Lights Camera Pirouette

I'm an experienced photographer whose shot everything from food to fashion to headshots to events and more. My goal is to help my clients become comfortable in front of the camera and create quality shots that they're happy with. I’m seeking photography work for headshots, portraits, special events, product shoots, food photography for restaurants, test kitchens, catering companies,! I also love taking headshots and portraits as well as imaginative studio shots with props, backgrounds and/or narrative elements. In addition, I have experience shooting dance and aspire to shoot more dance as well as yoga and other types of movement. One of my favorite methods as a photographer is to act as a member of the audience of a performance, letting the dancer or yogi move through their choreography or poses and capturing them within a frame at just the right moments to show off the essence of their practice. I find that dance and movement photography is built around timing, precision and patience. Although it is vastly distinct from movement photography, I also adore food and product photography for wholly different reasons. While shooting these sorts of photography, the photographer’s role extends to arranging the objects in an aesthetically pleasing way, creating a scene, a tiny world to entice the viewer. It may sound strange to some, but plating a salad, pasta or any other dish is an artform all its own. A photographer cannot take a good picture if the subjects are askew. I find that shooting people is always a collaborative experience in a way because the subject is the life of the photograph. While the photographer can light the shot, frame it and select the settings on their camera, they cannot fully dictate what their subject does within the frame. And that is the beauty of it. The end result of a shoot is always a surprise in a way. I love working with clients on portraits or thought-out shoots and helping them realize their vision or coming to a middle ground between both of our visions. I'm always open to my client's ideas and working in a collaborative style as well as taking the lead in directing shoots. I like to discuss shoots with clients before they occur so that we can both communicate our expectations and the details of the shoot. I’m currently trying to add more work (especially of the subjects described) to my portfolio to add more to my repertoire and gain new experiences in photography and building my business as an independent contractor. I also aspire to develop long-term relationships with clients, whether they be individuals or businesses, so that I can get to know their brand and/or needs really well and continually produce quality images for them. I have experience working as an in-house photographer and social media manager for The Umbrella Cover Museum, a small, quirky museum on Peaks Island Maine. It would be phenomenal to develop a similar role within a different business, preferably a museum, café, restaurant, bar or organic beauty company. My social media posts tripled the museum’s online engagement as well as drew more people in to view our exhibits. I would be happy to grow another business’s online presence in a similar manner. Open to both short and long term jobs.