Linda contacted me about making headshots for her here at the JCP Home Studio in Albuquerque, New Mexico that were not stuffy. I am always happy to make the kind of creative headshots clients want, and if they want ones that allow me to get more creative than usual, that’s even more exciting for me! To start with, we only used a black background for maximum impact. Then I used a variety of different lighting styles and poses to shape different looks for Linda, even though she remained seated in the same place. It helped she brought a few wardrobe changes and was an absolute natural in front of the camera. Thank you Linda for letting me be creative and for choosing so many photos from your headshot session!
This is my second year in a row choosing my Favorite Five photos of the year. I first did this back in 2009, my first full year as a professional photographer spanning time in Tokyo and Florida. I kept up this custom until 2013. Then there was an absence as things meandered in my life and my business. However, I intend to keep this custom going strong on into the future.
How do I choose?
The diversity of photos I made in 2019 once again made it very hard to choose just five, and this year the photos are made from three different devices: my now sold Nikon DSLR, my new Sony mirrorless camera, and my updated drone.
My criteria for choosing are simple:
photos made in the 2019 calendar year
Only one photo per category
There is something about the photo that appeals to me in a unique way
Below I will post links to all past Favorite Five years. I would really be interested in feedback in the comments on what you think of my 2019 selections, and as compared to my past years’ selections.
For the third year in a row, and the fourth time overall, I volunteered in Help-Portrait. This annual event happens in cities all over the country where photographers, editors, and organizers give back in the form of making portraits for families. The organizers were really, really good this year as there were at least triple the people that were able to visit Help-Portrait! Here are some of the families I photographed including a 4 day old baby!
Gilbert visited the studio for headshots and was open to more than just the usual business headshot style. He was ok with me experimenting with different lighting, different editing, and even with him wearing shades! Actually, the sunglasses were by his request and I was happy to oblige! Do your headshots look this cool and modern? This is the way to stand out from your competition and grab the attention of clients and customers!
One of my own personal favorite photos of all time that I made involved Christmas lights. These shots are quite different from that one, but one thing remains, I like Christmas lights out of focus better than in focus! Strings of lights make are an excellent opportunity to test out the bokeh quality of a lens, and my new Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART lens impressed me with roundness of the light circles due to its 9-blade design. I took the lens mounted on to my Sony a7R IV on a stroll around Old Town Albuquerque during the annual tree lighting event, but the tree itself was not interesting to me to photograph. Much more interesting were these hidden shots I found around small stores and down old alleyways. Scroll down for a top photo tip!
Alexandra contacted me about getting a series of headshots and portfolio shots for her modeling career. Other than needing 3/4 shots, a head to toe shot, and of course a headshot, we had full creative freedom in style and posing. I chose to share this selection of photos converted to various types of black & white. In my constant pursuit to provide better and better images for clients, I have switched to editing photos in Capture One Pro 12 for Sony, and also in this pursuit, I upgraded to the best camera on the market now, the Sony a7R IV mirrorless camera. Capture One has its own collection of black & white conversion presets which I used for all of these photos. In addition this was my first time editing in Luminar 4 using its advanced AI technology for retouching portraits. I thought the results of this AI based retouching were very natural looking and not overdone.
By attending 1 Million Cups in Albuquerque, New Mexico every Wednesday morning for the past year and a half I have met many people that have become photography clients. Kawtar is the latest 1MC friend to also become a photo client as she visited the JCP Home Studio wanting headshots for LinkedIn. She was open to a variety of lighting styles, background colors, and poses. The results as you can see here are my trademark modern headshot above, then below a three-fourths headshot to show off her fashion style, and then a black background headshot with feathered lighting for a bold look. All this variety in less than a 30 minute shoot as well! Thank you Kawtar for choosing me as your headshot photographer and I look forward to our next shoot!
