TRAVIS – PORTRAITS

“we shoot at high noon” may sound like a quote from a great western movie. however, to a photographer, there’s maybe no phrase that’s more troubling. noon, especially a noon where the sun is out, is one of the most unflattering times for portraits of people. it’s difficult to manage, and it’s even more difficult to work in a way that is flattering. which is exactly why it was imperative to me that i learn how to photograph it.

you see, i love to challenge myself and push myself to grow. i’ve been taking photos professionally for more than a decade, and there are still so many things i am excited to learn and try when it comes to making great images. so last summer, i sent out a call to my friends and contacts, seeing if anybody would be willing to come have their photos taken. there would be no plan or theme per se, just come as you are and we’ll see what we could create together. the only rule was that we could only shoot at high noon in sunny weather. thankfully, Travis answered the call, and i am SOOOOO glad he did, because these photos turned out (in my opinion) pretty much incredible.

i won’t ruin the moment by talking about lighting ratios, high speed sync, or a number of other technical terms that let us make these images. photography is a science, but it’s also very much an art, and i prefer to keep a little bit of magic in the world. let me just say this– i am proud. i’m proud to have awesome and talented friends like Travis (and my friend colleague Katie whose assistance on this shoot was invaluable) who are willing to spend a sweltering summer day helping me to grow and to hopefully create something beautiful.