Studio time

Jon Zimmermann

Minnesota offers many great locations for outdoor photography, but when the season turns toward winter, it’s time to pack up and move indoors. That’s no problem for me. I love working with clients in the studio. There are fewer distractions. I can shape the lighting to draw out unique physical features (or to hide them). And the lighting penetrates those windows to the soul.

It’s nonsense to claim that a photograph “captures the essence” of a person. It simply records, in the blink of the shutter, a moment in time. There may be sadness or joy, timidity or anger. But it’s here and gone in flash. It’s the interaction between the subject and the photographer that reveals the moment.

I recently completed a headshot session with Jon Zimmermann. He’s a bank executive and software engineer. I got to know him through ballroom dancing. But I got to know him even better in the hour or so that we spent making his headshot. It’s always hard for me say enough; we’ve got the shot. In fact, we will get several shots worth keeping. Even so, I don’t want to forgo what might happen if we stay just a bit longer. Portrait photographers might sculpt the lighting to emphasize a client’s physical features or to minimize them. Great portrait photographers work to draw out a client’s expressions, using light and shadow to add texture. Every session leaves me wanting more. That said, I respect my clients’ time and energy. Sometimes they might have just a few minutes. Other times, a few hours. I generally like to shoot for about two hours unless I’m doing a plain vanilla headshot.

I am scheduled to shoot a family portrait tomorrow. For me, these are always the most difficult portraits to manage. There are so many variables. Lighting. Personalities. Location. Because of a cold snap, we wanted to find an indoor location where everyone could be comfortable. A couple of the family members have special needs that require consideration. Alas, few indoor public spaces in the Twin Cities allow the use of tripods or lighting stands. One space we liked was booked for a wedding. My small home studio, which is in the basement, won’t work for this group. So we scrambled to find a rental studio. There are a number of them in the Twin Cities at prices ranging from $50 an hour to several hundred dollars an hour. We selected one through an online service called Peerspace, and I believe it will meet our needs. Today I will prepare my equipment and my mind. Will it be enough? Stay tuned.

Meantime, consider booking your own portrait. They make great gifts for the upcoming holidays, and terrific displays for your walls. Don’t underestimate the power of professional headshots to build your personal brand. You can reach me at dan@danzantephotography.com, or by calling 612-655-5020.