A few years ago my studio manager Trish walked into my office and said, "hey, do you realize that the majority of your clients are female executives?" She had been looking at our client base over a five year period and realized about halfway through that business women had crossed over the 50% threshold. By 2020, female executives made up approximately 60% of my client base! This was a bit of a surprise initially...but the the more I dug into it, the more it made sense. Here are the reasons:
1. Good Lighting
With 30+ years of experience, I know how to beautifully light my subjects, both in the studio and on location. In my early years, I was a fashion shooter and worked for top clients like Neiman Marcus and St. Bernard Sports. Then I shifted over to editorial portraiture, photographing subjects for magazines such as Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, Town & Country, Outside, Fast Company, etc.
In the photograph below of real estate agent Michele Geweniger, it was important to light her in a flattering way, while also balancing that light with the ambient lillumination that existed in the penthouse.
Lighting was definitely a factor in this portrait of influencer Jasmine Marie. When we made this photo, Jasmine was living at South Side on Lamar, the old Sears warehouse converted into lofts in 2000. The building has a lot of character and offers many nice shooting options. This photograph was made just outside of the coffee shop using an old, distressed metal door as a background. Axis beauty lighting was perfect for her young face and the strong edge-light separated her from the background and also added some drama.
Lighting was also a consideration in this studio portrait of fashion photographer Nicollette Mollet. Because she is an artist, I wanted her portrait to have a contemporary style, feeling like something you might see in the pages of Vanity Fair.
2. Good Direction
I understand that being photographed is stressful and makes you feel self-conscious...because I'm the same way when the tables are turned Decades of experience however have given me the ability to effortlessly help you find the correct pose and expression. I am searching always for "the best you".
Dorothy Miller Shore (below) is the co-founder and CEO of PRIME Women Media. This photograph took place in her home. I did a little scouting upon arriving and located this nice vantage point. She needed something to anchor her into the shot, so I had her lean on the back of a dining room chair. Folding her arms removed the "what do I do with my hands" predicament and an apple box brought her up to the correct height. The rest was a piece of cake!
Direction was also a factor in this wonderful portrait of artist Jenna Fredde. Jenna was hired by Drake's Hollywood Restaurant to paint a series of caricature murals (of Hollywood figures) to be used as decor. She found me via Instagram and asked that I create an iconic image of her among the paintings. After scouting the location, I knew exactly where I wanted her to be. She was nervous sitting so close to the camera so I asked her to lean forward and plant her hands on her thighs. She followed my directions and then BAM, the magic happened!
3. Just the Right Amount of Retouching
Many of my young assistants are more proficient at Photoshop than I am, but few are my equal in regard to retouching. The reason is that this is something that requires an aesthetic sensibility. You can make changes all day long, but in the end the photo must still look like the subject. This sensibility is apparent in all of my work and very much a reason that clients are drawn to me.
4. A Genuine Understanding of Branding
My father was the Creative Director of an advertising agency, so I grew up in the "ad biz". And as a long time commercial shooter, I've shot countless ad campaigns both big and small. The upshot of all that is that I understand branding. I know what it means, I know what it looks like...and I understand how to convey my clients message in an image. Branding is really what makes todays world go round and it is the central focus of virtually all of the imagery I create!
Martha Pease is a global marketing and strategy leader based in NYC. We met through mutual friends in Taos and after seeing my portfolio she flew to Dallas for a head shot/branding session. This portrait of her was made in my downtown loft. She is a heavy hitter and that comes across in this photograph. There is also a level of refinement that is part of her brand and that is communicated as well.
Caroline Summers is a top selling realtor with Briggs Freeman Sotheby's in Dallas. Her beat is Highland Park, so we sought out a location that would communicate that. Highland Park Village, the iconic outdoor shopping center in the heart of the community told the story beautifully.
0 Comments