
Such diverse words denote a common tradition for all countries - greeting when meeting.
Different traditions in different countries
European countries
If in European countries slurping at the table is considered a sign of poor upbringing, then in China guests champ intensely, afraid by quietly eating food they will offend the hostess, who may think that the guests did not like the treats. Loud slurping while eating, a tablecloth stained with sauces are signs that the guests ate with appetite and enjoyed the treat.
China
In China, there is no tradition of presenting a bouquet of flowers to the hostess. A presented bouquet can offend the hostess, who will take it personally that the decoration of the house is not beautiful enough, which the guests want to decorate with their bouquet of flowers.
Advice
Imagine a situation where a European comes to visit without flowers for the lady of the house. IN best case scenario he will be accused of bad upbringing, at worst - of stinginess, it is worth thinking about the gift.
Compliments in Korea
The tradition of complimenting a woman differs in different countries. In Korea, a woman's beauty is judged by her fragility and paleness. Such painful beauty is appreciated by men who have a desire to take the girl under their wing. Therefore, the highest compliment Koreans can give is to tell a girl: “You look so bad!” For example, a Frenchman would try to give such a compliment to his girlfriend!
Japan
Japan is a country of unshakable traditions that are respected and passed on from generation to generation. Something as simple as blowing your nose into a handkerchief in public is considered unacceptable by the Japanese. Another indispensable tradition: you cannot leave your workplace before your boss. Violation of this tradition can have a detrimental effect on the employee, who will be accused of dishonesty in performing his duties.
Are there traditions associated with farming?
In many countries there is a tradition according to which it is forbidden to help the housewife wash the dishes. It is believed that by breaking this tradition, you are washing away your happiness. In Russia, on the contrary, after a feast it is considered a good tradition for women to help the hostess of the house wash all the dishes after the banquet.
USA and Russia - taxi traditions
In the USA, for taxi services, in addition to paying for the trip, there is a tradition of helping the passenger get out of the car and bring his luggage to the door. And only a compliment to a female passenger can be interpreted as sexual harassment. In Russia beautiful woman will be awarded with all sorts of compliments from the taxi driver, but the taxi driver can only carry the luggage for a certain fee.
Arab countries
In countries, mainly Arab, where the tradition of hookah smoking is developed, the hookah mouthpiece is never passed from hand to hand. This action creates a feeling of being forced to smoke a hookah, which is unacceptable, so the mouthpiece is placed on the table.
Greece
In Greece, they are very sensitive to the fact that a guest praises an item of home decoration (a vase, a painting). According to existing tradition, the host must give the guest this item.
Conclusion:
Going to tourist trip, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the traditions and customs of the country where you are going. This will help you avoid awkward situations and not offend anyone. Treat the traditions of another people with care and caution, who will be able to appreciate your delicacy and good manners, and then your journey will be pleasant and comfortable.
Cultural traditions of different countries
Manners and etiquette can be very misleading. It's one thing to learn which fork is a salad fork, but it's another thing to know when using a particular fork might offend the person you're visiting. Different countries have different etiquette rules. Sometimes what sounds like rudeness in one country may be the most polite and courteous gesture in another.
10. Spitting
It's likely that your parents scolded you as a child if you spat on the sidewalk. In general, people don't take kindly to spitting. Spitting at someone is considered one of the most serious insults you can think of. The police consider such actions as an attack. However, members of the Maasai tribe, who live in central-eastern Africa, see things completely differently. They spit at each other for the same purpose with which we shake hands. By the way, they spit on their hands before shaking another person's hand, in case they forget to spit on them later.
Most of us have to endure conversations with elderly relatives who drool as they speak, but the children of the Maasai tribe have a much more unpleasant burden. Polite children who greet elderly relatives when meeting them can expect a huge amount of spit to be thrown their way. Of course, this is done with the best intentions, because adults wish the young a long and happy life. Friends and family members sometimes travel from distant areas to spit on the newborn for the same reason.
Tribe members spit on almost any occasion. They spit on the gift they are going to give. When they are about to move into a new house, the first thing they do is leave the new house and spit in all four directions. They spit on everything that they have never seen in their lives, because they believe that in this way they will protect their eyesight.
9. Loud squelching/smacking/smacking
In most countries, loudly slurping soup in public would either result in a slap from your mother or the person you came to the restaurant with pretending not to know you. However, in many Asian countries such as China and Japan, slurping or slurping while eating soup or noodles is considered high praise. This means that the food is so delicious that the guest couldn't even wait for it to cool down to eat it. Anyone who has ever burned their mouth with a slice of pizza c big amount different fillings, you will probably agree that there is some truth in this.
In Asian countries, if you eat without loud slurping/slurping, other people may think that you are unhappy with your food. In Japan, the same applies to tea. The loud slurp of the last sip of tea indicates that the guest drank his mug and was satisfied with the tea. This cultural difference has led many Japanese tourists to feel uncomfortable in countries where it is customary to eat without making a sound.
