How I Work
I know, I know, there are a boat-load of portrait photographers, especially headshot photographers out there! And lots of them concentrate more on marketing than "takin' pictures". There is even a self-proclaimed "Best Headshot Photographer on the Planet". Hmmm, Headshot Hubris! There is a whole lot of noise in this industry! How do you find the right person for you? And why should you choose me to shoot your portraits or headshots? I see the entire process as a unique experience. Every aspect of our contact should push toward the goal of making you feel the value of our shared shoot experience. Creating an exciting image that we are both proud of can be empowering, supremely satisfying, and actually...wait for it....FUN!
From the first camera I owned, for me, it's always been about faces, faces are the center of my universe, an endless source of fascination! And "Beauty" is what happens when a face is photographed in a way that is truthful, with a style that captures the essence of the subject. Don't talk to me about whether you are "photogenic" or not. I don't believe in "photogenic". I believe in a photographer's ability to connect with a subject and craft a moment that fills the frame with interest, energy, and life! We've all heard it said that "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Come in and let me show you what I see in you!
Each session starts with a blank canvas and it is our blended energy, imagination, experience, knowledge and ability which will generate the elements that become our "image". I know the "unknown" aspect of that process is a source of anxiety for many subjects, but it is a source of excitement and possibility for me. I love the fact that every shoot starts with a void that we fill with light, shape, energy, and emotion to complete a finished image. That's the magic of photography. It's what drew me to photography in the first place, that supernatural aspect of the art. Photography wields the power to seize a moment in time and crystallize it, letting us see what sometimes in life goes unseen. I love shooting portraits! Please take a moment to look at my portfolio. You might notice that unlike my competition, my shots do not all look alike. That is a result of my mission, which is twofold, one to be constantly exploring and refining my approach to portraiture and the techniques employed to achieve an effect, and two, to focus on the character of my subject and find a way of expressing their singular, unique qualities that can never come from the repetition of a cookie cutter approach. And that's what makes me different from most headshot photographers, I don't like to repeat myself and that helps generate a totally unique image for you! And yes, I am a techno geek when it comes to equipment. I'm always upgrading the quality of my tools and the edge that gives me for taking higher quality photos. I currently shoot with a Hasselblad medium format camera for unparalleled resolution and image quality. The skin tones and detail are so realistic that the photos look like they can breathe!
Here's how a shoot comes together: Each client has their own unique set of needs. This writer wants to project an image that evokes his/her writing style, that actor wants to project his/her presence in a way that illuminates character type and unique qualities, this politician wishes to embody strength, honesty and intelligence, that executive wants to express openness, confidence and likability. Some clients come just because they want to see how I would shoot them.
To begin, we define the known aspects of what we want the image to accomplish and how the photo will be used. These ideas become the goals of the shoot. Often my clients need help defining what elements the shot should project, I see it as my job to facilitate the identification and exploration of those elements. Some shoots start with clarity, others with merely a vague notion of what we need, but I try to act as a translator, taking the ideas for the shoot, refining them and translating them into fully realized images. To do that, I employ a deep bag of techniques and tricks. My goal in my chosen field is to master the techniques necessary to execute any type of shot with any type of lighting and aesthetic. I have worked and studied hard to be able to use natural light, studio light, a blend of both, bounce flash, ring light, hard light, soft light, you name it, I want to learn and master every technique. I shoot tethered to my computer, so we can constantly be evaluating the look of each shot and fine tune that look to a degree unheard of before digital photography.
The images on my portrait site represent a wide variety of clientele, with a wide range of techniques. No one style can accommodate the needs of every client. Some portrait photographers specialize in a particular "look", everyone on their site is lit and shot the same exact way. I want all options on the table when we shoot, so I have trained and perfected the implementation of both natural light and studio light! I enjoy shooting all different types of clients and since my approach is to build the look of the shoot from the ground up, I feel I can find an avenue to capture anyone with the qualities they need to project themselves in an exciting, interesting, and unique way, and make direct contact with the viewer of the shot. And your shot will speak about you, not what photographer you went to. Time and again I have heard that the most distinguishing aspect of my work is "the look in the eyes" of everyone I shoot. Everyone I shoot can achieve that "look". It comes through our connection and hard-earned technique on my part.
My ultimate goal is to be "The Face-Whisperer". Call and come in for a meeting, we'll cut through the noise, figure out what you need, and get it!
© Joe Henson 2023 All Rights Reserved