Blog
My Process for Portraits
My process for portraits help us to create something together that will last a lifetime.
I shoot portraits because I am fascinated by the unique stories and personalities that come with every face. Think about it. For as far as we can see out into the Universe, for as distant as we can measure, and for as quietly as we listen, we are alone. Within this miracle we call life a flash of life is born and, in the great timeline of existence, is quickly extinguished.
This is what I think about when I photograph portraits. I try to put in a bottle a brief moment in someone’s life and sealing that bottle shut by printing it to paper. Hopefully I also capture their essence so that the version of themselves of that day can live out into the future.
I try to put in a bottle a brief moment in someone’s life and sealing that bottle shut by printing it to paper
All of this happens by us working together to understand your vision and to make you as comfortable as possible with the process and with the right expectations for the outcome.
I’ll start by sending you a short set of questions to understand what you’re looking for early on. While you think about the responses, we also share a mood board, generally with Pinterest, but can be with Google Docs, or another tool, to further define the “look”. If we’re doing more than one shot, we might also work on a storyboard before the day of the photoshoot.
Example of a mood board
We work together to understand your vision and bring it to life.
On the day of the shoot, we’ll listen to your favorite music and get comfortable before we begin. It is so important to me that you’re comfortable and relaxed! If having a friend or family near will help, then they are welcome to attend too! However, most people prefer to photograph alone. Kids should have their parents nearby, but parents should try not to direct their kids as this adds tension to the environment.
After the session, we might select our favorites that day, or I’ll give you a method to select favorites later on. I will deliver all the originals to you digitally. However, if you want retouching, it can take a few days to work through them depending on complexity.
As an added service, I will print your portraits and matte, semi-gloss, or glossy in 8x10, or semi-gloss up to 16x20.
That’s it! By the end you will hold in your hands something more rare than a meteorite. A snapshot in history of the most unique and special living creature in the Universe:
You.
The process as a list:
Schedule a session
Answer a few questions
Create a mood board
Work together during the photoshoot
Select favorites (You get all originals)
Optional: Retouch for print
Optional: Receive your print