The Art of a Few Great Images | Portrait Photography

Seattle Portrait Photographer | Fine Art Photography | Seattle Music Photographer

A world saturated with images.

I love that images and photographs are such a part of our everyday life today. When I began as a photographer there were no cellphones, digital cameras, and definitely no instagram (I realize I just aged myself). Today, most people have a camera in their back pocket at all times. It’s so easy to take a picture: Many of us have hundreds of quick snapshots for each day of our children’s lives. No longer do we have to savor the 35 carefully selected images a roll of film provides.

So… Why would you hire a professional photographer?

When you hire a professional photographer, it is very different from snapping those everyday photos. The photography session is a time to make a new piece of art. I believe it is my job as the photographer to work with you to create one or two magic images that truly tell your story. We may create one stand-out image that becomes part of your professional identity and how you represent yourself to the world.

Why you don’t want all of the originals from your photography session

The magic of portrait photography is not represented in every single photograph taken. It is in the subtle happenings of a few images, the precise moment when a certain spectacular image was captured, in the midst of many others and then the careful editing and design of that image. The word photography comes from the Greek: φως γραφις, which means “drawing with light” (It’s actually tattooed on my arm).

I often think of how photography is drawing or painting with light. It’s a careful process of both skill and chance.

The entire photography session is what creates those magic images, but it is only truly represented in a few. If those few magic images are then mixed back into the rest, you may completely miss them, or not appreciate how they stand out on their own. Its over saturation. This becomes overwhelming, and often times the images are then left on files on a computer, or packed into memory cards overflowing with visuals that are never really looked at again.

What to expect from me

I believe in the power of a few really great images.

To create this, we will do lots of pre-planning, a careful selection of wardrobe, location, and style. We will get to know each other well. Then, on shoot day, we will let the session take on a life of its own. During a session we may take hundreds of images. It is my job to select the special images out of the rest and then continue to “paint the light” in post-editing so that the images stand out as their own piece of art. I will select a group of images, and that is what I will share with you. From that group of images that you will see in your personal gallery, you can elect to purchase the entire set, or you can choose the few that feel the most right to you, that really capture you and your vision.

My goal is that you leave the session with a few really great images that you will use again and again to tell the story of who you are - the vision you had - and the image you wish to present to the world.

I also give the option of framed Fine Art Prints, because I believe in treating these images like pieces of fine art. Maybe your album cover work is also framed in your living room as a fine art piece. Maybe you have a record label and wish to display the work of many artists - framed as museum quality. Or maybe you wish to create a wall display for your business that captures the essence of what you do.

Lets create some great art!