Shoot and Edit MO

This post is a detail of my shooting and editing MO (modus operandi).

The most important goals, personally for shooting, are twofold:

1) Have fun making art.

2) Make art I am happy to have and/or display (the purpose of this website).

With that in mind, I tend to think toward longevity. In other words, the following “rules” I’ve developed or adopted as my MO for survival and longevity as a portrait photographer. This is why my name can be searched for online and there are no complaints, accusations or other drama. I tend to avoid big egos and drama queens as I don’t have time for it and there are a million other things I’d rather give my time to anyway. 

My shooting rules:

1) Communication is king. From setting up the shoot, during the shoot and in some cases where I consult with the subject on editing, after the shoot. 

2) Non-shoot bodies on set; I don’t care if a model brings an escort but they need to be doing something to aid in the shoot or sitting in a waiting area outside of the shoot. Onlookers in any capacity disrupt the flow.

3) No touch policy. In the 20+ years of working with people in making portraits I can count the amount of times I have touched a model and it’s less than 20. And always with permission and always on an arm or rotating shoulders to get the right angle. I believe verbal communication is the best policy for directing models.

4) I try to have a script in my head on what we will shoot and the flow of the shoot. However, toward the end of the shoot (or randomly) I may go off script. I don’t go from non-nude to nude in these scenarios unless the model and I are comfortable with each other and okay with that. I don’t put people on the spot in this regard. Generally, if we are to shoot nudes we will have a general plan worked out via email before the shoot so that the model can be prepared physically and mentally for this type of photography.  But I do enjoy being sporadic as my mind often wanders with the energy of the shoot.

5) I want models and other creatives contributing to the shoot to be comfortable. Taking bathroom breaks, food and drink breaks and even breaks just because will always be okay and expected. I want the shooting experience to be enjoyable. There’s always little 5 minute breaks here and there when I am moving lights around or changing lenses.

My editing/retouching rules:

1) I make every attempt to get the image right in camera. I detest heavy or shitty post processing (like plastic skin). My earliest roots were film and likely where this attitude carried forward.

2) I will retouch out temporary blemishes such as acne or a cut or bruise. I generally will not remove permanent features like skin tags, wrinkles, scars or birth marks unless specifically requested by the model. It’s one thing to shoot for a magazine or advertising where this is expected. But for my purposes, I enjoy the honesty of age, battle scars and other permanent features. 

3) I generally try to process the best images, typically 20-30 and will often let the model look and have them first to ensure there are no objections to any poses or content before being posted on my website or social media. From time to time I may go back and retouch more images and release these. 

4) For first time models or private photography sessions containing nudity that are expected to be kept private, nothing will be made public that identifies the model while also nude. To clarify further, an image from our set may be used on my website or social media but your face will not be in the image in any way that will identify you. Specifically, the places generally obscured or hidden are identifying tattoos or the face while nude. It’s good to have communication about the expectation of image usage in these scenarios and should happen of course, before the shoot.

5) Generally, I do not give out RAW images. There are exceptions to this rule but usually involve publication and a professional retoucher. Models may have resized images for socials or full res for printing upon request. All images remain copyright, me. These may not be sold or used in a commercial manner or for financial gains without express written agreement which may include compensation.  

Models may use my images to get them published in any way that may benefit their portfolios, however please contact me first as the copyright owner (me) should always need to sign and release for publication images to any publication whether online or print. Onlyfans or other websites; such sources of income for models are done at their own discretion. Any image sets we have created together may be used or sold through such sites so long as you have written permission from me before they are released for monetary compensation.

For any other questions or concerns, communication is king. You should ask, comment or otherwise communicate to me. Agreements are the things that ensures a shoot where we can work together to make art. It contains the boundaries and expectations for such endeavors. 

Thank you.