Comfort is the Key

A close friend of mine is Paul Mc Cartney's photographer. Bill and Paul have travelled the world together.

I don't know Paul, but as a former White House correspondent, I do know what its like to be around famous and powerful people.

The stars of the world need to be surrounded by people who they trust. It's not only that their aides will hold their secrets, but that they also have to feel comfortable with those who serve them.

My friend Bill understands Paul's body langauge. He knows when it's okay to take a candid photo of him and when to back off. He can read his moods. Paul knows this and keeps re-hiring Bill for every one of his tours because Bill is to steal a lyric from an old Beatle's song like "an old brown shoe." He's comfortable with Bill.

Now, don't get me wrong, Bill is a world class photographer. See for yourself www.billbernstein.com There are other outstanding photograhers. But Paul does not know them and they don't know him. He doesn't feel comfortable with them.

Comfort is at least as important as competence.