We all want to be seen, but does it really matter?
You’ve seen, and many of us have been, the person on social media, newly single, posting “thirst traps” aka home-style self/portraits, orrrrr someone just generally posting a lot of photos because…
You know what though? No matter your marital status, there’s no denying it makes a person feel good to be seen– to share pieces of themselves and their lives.
But how about being reallllllly seen. (Even in a photographic portrait!)
Not just physically for your appearance, but for who you are.
That’s what a good environmental photography portrait is! Using a 2D image to create a full depth feeling and experience of YOU. I see you!
A few key points of an impactful portrait include a blend of the following
- Lighting and time of day
- Environment and interaction with it
- Natural props and styling
- Body language and posing
- Details and colour
- Emotion
… It carries on alllll the way to post production and how the photographer edits. (You’ve all seen how much edits can change a photo in Hollywood photoshop, but subtle colour and lighting adjustments in post production can rock your world and you might not even know why, you might just think “wow I really like this photo or environmental portrait for some reason”)
I photograph beyond the latest trends and styles, I photograph you for you. When photographing and environmental portrait, I photograph you in your environment or an environment that shares elements of who you are, and show the world how I see you.
After trying to figure out what this style of photography was called (which seems sooo obvious now) I came across Arnold Newman who is a legend and considered the “father of the environmental portrait”. He blends the concept of environment and portrait flawlessly and photographs radically honest.
Being authentically yourself, is a choice of great power, and seeing that reflected back to you in a portrait is bound to create confidence beyond social media and into the heart— where it matters most. I help you see yourself through the art of environmental portrait photography. Through creation and connection, we find ourselves– and sometimes we just end up with cool photos too.