by Chat GPT

PROMPT: How do I write a bio/about as a studio photographer in New York showcasing my portfolio and offering services through my website. Give me a Q&A style list of questions. Interview me?

How did you get started in photography? What first drew you to it?

I was given a disposable camera before a road trip when I was ten years old. My mother was driving our 1998 Chrysler Sebring convertible up NY-22 North when she suddenly pulled over to look out at a field of hay bales. She was “taking in the view”. I stood up on the back seat and snapped a shot of the field. I didn’t know it then, but that was the beginning. Growing up I wanted to be a chef, go figure. 

How would you describe your visual style or creative point of view in one sentence?

Stylized photojournalism.

How do you think about light, color, or texture in your imagery?

That’s an abstract question, Chat. Jeez. Uhm, I guess I think of them like cells in the body. There are countless minute elements that make up a photograph. In an abstract kind of way, if a photograph is a whole person, then all the cells in that person are an amalgamation of light, color, texture, and the like. From a more grounded perspective though, I use color, light, and texture, to convey meaning and translate nuance and detail.  

How do you want people to feel when they view your work?

I want everyone to feel confident about their investment. I want the client to feel confident in our encapsulation of their vision, but also, I want their audience to feel confident in the value that they’re being presented with.  

What about the city shapes your perspective, process, or clientele?

Living and growing up in New York has conditioned me to believe that chaos is a relative term. Any kind of production requires many people and processes working in unison simultaneously. If your not part of that process, and you’re looking from the outside in, it seems very chaotic, but really it’s very intentional and coordinated. I experience New York City from that perspective.

Do you collaborate with a team or work independently?

It really depends on the client and project. Sometimes I can shoot portfolio development sessions or headshots independently. Generally, the goal is to use the most cost-effective and time-efficient strategy to achieve the result. Big brand productions require larger teams of specialists to do that.

How would you describe your workflow from concept to delivery?

It starts with the client: what their vision is, how much they want to invest, and what their time horizon is. Then I offer ways in which to translate that vision into tangible assets. Once we align on expectations, I get to work with the Creative and Art directors to assemble a team and plan the production. I liaise with everyone throughout this phase. Shortly before the shoot we all meet to discuss the choreography of the production. The day of, we follow the recipe and have some fun. Afterward, we debrief and begin post production. Lastly, I deliver assets on the agreed upon due date. You’ve got mail!

What kind of equipment or setup do you usually work with?

Whatever the occasion calls for! Factors like production budget, project scope, and time, heavily influence the type of setup and equipment used. I have experience working with a variety of image capture, lighting, and software systems.

How do you approach working with clients and creative teams?

I like to approach both parties with a calm and grounded leadership mentality. With the client I create and hold space for their vision and creativity to flow and shape the project. As far as the creative team, they’re qualified professionals. As a photographer, I just maintain communication, keep track of progress, support momentum, and stay out of their way! 

What do you value most during a shoot or creative process?

It’s really thrilling when I’m collaborating with people who have similar professional knowledge or life experience, and they teach me something new. Learning from other humans genuinely hits differently, especially in the information age. I feel like value comes from scarcity, Ya know?

What’s something people often misunderstand about studio photography?

That studio photography is easy. When I watched Alex Honnold climb the Taipei 101, it looked like he was just walking up. Obviously he makes it look so easy because he’s a professional. Seeing something that breaks a barrier is astounding to viewers, but it’s easy to overlook all of the work that preceded that result. Creativity is effectively priceless when honed with precision. And with the proliferation of ai tools, fast and easy grow dangerously synonymous with quality and accuracy. 

How do you ensure that a client’s vision is realized while keeping your own artistic integrity?

Communication and expectation management. Ultimately, my life’s purpose is to be a conduit for my clients to grow and achieve their goals, whatever they may be. That’s the bottom line. With thorough preparation, my artistic integrity is rarely misaligned when the client’s needs are being met and there is positive synergy within the team. 

What’s your favorite part of a shoot day?

There is a moment - call it flow state, runners high, inertia, whatever - when everything and everyone is moving in perfect sync on a production. Time, fatigue, basic human needs (food, water, etc), simply don’t exist. I sound absolutely insane, but it’s true. It’s really just a feeling of total presence, there is no earlier and no later, just now. 

What are you currently exploring in your photography?

Right now I’m cultivating new insights through travel photography and photo journalism abroad. New York is a massive, yet small, town. Working with brand and agencies abroad is my latest point of interest. 

What kind of work or partnerships are you open to right now?

Partnerships with brands that can offer the opportunity to travel would be ideal. Alternatively, partnering with studios in other countries where I can learn their workflows would be equally enriching.