The mental negative: Why your best portrait is created before we ever meet

Hey there!

Ever wonder what’s actually going on in a Charleston photographer’s head? Is it just a constant loop of "Tilt your chin" and "Don't forget to blink"? (Okay, sometimes it's that, but hopefully with more grace.)

The truth is, for me, the heavy lifting happens way before the lights are plugged in. To explain why, I have to nerd out for a second on a legend: Ansel Adams. Now, Ansel was a landscape guy, famous for those epic black-and-white shots of Yosemite. But he had a philosophy that changed the game for every type of photographer. He called it "Visualization." He believed the final image had to be crystal clear in his mind before he ever touched the shutter. He wasn't just "taking" a picture; he was making one.

I’ve hijacked that philosophy for my Goose Creek Studio portrait work. And it’s exactly why our consultation call is the most important part of the entire process.

The Consultation is my "Viewfinder"

When we’re on the phone, I’m not just checking boxes on a calendar. While you’re telling me about your career, your brand, or the specific way you want to be perceived by the world, my brain is already at work.

I’m "Lighting" You: As you describe your personality—whether you’re a high-energy CEO or a soulful creative—I’m mentally shifting shadows and choosing modifiers.

I’m "Framing" You: I’m deciding which lens will best tell your story before I’ve even opened my gear bag.

I’m Capturing the "Vibe": I’m listening for those little nuances in your voice that tell me who you really are, not just the "professional version" you think you need to be.

By the time we hang up, I have already "developed" your portrait in my mind. I’ve seen the final result. I know the mood, the angle, and the energy.

Why the Shoot Feels Like a Breeze

Have you ever been to a shoot where the photographer spent forty minutes scratching their head and moving a light two inches back and forth while you stood there feeling like a mannequin? Yeah... we don't do that.

Because I’ve already done the visualization work during our call, the actual session goes incredibly smoothly. We aren't guessing; we’re executing. The "shoot" is just the physical act of bringing that mental image into the real world. It allows you to relax, because you can tell I’m not "looking" for the shot—I’ve already found it.

It’s Never Been About "Clicking a Button"

This is the hill I will happily die on: Photography isn’t about pressing a button. If it were, my cat could be a portrait artist (and honestly, his rates would be way lower than mine). A camera is just a tool, like a paintbrush or a piano. A piano doesn't compose a sonata, and a camera doesn't understand your "good side" or your professional legacy.

The art happens in the conversation. The magic happens in the visualization.

So, when you see me finally press that shutter, just know that the "work" was already done. We’re just making it official.