Step by Step

Studio Shoot - Feven (1)

It has probably become obvious that I’ve been doing a series of portraits that all have the same basic ingredients: model against a grey background, lit with a beauty dish and a fill light. For most shoots I did a simple, natural portrait followed by a second look in which the makeup artist, Kim Clay, could flex her creative muscle. The beauty shots are a great way for me to concentrate on the fundamentals. By not showing any jewelry or clothing, you simplify the image.

I take the majority of portraits close up and I usually like the model looking directly at the camera. It was during my exhibition that I realized that I work in the studio in a very similar style to when I’m traveling . The majority of prints I had put on display were also head and shoulder crops of people looking directly at the camera. As a photographer I think I am trying to capture a moment of connection between the subject and the viewer.

Step by step, I can now add more variables to the simple natural portrait and still be in control of (or at least aware of ) all the different factors. Advanced makeup, clothing, locations and multiple models are all possibilities, but at the core is still a person’s face that should connect with the viewer on some level.