Are you Ready?

I photograph a lot of headshots. I photograph branding and talent and corporate portraits, both in studio and on location. When clients come to me, I think that they are more prepared. When I go on location to an office (law, healthcare, real estate, insurance) and photograph employees, I get a real mix of people. Some people realize that their portrait is their brand. Others dread their picture made, they just want to get it over with! But, a little preparation can go a long way.

I understand the employee that doesn’t want to get their portrait taken and I love that. It’s a challenge and a joy when they look at the screen and say “Oh! Wow! That actually looks good”, or some iteration, there of.

I always send along a PDF of grooming tips and wardrobe ideas. The marketing department or HR group may, or may not, pass it along. Sometimes a groomer is on set, or hair and makeup is on set, to make sure that makeup, skin, and hair look it’s best. This is the ideal situation! Even men have uneven skin tone and shine and I LOVE when makeup is available to men! They look better, retouch doesn’t take as long and frankly, it’s just a better product!

I spend a lot of time on retouch. On set, I have a lint roller and a steamer, so those pesky wrinkles and lint aren’t usually a problem. Uneven shaving, un-groomed eyebrows, and nose hair are easy to remedy, but it does take time. Chipped and yellow teeth are also easy to repair, yet time consuming. These things are perhaps not noticeable to you in the mirror (without your readers on), I totally get that! But, there are some things that you can do ahead of time to make for a successful portrait!

• Exfoliate and moisturize

• Floss

• Use eye drops, such as Lumify

• See your hair colorist before your session

• Wear clean and pressed, unworn clothing

Just those things alone will make for a very good image. Take a few more minutes getting ready in the morning, it’s kind of like doing homework and studying before a test. You want to be prepared and you want to ace it!

Women + Branding

Sometimes I get a call or a request for a Zoom meeting for consultation. Other times, clients schedule online and I follow up with an email to make sure that I’m ready for you when you arrive to the studio. I love a consultation ahead of time. Or, maybe you’re still shopping around for a photographer! I love that! You want to find someone who gets you.

When you arrive, you may go right into hair and makeup, or you’ve come camera ready. I always suggest, however, that you do have hair and makeup here, on set, so we can make changes as we go along. I’ll get you a drink, so you can stay hydrated. I’ll look at your wardrobe and steam and lint roll as necessary. We might look at a Pinterest Board for inspiration, or my website to see if anything in particular catches your eye. While you’re getting pampered, I’ll tweak my lighting and maybe get another set going so we can be as efficient as possible!

You look great, by the way!

I shoot to computer, so we can make sure eyebrows, eyelashes and everything else is in place. We work as a team. Oh, let’s try that black blouse, instead, I may suggest. It’s fun, it’s a process. Thank you for bringing your closet! We have so much to work with!

We all feel good about the shoot, we’ve gone from one set to another, adding or editing the wardrobe. We have a range of emotions and feelings; laughing, smiling, thoughtful.

In a few days, you’ll get your folders and you’ll then let me know what you want retouched. I’ll send back to you, high resolution files for you to use for your website or LinkedIn or your company’s website.

Thank you so much for trusting me, it really has been fun!

Seniors Seniors Seniors

It’s that time again when rising seniors (or, their parents) start thinking about their senior portrait. Of course, they are thinking about looking their absolute best, in the best clothes and in the best location! They want to stand out and look stunning! Boys and girls want to look their best. Hair, makeup, wardrobe, and locations all play a part of the final image. Sourcing those things might seem overwhelming for you, but for me, putting together the right team is paramount for making your senior portrait stand out. Finding the right stylist is part of my job, as it is, to make your photoshoot F U N.

I'd Love to Come to You!

Often times I’m asked if I can come to an office or company’s office. Of course!, I say. I’d love to! Sometimes I’m matching an existing look, other times I’m helping create from scratch. I love brainstorming with clients, it’s really the best way to come up with ideas, suited to your brand.

Sometimes, I make a studio inside a conference room. Other times, I use your existing space. There are interesting, clean, and architectural interiors in Kansas City that make wonderful backgrounds. I am in law firms and private equity firms, real estate agencies and large corporations. I am in start-ups and mom and pop shops and sometimes, temporary spaces because your office just isn’t ready, yet. I love what I do, I love what you do. Let’s create something great!

branding

This is my favorite thing! I love to make collections of images, a library, if you will. It helps to tell a story.

