Just so you know.

I decided to put together a little FAQ based on questions I get asked by my clients.

1. What kinds of photography do you shoot?

That’s an easy one to answer. I shoot photos of people, places, and things. I love to be challenged in what I photograph and in creating unusual images. My experience has taught me how to deal with all kinds of adversity in many different environments.

2. Do you shoot on location, or just in the studio?

While much of what I do is studio based, I am equally at home on location. I have shot in a wide variety to places while I can’t list them all (there not enough space), a few of them include the basement of the Columbia City Haunted Jail, an abandoned crack house in downtown Indy (at night, no less), and Homestead High School’s football stadium (also at night). Since my studio lighting is portable I can use it anywhere to create the right mood for my clients.

3. Do you retouch your photos?

Most of the time. It depends on the client and what they are looking for. For portraits, I will typically get rid of temporary blemishes. If a client wants more, I do as much manipulation as they want.

4. What style of photos do you shoot?

Hmm, I try not to have a set “style”. Since I shoot a large variety of subjects, I can adapt the way I shoot specifically for my client. In other words, if you want photos shot in dark gothic style, I can customize the lighting and use the correct camera angle to get that look. So if you tell me what kind of photos you’re looking for I can usually create it.

 5. Someone told me you shoot “tethered”, what does that mean?

In the studio and often on location my camera is wired to a notebook computer and digital projector. This allows us to review the photos on the computer while we are shooting in real time. Even though it’s more work and is more expensive, I love shooting this way because it let’s my client see what they are getting. When we are finished with a shoot, the customer is confident that we’ve created the image he or she wants. 

6. I noticed that your photos are very different how do you come up with ideas for your shoots?

While some of my images were created as an outlet for my creative urges, much of my work is done in colaboration with my clients. They have a rough idea for a shoot and we work on bringing to life. I always welcome suggestions and am open to trying to get a creative and unique photo. I encourage my clients to meet with me before scheduling a shoot so that we can go over any ideas they might have.

7. As one of the newest studios in Fort Wayne, how were you able to be so sucessful so quickly?

That’s tough to answer. I think I have the right skills for the types of images I create. If you notice, I do not have any wedding photo galleries. While I have shot weddings, it is not a market I want to enter. I also think that I have a pretty good understanding of the properties and qualities of light. Since photography is all about using light to create images, it’s a skill that comes in pretty handy. Also, I see things with an unique perspective and try to put an unusual slant to images. My wife thinks I’m just strange. 🙂

Anyway, those are some questions that people have asked me and I hope I’ve given answers that give you a glimpse of what I do and how I work.