Today I was talking to a neighbor and she asked me, “What is Concept Photography?” This caused me to realize that, while I know what it means, most of my clients probably don’t. Wikipedia defines concept art “as a photography genre in which the artist makes a photograph of a concept or idea. Usually the conception of the idea precedes the realization of the photography. The photographer puts in place the things and the beings that will be the subject of the final photograph, and the placement of those things and beings build the concept, the idea, and the final outcome.” That’s a much better definition than I gave, which was, “I get these visions in my head. I see a finished photo or series of photos made entirely up of my own imagination. I get inspiration from many places. Sometimes I see a location as I drive down the road, or the way the light falls on a rock, or a barred window in a ruin, or a stranger in the mall, anything really, and it sparks an emotional reaction. My mind quickly fills the scene in with a concept or idea for a photo session. It’s a very hard process to describe and it haunts me until I can make that vision a reality. I always have about 3 dozen concept session running through my mind just waiting for the right person or location or whatever piece I’m missing.
These first 2 photos were my concept of a postcard of a French ballerina from the early 20th century. I came up with the idea when I met this lovely high school senior. During our initial interview she told me she was a dancer. This information, combined with her unique beauty set my mind into day dreaming mode. Both of these photos were shot with window light in a dance studio in front of a gray paper backdrop. I had a clear vision before I shot one frame what my post processing was going to be.
The idea for the next 2 photos was sparked by my mother’s prom dress from 1951 which I re-discovered in a cedar chest after her death. I wanted to recreate her senior prom from 1951. So I enlisted my niece as a model, drove everyone I knew crazy until I found a 1951 Buick that would match the dress in color, found a location that felt timeless, and hired a makeup artist and hairstylist to give her the Grace Kelly look.
And this last photo was sparked by a drive through Town and Country one afternoon in early spring. I saw a field of daffodils, slammed on my brakes and almost got rear-ended. But I knew I had to shoot there. I knew I had to shoot a sweet girl picking flowers. So I started knocking on doors trying to find out who owned the property to get permission. In just one week I found the perfect little girl. It was just about to storm and we had to work quickly but we had beautiful light, a beautiful location and made beautiful portraits.
Do you have an idea or fantasy shoot you’d like to try. Give me a call and we’ll come up with something fabulous!
 Newborn, child, family, even high school senior sessions apply.
 