What Happens When 3 Photographers Shoot the Same Model — And What It Teaches You About Your Own Style

What Happens When 3 Photographers Shoot the Same Model — And What It Teaches You About Your Own Style

I’ve been shooting portrait sessions for years, and one of the questions I still get tripped up by is this: how much of a “good photo” is technical skill versus personal vision? I had a client session last month where everything was correct on paper — the light was soft, my settings were dialed in, the location was beautiful — and the images still felt flat to me. Not bad. Just… mine-shaped.

What Happens When Three Photographers Shoot the Same Model (And What It Taught Me About My Own Eye)

What Happens When Three Photographers Shoot the Same Model (And What It Taught Me About My Own Eye)

I used to think that if two photographers stood in the same spot with the same gear, they’d come back with more or less the same photo. I held onto that assumption for longer than I’d like to admit. It wasn’t until I started shooting with other photographers on my Sunday morning photo walks that I realized how wrong I was. Same light, same street corner, sometimes the same focal length, and we’d come back with images that looked like they were taken on different days by different people.

Creating Dramatic Character Photography: Lessons from High-End Visual Production

Creating Dramatic Character Photography: Lessons from High-End Visual Production

Creating Dramatic Character Photography: Lessons from High-End Visual Production When I first learned about the meticulous process behind designing dramatic character visuals for major productions, I realized how many of these principles apply directly to photography. Whether you’re shooting portraits, character studies, or conceptual imagery, the approach used by professional art directors offers valuable lessons for all of us. Understanding the Gritty, Painterly Approach Recently, I discovered how contemporary visual productions are moving toward what I’d call a “tactile aesthetic” — where every element feels real, weathered, and intentional.

Learning from Creative Pivots: What Photographers Can Take Away from Industry Changes

Learning from Creative Pivots: What Photographers Can Take Away from Industry Changes

When Creative Vision Shifts Direction I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how creative projects evolve, and I wanted to share some reflections on what happens when artists and teams make significant changes to their work. Recently, I learned that Ninja Theory—the studio behind acclaimed psychological horror experiences—decided to step away from a project they’d announced several years ago. While this news comes from the gaming industry, I found it incredibly relevant to those of us working in visual media, including photography.