2016 was one of my favorite years for portraiture. I spent time in Jamaica and Texas on fine art sessions and ran into some unexpected people along the way. I also kept working on a kids music portrait project I had been developing here at home. Looking back at this collection, it covers a lot of ground.
What made 2016 interesting was that some of the best work came from spontaneous moments, not planned sessions. The kind where you see someone, make a quick connection, and just shoot. Those tend to produce the most honest portraits. Here are the highlights.
There was a band touring that was staying at El Cosmico in Marfa, Texas so I asked them to do an impromptu shoot and they were amazing!
I met this guy outside of a DQ in Marfa, Texas. He is a traveling musician.
Part of my kids music portrait project. I will be posting a big blog post about that soon!
After the daily rain in Jamaica at Sandals Whitehouse.
El Cosmico in Marfa is a genuinely interesting place to photograph. It draws artists and musicians passing through West Texas, and there is a quality of light there, especially in late afternoon, that is unlike anything near Philadelphia. Marfa itself is a strange, compelling town. The flatness, the sky, the way small things stand out against all that space. I brought film cameras and shot the entire Texas portion on film. The grain fits the place.
Olivia modeling for me at Kelly Drive in Philadelphia. Those flowers in her hair were just from a nearby plant that I thought would be perfect sprinkled in her hair.
Tonia in Sandals Jamaica White House.
Simone came in for acting portraits and wanted to show her my new studio mini trees!
Most of my focus is on weddings and GTKY sessions, but portrait work like this sharpens everything. You have to read a stranger quickly, build trust fast, and find the frame before the moment disappears. It keeps you sharp for the days that actually count. You can see my wedding photography in Philadelphia and South Jersey here.