Contrary to what some people think, great portraits don’t just happen. They involve time, expertise, creativity and a good working relationship with a client.
Photography is a people business, and I’m a people person. It’s one of the reasons I love what I do. In 2020, I traveled the entire length of the historic Route 66 — the 2,400-mile highway from Chicago to Santa Monica, California — as I worked on a personal project. Along the way, I met lots of interesting folks. Hearing people’s stories — that human interaction — is probably my favorite thing in the world.
My portrait philosophy is simple: Never go in cold and start clicking. Instead, I want to get to know my clients first. Establish a rapport, understand what they want, and share a few laughs. This relational approach leads to great results.
When I shoot portraits, I want to catch emotion. I like the images to truly reflect who the individual is. I never ask my clients to stand still with their hands by their sides. That’s too wooden. Think of it this way: You often view yourself from different angles when you look in the mirror. When no one is watching, you smile in the mirror and admire your “good side.” That’s what I strive to capture in portraiture. The relational work I do, putting people at ease, helps tremendously with this. Please take a few minutes and browse through the portraits on my website. I think you’ll see what I mean.
I also love exploring creatively to get memorable shots. Several years ago, when my daughter was a high school senior, she and my son helped me with a fun photo shoot. My daughter stood in the main bathroom shower while I told my son to climb a stepladder and pour milk with blue food coloring over her head. Of course, he was happy to oblige. I caught it on camera at the splash point, and it is one of my favorite photos ever. You can see it on the portraits page of my website.
I also shoot lots of weddings. Once, I hired a second photographer to help me get all the necessary photos. After the event, he gave me two memory cards containing 7,000 images. I told him, “I can’t work with this. Pare it down and give me your best 75 shots.” For me, it’s more about quality than quantity. I think my clients can attest to this.
If you’re in the market for a portrait, I will encourage you to do your homework. There are lots of options. Take some time to browse my site and some others. Figure out what appeals to you. A portrait is a unique moment in time. You want it to be good because that moment will never happen again.
If you’re interested in learning more about my portrait services, please click here.