If you are planning an event, conference, or corporate gathering, photography is usually one of the last things to get locked in. And often, the decision is simple—go with someone familiar, someone who has done it before, someone who is easy to book. However, there is a noticeable difference between standard event coverage and a more modern, thoughtful approach to documenting an event. This is a look at how I approach event photography, and how that experience can feel different—for planners, for venues, and for the people attending.
A Remote Cabin, Access Challenges, and a Second Trip That Made the Difference
This was one of those real estate shoots where the challenges started as soon as I got to the front door, in particular that the entrance codes provided did not work! As the cabin is tucked deep into Palo Colorado Canyon in the Big Sur area, there was no cell signal, so I had to drive out to get other codes, but those did not work either! Rather than walk away empty-handed, I focused on capturing the exterior images so the client had at least something to work with. Weeks later, after reconnecting with the San Diego-based real estate agents, I returned to the property to complete the interior photography.
A Professional Headshot That Fits Exactly How You Need to Show Up
Whether you need a clean corporate headshot, something more creative, or a quick update for LinkedIn, you can get a professional headshot right here in Pacific Grove—without traveling to San Francisco or Los Angeles.
A Collaborative Branding Session Built Around Personality
I love when clients bring props into the studio, and Mark brought a whole table full! Looking to establish his brand as a dietitian, Mark brought a bag full of fresh vegetables, his favorite cutting board, and a lot of personality to our personal branding photo session. The shoot was a collaboration of shots he had in mind, then he was open to my ideas like tossing the pepper up in the air for a shot! Below you can see the wide variety of shots we made during our session, from some clean white background 3/4 headshot type images, to personality focused photos, to bringing the veggies into the shots! I also got to take some of the veggies home with me after the shoot. Thank you Mark for choosing me as your branding photographer and for the broccoli!
Every headshot session is different, even when you have done hundreds like I have. You never know what is most important to a client until they are in the studio. My experience of making hundreds of headshots allows me to, in real time, provide what each particular client needs. At the start of Allison’s session to make a new headshot for her company’s website, I had no idea I would end up converting her edited headshots to black & white, but I just thought they really worked in black & white, in addition to color. Once we found the pose that Allison liked, we stuck with that and focused on hair position, and background color. We shot on two different gray backgrounds to provide the variety of headshot here, along with two different sweeping hairstyles. I did not know at the start this shoot would go this direction, but I listen to my clients and then make the best headshots I can based on that real time collaboration with clients. Shooting tethered to a 42” screen helps them see, again in real time, which direction they want to go for their headshot style. Thank you Allison for a creative shoot with some of my favorite black & white headshots I have made to date!
I took my camera and tripod with me to Seaside once again for returning Airbnb photography client, Crystal. In fact this was my third Airbnb shoot for her (Salinas, 1st Seaside). This was the largest vacation rental property yet with sleeping for 20 (!), a huge kitchen, and distinct and complete living spaces both upstairs and downstairs. Now that Crystal finished updating the entire interior, she wanted me to make professional photos to show off all that hard work and all of the attention to detail she put into decorating the space. It was a fun challenge photographing this sprawling Airbnb. Thank you Crystal for continuing to choose me as your Airbnb photographer. I look forward to the next one when it’s done being updated!
