The Wrench Didn’t Take the Photo: The Cost Behind the Camera
Let’s talk about something that lives rent-free in the head of almost every professional photographer: the moment someone finds out what you charge and their eyebrows do the thing.
Personal + Reflections
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Who Owns Your Face? The Real Cost of AI Headshots
Let’s start with what the ads don’t tell you.
You upload a handful of selfies. You pay somewhere between $20 and $100. You get back a grid of images — good lighting, clean background, crisp edges, professional-looking. You look like a LinkedIn post. You look like a headshot.
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Confidence Doesn’t Always Stop the Mask From Going Up
Someone walks into a session feeling pretty good. Their hair is styled. They’re dress to the nines. They’re standing tall, smiling, ready. Then I lift the camera…
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I’m Not Just a Vendor. And the Best Work Happens When You Know That.
There’s a version of this job where the photographer just shows up, takes the photos, and disappears.
You get your files. I’d get paid. Nobody’s unhappy. The photos might meet your needs, or they might just miss the mark and sit unused… -
How to Choose a Brand Photographer Who Actually Gets You
You can Google “brand photographer Chicago” and get a hundred results in four seconds. Plenty of talented people. Solid portfolios. Professional websites. Reasonable prices.
Why does it still feel so hard to find the right one?
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You’re Not Boring – But Your Brand Photos Might Be
I’m bored. I’m seeing the same photos everywhere — same studios, same poses, same “authentic” laptop laughter. So I sat down with my sketchbook, did a free write, and painted over everything that didn’t matter. What was left clarified how I think about brand photography. Here’s what I learned about stars, constellations, and why playing it safe is the enemy of being seen.
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Two Quarters: A Tale of Brand Investment
I was maybe six or seven years old when my dad came home after losing his job.
I don’t remember most of the details. I remember my mom telling me he needed a little time to himself. I remember the next morning, watching him mow the lawn. And I remember standing there looking at the two quarters in my hand — my allowance — feeling like I should contribute so our family wouldn’t go hungry.
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What I Actually Sell as a Chicago Brand Photographer (It’s More Than Photos)
The photos are not the point.
Yes, they matter. The images, the motion assets, the visual library you walk away with — they’re real, they’re useful, and I put serious thought into making sure they work hard for your brand. But the thing you actually walk away with? It’s something much more difficult to put in a gallery. -
Debí Tirar Más Fotos ~ And Other Things Travel Taught Me
During the Super Bowl halftime show last Sunday, Bad Bunny performed Debí Tirar Más Fotos — a song whose title translates roughly to “I should have taken more photos.” I’ll be honest: I wasn’t exactly glued to the game. But that performance?…
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Brand Photography Can Happen Anywhere ~ Here’s What That Actually Looks Like
Two weeks ago I was in Costa Rica. Not on vacation — though the palm trees and the hummingbirds and the tarantulas living quietly in the earth below the walking paths made it feel like I’d stepped into something larger…
