I recently had the opportunity to work with beautiful Stephanie on a styled portrait session. I chose Point No Point Beach at sunset because of its relaxed atmosphere and stunning backdrops. For this session, I envisioned the photos being classic and elegant. For the outfits, I went with neutral and muted colors to compliment my model’s surroundings.

When planning photo sessions, there are many elements I keep in mind to make sure the result is what I envision from the start. The location, time of day, outfits, props and posing all must work together to get the timeless results I create in my images. I want all my portrait sessions to become more valued and beautiful over time.

When I pose my clients, I give direction that causes them to keep moving, resulting in natural looking images and real expressions. For this shoot, I had Stephanie walk, look around at her surroundings and take in the beauty of the location. This resulted in candid pictures and beautiful expressions.

This styled shoot brought inspiration and new ideas to me. Styled photoshoots are great for trying new things and pushing yourself to get your creativity flowing for future sessions. As photographers, it is important to continuously learn new techniques to grow. I set up styled shoots as often as I can to keep myself motivated and learning.

With portrait sessions, there are so many opportunities to get creative. Whether it is a styled shoot or a session for a client, I think up ways to create images that share information about my subject and who they are. I want my images to tell a story and communicate to the viewers who the subject is without using words. If you are a photographer, I encourage you to set up styled shoots and push your boundaries. In doing so, you will continuously grow, gain confidence, and learn how to communicate through still images.

Based out of Washington State. Servicing but not limited to Seattle, Tacoma, Bremerton, Port Orchard, Hansville, Silverdale, Bainbridge Island, Chimacum, Seabeck, Port Townsend, Whidbey Island, Edmonds and Bellevue.