My Photography Process: from Vision to final delivery
Specializing in modern and elegant portraits that uplift, celebrate, and inspire, I strive to make every session a positive and transformative experience. Below is an overview of my seamless process—from our first conversation to delivering your cherished images.
Pre-Session Preparation
Every great photo session starts with careful planning. In our pre-session consultation, we’ll dive into your vision, mood, and style. Whether you’re planning an elegant portrait session, an important event, or a professional headshot, I want to fully understand your goals.
We’ll discuss everything from the emotions you want your photos to convey to the finer details like locations and, for events like weddings, the timeline. We’ll also go over a shot list or even create one together. The goal is to ensure that when the shoot day arrives, you’ll feel completely confident and excited about the plan we’ve put in place. We’ll be 100% ready to capture the moments that matter most to you.
The Day of the Shoot
The day of your session is where all the planning comes together, and the magic happens. My role is not only to capture beautiful moments but to guide you and make you feel comfortable, confident, and celebrated throughout the shoot.
On-location Portraits (Graduation, Engagements, Proposals): We’ll follow the plan we created during the pre-session consultation, moving seamlessly through different locations. I’ll offer clear, proactive direction to ensure that your poses are flattering and that you look your absolute best. I’m also highly collaborative, showing you previews of the photos in real-time so you’re always part of the creative process. This way, you’ll feel involved and assured that we’re achieving your vision.
Headshots: Headshots require a different approach, where the focus is on creating professional yet engaging images. I take time to put you at ease, working through a variety of poses and expressions to capture the perfect representation of you. From a polished corporate look to a more relaxed and approachable style, we’ll create headshots that speak to your goals.
Weddings and Events: For weddings and events, capturing the key moments as well as the candid, spontaneous ones is essential. With the timeline reviewed and planned in advance, I can anticipate all the crucial moments and document them as they unfold. Whether it’s a touching glance during a ceremony or a lively dance at the reception, I blend in seamlessly and am ready to capture both posed and unscripted moments. My ability to stay one step ahead ensures that no moment is missed.
Backup & Data Security
Your photos are priceless memories, and I take data security extremely seriously. Here’s how I make sure your images are never at risk:
- During the shoot, I use professional cameras equipped with dual memory card slots, meaning every image is written to two separate memory cards in real-time. This protects against any potential data corruption.
- The memory cards I use are pro-level tough and waterproof, adding an extra layer of protection against the elements.
- After the shoot, I follow a meticulous backup process. I immediately take one copy of the images with me and leave another copy safely stored with my camera. This ensures that no matter what happens to the camera or equipment, I’ll still have a complete copy of your photos.
- I upload the images to multiple locations on the same day of the shoot, including my computer and a mobile backup device. My computer itself is backed up to both an offline hard drive and the cloud, ensuring there are always multiple copies in secure locations.
My backup system is robust and meticulously organized by date and session type. In over 10 years of experience, I’ve never lost a client’s photos, and I take great pride in maintaining that level of care.
Culling
During every session, I take far more images than you’ll ultimately receive. This is intentional—I capture multiple versions of each moment to ensure that I get the perfect shot. For every frame, I take into account variables like lighting, expression, and movement, all to make sure the end result is flawless.
The culling process is where I narrow down these images, removing any that don’t meet my exacting standards (such as shots where someone blinks or where an expression isn’t quite right). This is where the artistic aspect comes in. Selecting the right shot from a series of similar images requires a careful eye and a deep understanding of the emotion or story behind each moment.
Using top-tier cameras like the Sony A1 and Nikon Z9, I capture images in rapid bursts and with fully silent shutters so no moment is lost, but the process remains unobtrusive. Each shot is reviewed with a discerning eye, ensuring that only the most expressive, flattering, and intentional images make it into the final gallery.
For a full list of equipment used, visit my equipment page.
Editing & Retouching
Once the best images are selected, I move into the editing process. This is where the magic happens, where each photo is refined to showcase the beauty and elegance we captured during the session.
Editing is the process of enhancing the overall look of the image—bringing out the best in colors, lighting, and tone. I shoot with the final image in mind, so many of the creative choices are made at the time of shooting. However, new ideas sometimes emerge during editing, allowing me to push the image further and create something truly unique.
Retouching, on the other hand, focuses on the finer details, particularly for close-up portraits and headshots. Retouching involves subtle adjustments—refining skin tones, removing minor blemishes, and ensuring every detail is polished while still looking natural. I believe in elevating your natural beauty without overdoing it, so you look your best while remaining authentic.
Retouching is typically more important for headshots or close-up portraits, while lifestyle images and environmental portraits often don't require the same level of detail.
Client Proofing & Reveal Session
For headshot sessions, I provide a proofing gallery after culling and initial edits. This gallery showcases a variety of looks, moods, and expressions we captured during the shoot. You’ll have the chance to select your favorite images, which will then be retouched to perfection.
For portraits, weddings, and narrative-based shoots, I offer a special reveal session. During this emotional moment, you’ll get to experience your photos for the first time in a way that’s personal and meaningful. The reveal session is a celebration of the memories we’ve captured together, allowing you to relive those moments in a powerful and emotional way. This part of the process is always a joy and provides a beautiful way to reconnect with the emotions of the day.
Final Delivery
After editing and retouching, I deliver your images via a private online gallery. This gallery is user-friendly, secure, and allows you to download high-resolution images at your convenience. The gallery also gives you access to professional print services, offering archival-quality prints and museum-quality wall art. Whether you want to display your portraits in your home or create a keepsake, the options are endless.
For portrait sessions and weddings, I also offer designer albums made from premium materials such as Italian leather and wood fibers. These albums are timeless, elegant, and crafted to preserve your memories for generations to come.
Long-Term Storage
Your photos remain available in the online gallery for a set period of time, but I also offer extended access for a small fee. This ensures you’ll always have access to your photos, no matter how much time passes.
Additionally, I archive all of your images across multiple offsite storage systems, so even if your digital files are lost years down the road, I can always retrieve them and reprocess them from the original digital negatives. Your memories are always safeguarded.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long does it take to receive my photos?
- For headshot sessions, proof galleries will be available within the week.
- For portrait sessions, final images are delivered within 1-2 weeks.
- For weddings and large events, the delivery time is typically 2-3 weeks.
- I prioritize quick turnaround without compromising on quality.
What if I need access to my images in the future?
- Your cloud-backed gallery can be extended, allowing continued access to your images. Additionally, I archive all images and can retrieve them at any time in the future if needed. Archive retrievals and gallery extensions can be available for a small fee.
Do you offer prints or albums?
- Yes! You can order archival-quality prints and luxury albums directly through your gallery. My albums are crafted from premium materials, ensuring your memories are preserved in the most elegant and timeless way possible.