Anyone can take a technically correct picture. A portrait worth keeping says something about who you are — and that is a different craft.
Start with the why
Before we talk locations or outfits, I ask what the photos are for. An engagement announcement, a company profile and a family album need three very different moods.
Details carry the story
The mug you always drink from, the dog that follows you everywhere, the workshop where you spend weekends — context turns a face into a person.
Let imperfection in
Wind-blown hair and interrupted laughter often beat the "perfect" frame. The story lives in the in-between moments, so I never stop shooting between poses.
Your story, your gallery
The final gallery should read like a short film about you. That is the standard I edit toward, every single time.