A portrait is defined as a visual representation that portrays the likeness of a person, animal, place or thing.
Making portraits is about breaking down the barriers people create in order to present themselves in a specific way. Most models will either withdraw or act out, dependent on their own personality when confronted with a camera. It is my responsibility to dissolve these obstacles and perceive the nature behind that individual I am making a picture of. Portraiture is the balance between describing what a model looks like photographically and creating a personal statement about the perceptions the artist has of that individual. Harmony between visual description and narrative story telling will equate to a successful photograph. The physical act of photographing is about building a relationship between the artist and subject.
With these intentions in mind, I choose to work with people whom I have maintained a close personal relationship with. The portraits that I create are not candid. I will interact and engage with my sitter. The process of image making becomes a physical extension of our relationship and transforms into a linked visual experience. These friends and family members usually have no prior experience in front of a camera lens outside of the ubiquitous amateur photography world. They look to me for direction; however, the situations that I capture are often casual reflections of them within their own environment. This creates a trusting atmosphere that is relaxed and allows me to create both a visually engaging and personally compelling record of my sitter.