8. Tongue sticking out
In many countries, sticking out your tongue is commonly associated with the phrase: "Be-be-be." At the very least, it is seen as teasing or disobedience. In some cases, even as an insult. This is why in Italy you can be fined for offensive behavior if you stick your tongue out. While sticking out your tongue is not illegal in India, it is seen as a negative gesture associated with incredible, barely contained anger.
However, the world is big and in New Caledonia such a gesture means a wish for reason and energy. In Tibet, sticking out your tongue is considered a respectful greeting gesture. It is believed that this custom originated from the belief that the evil king had a black tongue - voluntarily sticking out your tongue is proof that you are not his reincarnation. This may well be the explanation for why, in the Caroline Islands, sticking out your tongue is believed to exorcise demons. Although, to be honest, if the person sticking out his tongue hasn't brushed his teeth, he'll probably be able to drive anyone away.
7. Flowers
often seen as a one-size-fits-all gift. They are given on first dates, at graduations, at weddings, at funerals, to sick people for whom you wish them well, and also as an apology. In fact, it is for this reason that flowers can be seen as a rude gesture if you are not careful. Chrysanthemums, lilies, gladioli and other white flowers are symbols of mourning and are used during funerals in many countries. Carnations are a common decoration for wreaths in cemeteries in Germany and France. If you give someone a bouquet of white flowers in China or a carnation in France, it can be interpreted as a wish to “keep your hooves off.”
Yellow flowers are associated with hatred in Russia and Iran, while purple flowers are considered unlucky in Italy and Brazil. Red flowers, especially roses, are used exclusively to express romantic interest in Germany and Italy. In the Czech Republic, flowers are generally seen as romantic gifts, so giving flowers to your teacher or boss can get you into a lot of trouble. Even the number of colors can be rough. In some countries such as France and Armenia, an even number of flowers is reserved for joyful occasions and an odd number for funerals, while in countries such as Thailand and China, odd numbers are considered lucky and even numbers of flowers are generally considered lucky. brought to the funeral.
6. Eating all the food on your plate
Yes, we are all used to the fact that our parents forced us to eat everything on the plate so as not to waste food. However, in some countries, a clean plate can confuse or even offend the host. In the Philippines, North Africa, and also in some regions of China, the host puts food on the guest's plate if he eats everything on it. This even leads to a kind of game in North Africa: the host offers more, the guest refuses, the host offers again, the guest refuses again, the host offers again and the guest finally agrees. Only when the guest leaves some food on the plate does the host realize that the guest is full. Failure to comply with this rule in some situations may offend the owner. He will regard a guest's clean plate as a sign that the guest has not had enough to eat and the host may feel that he is being considered greedy.
5. Leftovers from dinner at a restaurant, which are wrapped in a bag so the customer can take it with them.
A person who, during a date, asks you to wrap up leftover dinner in a bag to take with you may seem stingy. The waiter may even look askance at such a person, returning with his half-eaten food to the kitchen to wrap it up for him, while the restaurant is crowded with hungry customers waiting for him to take their order. However, in ancient Rome, such bags with dinner leftovers were considered the norm.
When someone had guests over for dinner, he or she would wrap the fruit in pretty napkins and give it to their guests to take with them. It was more of a rule of good manners than something that was done at will, and failure to accept a napkin and take the food home was regarded as an insult. Moreover, such a guest acquired a reputation as impolite and ungrateful. Such bags with leftover food were also found in ancient China. The host who hosted guests had to give them white boxes in order to take some of the food home.
4. Leaving a tip
To leave or not to leave - this question has been tormenting many for a long time. It usually comes down to whether we care that someone thinks we're stingy. The absence of any tip is often the reason for sidelong and angry looks. This is also the reason why the first date also becomes the last. Some restaurants have even banned the practice to save their customers from worrying about it at the end of their dinner.
The Japanese, as usual, are ahead of the rest in this matter. They are so unaccustomed to leaving tips that leaving a tip can lead to confusion. The waiter begins to wonder why she or he was left with extra money, and this, in turn, can lead to long and awkward conversations and attempts to return the extra amount. Moreover, tipping can be considered an insult. Sometimes they are seen as a sop out of pity. If a client wants to express gratitude, the best way to do this is with a small gift. Or, if you still prefer to give money, it is best to put it in an envelope and then give it to the waiter.
3. Eating with your hands
Eating food with your hands was quite possibly the most in a fast way pissing off your parents at the dinner table. However, in some countries, hosts will be offended to the core if you use cutlery. Eating tacos or burritos with cutlery is considered bad manners. This is not necessarily considered impolite, but it does make the person appear overly swaggering and arrogant. Using a knife to cut boiled potatoes causes exactly the same reaction in Germany. Moreover, using a knife to cut boiled potatoes may offend the cook. He will take this as your dissatisfaction with the fact that the potatoes were not cooked properly or that they were not soft enough.
