Portraits
Most of my photography is aimed toward gallery and art show work. However I have a great passion for the art of the portrait and I accept portrait commissions as time and interest permits.
If you choose to hire me, you will become both my muse and my patron. It will require more of your time than just popping into a department store studio, and it will be more expensive, but both the experience and your photographs will be of a vastly different caliber. If I accept your commission, I will ask you to relax, open up, and show me what makes you you. That can be hard, but a good portrait is personal. It must capture a piece of who you are, not just what you look like. If that's not your goal, please hire someone else.
Location: I have a ratty little studio where I shoot my art work. I can make your portraits there, but I can also shoot at your home or any other location you choose, indoors or outdoors.
Style: I can shoot just about any style you want - casual, lifestyle, glamour, fashion, sport, or a combination, and I'm happy to shoot a combination of studio and environmental settings. The only style I won't shoot is plastic snapshots that look like they came from a catalog for photography props.
Seniors: I'm happy to shoot senior portraits, but I treat them the same as any other portrait client, and I don't run a high-volume business model so I can only fit in a limited number of seniors each year. I can provide a yearbook image on CD, but I don't attempt to compete with the fine photographers in town who offer a full suite of tailored senior portrait packages. If you're under 18, I do require the signature of a parent or legal guardian on the contract before I shoot.
Scheduling and time frames: I work by appointment only, and I insist on a pre-session interview. There’s a 4 to 6 week wait between booking and shooting, and your pre-session interview will occur during that time. For senior portraits I can generally get previews on-line and get a yearbook image to you within one week after shooting. Otherwise, you will normally receive proofs 14 days after your session. After you return the selection sheet it will take approximately 4 weeks to prepare and deliver your prints. At a minimum, you should be planning 8 to 10 weeks out.
Please note: I don't shoot children's portraits. While I don't have a predetermined minimum age, I prefer to work with subjects mature enough to follow directions, grasp artistic concepts and have a discussion about their self image and what they want their portraits to convey. It has been my experience that clients younger than their teens usually don't meet those criteria.