Lately, I’ve been thinking more about what it means to connect during a portrait session—what it truly means to 'see' someone long before the plate is prepared, long before I even press the shutter. Inspired by photographers like Platon, Karsh, Avedon, and Penn, I want to go deeper. I want to create images that hold more than just a likeness. I want them to hold presence. I want to bring more intention to the moments before I make an image—to slow down, sit with my subject, and truly see them before I ever reach for the camera. It’s in those unguarded pauses, in the stillness between words, that something real begins to emerge.The wet plate process already demands patience. It forces both photographer and subject to slow down. Over the years I’ve realized it’s not just the process that needs to be slow—it’s the moments before the process even begins. That pause, that space before I even look through the lens, is where the real portrait begins: in conversation, in connection, in getting to know you.There’s this line that’s been bouncing around in my head:"This process isn’t just about making an image. It’s about seeing what, (or who?) shows up in the stillness."
Too often, I feel the pressure to perform-real or imagined. To get the shot. To make sure everything works perfectly—which, of course, I still want. But the best images, the ones that stay with me happen when I let go of that pressure and simply be with the person in front of me, taking a moment together. When I stop worrying about outcomes and focus instead on presence, something in the session shifts. The image, the moment, reveals itself rather than being forced into existence.I’m learning to trust that initial pause. To not rush into composing a shot, but to sit in that space between conversation and creation. To let the sitter, and myself, settle, to let the energy of the moment emerge naturally. Confidence, I’ve come to realize, isn’t about always knowing exactly what to do—it’s about being comfortable not knowing. It’s about making space for the unexpected.Some of the best images I’ve made recently came from this approach. Moments where I let go of expectation and allowed the subject’s presence to guide the frame. I can feel myself getting closer to the work I want to make—work that is meaningful, raw, and deeply human.So, moving forward, I’m making this a conscious part of my process. Less rushing, more stillness. Less taking a photograph, more receiving what’s already there. The plate will capture what it’s meant to—if we give it the time to emerge.If you book a session with me, know that it’s not just about making a photo. It’s about being present in your own being. It’s a meditation of sorts. That’s why I like to make my sessions a bit longer—because the best images are not made in a hurry. They come when we make space for them. When we wait, when we see, when we listen. When we allow ourselves we will discover what is waiting in the stillness.Are you ready to get quiet and explore the stillness?