In many countries such as India, eating food with the hands is the only acceptable way to consume food. Indians consider this method as the only natural way of eating and the least distorted. India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, once jokingly said, “Eating food with a fork and spoon is like making love with the help of an interpreter.”
2. Punctuality
We have all had elderly relatives or teachers who scolded us for being late and told us that “you are only on time if you arrive ten minutes before the appointed time.” While this is good interview advice for a job or a date, in some parts of the world being punctual can make you the most impolite person in the room.
In Tanzania, arriving on time for an evening can be considered a rude gesture. All polite, well-mannered guests appear 15 - 30 minutes later than the appointed time. This is partly due to the fact that not all citizens have cars or even access to public transport. Insisting that guests arrive on time is seen as tactless and rude. In Mexico, it is considered polite to be moderately late to a meeting or party. If you arrive on time, the owner may not yet be ready to receive guests. He may feel like you're rushing him and be offended that you caught him off guard.
1. Compliments
When you see someone for the first time in your life or go to someone's home for the first time, it's not easy to start a conversation. The most common tactic is a compliment, from which you can build on and develop the topic. “Nice shoes”, “Great tie”, “I really like the way you arranged the furniture in the room”, “What a comfortable sofa.” In most countries, such compliments make a person smile, maybe blush a little and say thank you. This way the conversation starts naturally.
However, such compliments would be unwise to make in the Middle East, as well as in African countries such as Nigeria and Senegal. In such countries, a compliment on something is easily interpreted as a desire to possess this item. Because of their hospitality customs, the host will feel obligated to give the guest an item that he or she praised. In addition, according to tradition, when receiving a gift, you must respond even more an expensive gift. We can only hope that the custom doesn't extend to complimenting someone's spouse or children.
Photographer Mehmet Genç photographs women all over the world - before and immediately after a woman is given a compliment.
Two years ago, Turkish photographer Mehmet Genç started a project involving travel to indigenous communities in Latin America.
In full accordance with his pseudonym on Instagram - rotasizseyyah, or "wanderer without a specific route" - Gench took the first photo, which marked the beginning of the project "You are so beautiful!", completely by accident.
In January 2015, he ended up in the Mexican municipality of San Cristobal de las Casas. Trying to help his model feel more comfortable in front of the camera, he asked her to smile, and when that didn’t work, he unexpectedly called her beautiful.
“I needed to break the ice somehow,” he recalls. “I had to somehow start a conversation. Say something simple that causes [a person] an emotional reaction. Well, what if not a compliment? a short time establishes a connection with the interlocutor and helps to relax and smile."
According to him, the photo turned out to be so sincere and sincere that he decided to take this idea as the concept of a new project.
Genç is still traveling around the world, collecting the fruits of his compliments, and plans to complete the project by October 2017.
In response to a request to pose for a photograph, Matilda, from Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, said: "I have no teeth. Please don't make me laugh."
But when she heard them call her beautiful, she forgot to think about her teeth. "We laughed a lot with her. It was a nice moment," Genc said, adding that this photo is one of his favorites.
Margarita sold fruit at a street market in the Ecuadorian city of Otavalo. Gench bought some goods from her, after which she agreed to filming.
Margarita did not respond to the request to smile, but the compliment made her break into a sincere smile.
Zarekkim is from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, a remote mountainous area in Colombia, who speaks only his native Arhuaco language.
Arriving in this village, Gench learned how to say “you are so beautiful” in Aruacan, and captured on camera the face of a woman who heard these unexpected words from him.
Genç met Juliana in a village adjacent to Cabo de la Vela, a coastal region in northern Colombia where the desert meets the Caribbean Sea.
The area is very dry, some months there is no rain at all, and Juliana was wearing a mask to protect her face from the sun's rays.
She was selling handicrafts, and Gench's compliment brought a happy smile to her face.
Meto, a member of the Marubo tribe of the Brazilian Amazon, also speaks only their native language.
The photographer learned a few words of greeting and her signature compliment, and finally she smiled into the camera.
Mimba and little Maya also belong to the Brazilian Marubo tribe. Mimba was very shy, and only the second time, when he came to her home, the photographer was able to get permission to shoot.
However, after hearing the compliment, the girl felt freer.
Altena was sitting on the front porch of her home in the Brazilian city of Atalaya do Norte when Genc asked permission to photograph her.
As he recalls, she was very friendly: he took a few pictures, then told her that she was beautiful, and she burst out laughing.
And Cosmita, another resident of Atalaya do Norte, surprised Gench with her reaction to his compliment.
“No one else was so impressed by the words ‘you’re so beautiful!’,” admits the photographer.