Tag Archives: lifestyle portraits

I have never found much interest in landscape photography, it’s all about people, for me. I enjoy the interaction, the give and take of subject and photographer, and most of all, I love seeing and hearing the reaction to the images we come up with.

I’m sitting at home today, a little sick and itching to go outside and shoot… so I thought I would write. I needed to do it anyway, so here I am. The first thing I do when it’s time to get into the mindset is turn on some music. The sound fuels my work, it directs it, it informs it. Often it’s music that inspires me to take a certain photograph in the first place. It’s not uncommon for me to have a particular song in mind when photographing something. I recently discussed this very subject  with a musician named Andy Zipf, who finds inspiration for his songs in images from time to time.

The type of music I choose is usually determined by the type of work I have in front of me. For example; weddings usually require some chill music, such as, Over the Rhine, William Fitzsimmons, or Peter Broderick. I need the lovely, the sentimental, the emotional to step into my head and make me think “wedding.” Portraits are different. Some portrait sessions are moody, and fit nicely with the likes of Radiohead, or Sigur Ros. Other sessions are light and fun. I grew up on 80’s and 90’s pop music… so when we’re talking about fun and light music, it’s gotta be Wham!, Milli Vanilli, Michael Jackson, or, if I really need fuel – it’s Color Me Badd. With two “D’s” there, folks. They’re that serious about being bad.

Hip Hop is a great energizer for days when the tasks is large. The Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, Run DMC… all were in my heavy a rotation.

Art inspires me. Music, dance, painting, films. Being a witness to someone else creating is an honor, and it helps to keep me moving towards my goal of documenting life for other people.