Getting real in 2020…
Model: Mariya
HMUA: Paragon Beauty
I've been giving my editorial, fashion and portrait photography direction some serious thought lately...
As we start a new decade, I have decided to challenge myself and will be pushing my 2020 photography away from traditional, retouched beauty and fashion image creation to more raw, stripped down beauty with an editorial fashion mix.
Over the years I've become more and more inspired by Peter Lindbergh, a reknown portrait and fashion photographer, known for his minimalist retouching and raw photographic style.
In 2016, 2018, and again last year, I worked on a series of personal portrait sessions entitled RAW. The sessions were inspired by Lindbergh and all models / actors were required to come to the studio sessions with zero makeup, no fancy hair styling, were shot "raw" and published unretouched. It was well received by all the participants, some have been published in magazine editorials. My intention is to turn the series into a gallery show in the near future.
I WILL READILY ADMIT THAT SHOOTING IN THIS RAW “UNDONE” STYLE HAS BEEN TREMENDOUSLY LIBERATING - LESS TIME RETOUCHING AND “PERFECTING” IMAGES TO CONVENTIONAL INDUSTRY STANDARDS = MORE TIME SHOOTING AND PLANNING CREATIVES = CREATIVE AND PERSONAL SATISFACTION.
I WANT TO CREATE IMAGES WITH MORE HEART. MORE SOUL. MORE AUTHENTICITY.
So, I have decided to continue evolving my portrait and editorial work in the same vein as my RAW sessions, with some modifications, and a minimally edited, creative visual direction.
My plan is to continue working with my exceptional creative teams ( makeup, hair, wardrobe and agency models - yeah, you know who you are ) to plan, create and publish print worthy images that speak to more than superficial beauty. I hope that people will consider opening themselves up to being their real, authentic selves and not the post-production, retouched and “crafted” version you see on Instagram.
IT’S 2020 PEOPLE… IT’S TIME TO GET REAL.
To conclude, I’d like to to quote my hero, Peter Lindbergh:
“it should be the responsibility of photographers today to free women, and finally everyone, from the terror of youth and perfection.”
Amen Maestro… A-fucking-men.