When you are branding individuals, culling different types of images of the same person, is paramount. Whether you are in the medical field, a life coach, or just someone who has their own business, being able to open that folder for new content is a must.

art

For the most part, I am a commercial photographer. Meaning, that I derive my satisfaction from getting paid for what I do. However, there is a more sentient side to me. I will sometimes have an idea that I must execute. To be a contemporary artist, a contemporary photographer must depict a subjective judgement. Who decides what is contemporary art, or what is contemporary photography? There should be no confusion between Modern Photography and Contemporary Photography. We live in a digital age.

Therefore, contemporary photography would be a description of photography during our own time period. Pixelated, digitized, computerized: These are all processes. What about the meaning of the image? What is going on in our contemporary time period?

I love the poetry, music, graffiti and the art that is coming out of our city right now!. It’s vibrant and hopeful and alive! Globally, look at what you can buy with NTFs? The Crypto Art scene is booming!

What are we seeing in our own community? There is some amazing work going on. ARTSKC is hopping, as is Charlotte Street. There are so many opportunities going on with the KCAC. If you are an artist in Kansas City, there are so many opportunities. This environment is open to collaboration, all you have to do is ask. Artists are helpful, they want to be of use, they want to create.

i love this sh*t

I’ve spent a lot of time behind the camera. I love the process. I love the pre-production work and the teamwork involved when creating an image. I love getting lost in the light. I love watching the talent move from one gesture to another. I watch as she moves immediately into another posture when that flash goes off or when I throw a word of description at her. When this happens, it’s magic.

For me, making connections with the talent, (the model, the MUA, the hair stylist, the wardrobe/stylist, etc.), is incredibly important. We are human and we must make connections, otherwise, we find ourselves living in a silo. If we’ve learned anything from this past year, it is that. We are human.

One person cannot make these kind of images. It takes a team of dedicated and passionate people. Passionate about their craft. I live my dream everyday. I am passionate about this industry and this job of making images. “It’s good enough”, is not in my vocabulary.

As we are bombarded by images, there are those that stand out. A well-crafted image didn’t happen by accident, but hopefully, some magic was made.

Cheaper by the Dozen

I like to pack a lot into a photo shoot. A lot. If you are going to take the time and hard earned dollars to pay for a shoot, then let’s make a small library of images for you. Let’s meet and talk about what you want. What do you want to achieve? Do you just want the experience of shooting? Do you need something specific for your agent? Do you just want to create a new body of work?

When we meet for the first time we will talk about what you like and what images you are attracted to. We will pore over a good amount of images. It’s fun! Then we make a plan. With Carter we decided on 4 good shots. A headshot, something that shows his physic, something upscale and something with a car. We started in the studio and then went out into the world. He has a lot to draw on for various applications. For his agent, for social media. Also, when he posts, it won’t look like the same shoot over and over again. For me, I think that’s important. It shows that you are working steadily and that shows promise and professionalism. 

Simplicity

It looks so simple.

When I photograph a piece of jewelry I really look at it. I hold it up to the light. I look to see what the best side is, what different textures there are, I look at the reflections in the metal or the stone or the gem. I look at the facets. Now, let me tell you, I am no expert in jewels and gems and carats and weight and color. But, I am able to feel a piece of jewelry. I look at the flow, the size, the shape, the curve. I try and determine how best to photograph this beautiful work of art. Even a simple ring is a thing of beauty.

I am constantly reminded of the ball, cube and cylinder assignment in art school. This is really what it comes down to. Light and shape. The relationship to the foreground and background. Dimension. Color. Shape. The client wants the consumer to see a piece of jewelry and to be able to visualize that piece on them. The client wants to be able to see clarity in the ring or bracelet or necklace.

Taking the piece, holding it, polishing it and then determining how to shoot. Is it a downshot? Should I hang the piece? Does it stand on its own? These are all considerations. Jewelry is beautiful. No matter your style, a man or woman wants to adorn themselves in baubles and chains and sparkly things. We are enhancing ourselves by wearing little works of art. My jewelry client, Georgina Herrera, is a perfectionist. I love this about her because it makes me a better photographer. Her expectations are high. She demands a certain look as she manages her brand with the eye of a perfectionist.

The simple work or the complicated work should tell a story on its own. We should be able to look at the piece of jewelry and not think about the light or the background or the process. We should just see the thing that is beautiful. It’s that simple.