Always loved the relaxed feeling and honesty of this image. It was a partial inspiration for my bargirl series of 2003. The direct look, the use of flash with color film and eye contact had a influence on my work.
Nan Goldin's intimate connection with the people she photographed was also an important lesson. If you really want to understand who you are photographing you need to become at least in a small way a part of your subjects lives. You have to see the world through their eyes to make photographs that convey their hearts.
