There is an art form that transcends mere images and touches the soul - environmental portraiture. I consider it more than just portraits, to me it’s the experience and environment that speaks to the character within the photograph. Of course, the individual is at the centre of my attention, however, It's a medium that allows us to freeze our moment together, capturing the essence of a person, their emotions, and their connection to the world around them. It’s a way of seeing and being that awakens the individual to all they have put out for their own personal development and I am here to celebrate that.
Over the years I have had the pleasure of meeting a myriad of different types of creatives through photographing their professional or personal projects. Whether it’s by connecting with their craft or assisting them in unleashing their public profile into reality. Through these connections I get to learn more about what motivates them and my own creativity is thus reflected back. As these relationships develop, I have been invited by others within their network to photograph portraits which I can only put down to building a level of trust and an uplifting experience to tell the story of who they really are.
This passion for connection is what sets an average portraiture experience apart. I seek to go beyond the surface and capture the essence of their personality - their dreams, their vulnerabilities, and of course their passions. In doing so, the imagery creates a bridge between the individual and the viewer, fostering authenticity, empathy and true understanding of their journey.
The portrait experience is completely unique to everyone and the connection can reveal a level of clarity for the individual, myself, whether a familiar face or someone new. The subject is exposed to a true or even new perspective behind the eyes of the co-creator. This is what really excites me about connecting, where what we are producing independently and what we create together can come into existence.
From experience to published, the feedback is energising in a way that I can only describe as expansive. Both hearing directly from the individual themselves and what comes forth by having their essence captured in an original way. There is something about being seen and celebrated for all they have to offer which is nothing short of an empowerment of success by seeing others thrive.
There are so many wonderful connections to be made and these moments all hold a precious place in my personal journey of image-making.
If you’d like to connect and experience what environmental portraiture can be for you, I’d love to learn more about you and what drives your passions.
Tim