VARIETY IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT!

When I returned from vacation in Mexico, I saw an email from the Ashburn, Virginia author NoNieqa Ramos that caused me a moment of panic.  She wanted a more casual headshot taken outdoors. Why the moment of panic?  Well, just before I'd left for Mexico, I had delivered to her a studio headshot to use for promotion of her new book that will appear next year.  So, my initial thought was that her agent hadn't liked the studio portrait we had created together.  Oh no!

My response was to set-up the appointment and then head to the local Barnes & Noble at Loudoun One.  The store clerk asked me if I needed help finding anything.  I said no, that I was there to look at authors' headshots in the Young Adult Fiction section.  (I like to be prepared!)   It was interesting but ultimately not very helpful.  I thought maybe there was a certain style that was currently in fashion, one of which I wasn't aware.  But there was not.  It was a mixture, some professional looking, some less so (IMHO).  

My game plan then was to do the outdoor session in my usual manner, looking to get as many different looks in as many different locations as the hour-long session allowed.  I would put these in a private gallery to allow her and her agent to select the new headshot.  Hopefully they would find something that worked!

The location that NoNieqa wanted was a bit of a challenge, but the session turned out to be a great one!  I found a variety of mini-locations, each with lovely light and interesting backgrounds that allowed us to create 16 different, strong portraits.  They all struck me as capturing the casual outdoor feel she was looking for. 

With the help of her husband and her agent, NoNieqa selected the above portrait from her four favorites.  It is also one of my favorites.  Interestingly, it was taken at the first mini-location I had identified on my scouting the previous day.  I liked the spot because the natural light there was nice and the background of sunlit foliage and blue sky reflected in water was exciting.  On the day of the session, all the excellent photographic possibilities I had hoped for were present.  NoNiequa's engaging expression with her warm natural smile was the final ingredient.  The result is an honest expressive portrait of a Young Adult Fiction writer.  

So, what of my initial panic regarding the previously delivered studio portrait?  It was misplaced.  NoNieqa assured me that the studio portrait was perfect for its purpose.  She just didn't want ALL of her promotional materials to feature the same portrait.  She wanted variety!

As always, variety is the spice of life.  And I was happy to be able to oblige.  

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Whether in the studio or on location, I love to capture honest portraits of people.  For me, every person is unique, every portrait is personal, and every session is a new chance to experience and connect.  

My Loudoun County wedding photography and portrait photography studio is conveniently located in Ashburn, Virginia, between Dulles International Airport and Leesburg, just north of the Brambleton shopping center.  

Give me a call at 703-729-3780 or contact me by email.  I'd be thrilled to work with you, too!