Photographer/ Therapist...

The other day I had a photo session with a lovely lady who was doing new photos for her dating profile. Through out the session I realized that as a photographer we often end up being like a therapist for the clients as well. Much like a bartender who listens to someone at the bar, telling their story. Through out the session she told me about her life and the troubles she was having trying to get by in the dating world. As I listened I also found myself thinking about how often this type of thing occurs. The Bride who is looking for the assurance that she looks beautiful on her wedding day. That she is indeed making the right decision to marry her guy (jitters about the day). A mother wanting to know that her child is the cutest in the world. A teen girl for her senior portraits wanting to be assured she is not fat. As a photographer it is my job to make sure that the insecurities that a client has about their appearance is overcome and they do indeed look their best. There are times however that I find myself being just a sounding board. I have heard about cheating husbands & boyfriends. How they are doing the photos just to make them jealous or trying to rekindle a spark that faded long ago. We often need to help a family portray the image they would like to be seen in versus the truth. Like many families often what is seen on the surface is just an illusion. My job as the photographer is to help create the image that is to be seen. In doing this I am privy to some of the deepest secrets in someones closet. I am am their therapist.

Photographing Headshots

Often people need images for business and promotional pieces of themselves or another person. This could be for a corporate report or business card, brochure or even if they are a performer they will need it in a press kit.
Here are a few examples of stuff I have done over the last couple years.

Candy Colors, Hard as Nails

Simple yet states message

 I wanted to do a few nail polish ads that should be nice and clean. The key for these is I wanted a bit more texture and depth to the images than you might typically see.

Good balance, nice reflection.

 I love the shadows proving depth and texture with the bottles in back.

 Similar look and feel just a tighter frame.

Ah, The close up, yet great depth of field and texture.

Well there are a few nail polish shots...Great for POP, Display and advertising.

Stick it to the Lips....

Recently I did a series of lipsticks for my portfolio. The challenge with lipsticks like may other fashion and beauty items is reflections. They can be everywhere, the barrel of the tube. the cap etc. It always seems where you want the reflection you have to work hard to get it and where you don't want it it is always there.

So here are a few of the results.....

Would love to hear feedback.....

Food, Drinks, & Spirits

We all love to eat drink and be merry. When photographing food and drinks time is of the essence. Not only do we need to work quickly so the food stays fresh looking, the ice doesn't melt (unless you are using acrylic ice cubes) we need to keep a lot of things going. The styling of the set, the hero being photographed etc. The idea is also to tell a story, have the subject jump out at you and make you want to devour it. Does it exude thirst, hunger, indulgence. If this is accomplished then it is a successful image.