Through all stages of production, or focus remains on mastering the following four key elements of portraiture:

Relationship

It's so important that we quickly earn your trust.  Let's face it, most of us aren't every day models, so you may be a little nervous before your photo session.  We'll give clear direction so you don't feel awkward or uncertain of how you're doing.  Once you're comfortable you'll have more fun interacting with each other, which definitely shows up in your photos.

Figure

Any fine art painting or portraiture book will emphasize paying attention to leading lines, angles, curves and positioning of the hands.  Each can be used to draw the viewer's attention back to the subject.  Attention to these details makes or breaks the shot.

Creative Vision

This is the fun part - the storytelling.  In addition to landscape/environment selection, deciding how to use light, color, texture and design makes each photographer's approach to describing a moment unique. It's their style of making an idea a visible reality.

Technical Accuracy

It's no secret - the right equipment makes the difference.

Camera Bodies

Canon EOS 1D Mark 4

Canon EOS 5D Mark 3

...

Lenses

Canon EF 17-40 mm f/4L

Canon EF 35 mm f/1.4L

Canon TS-E 45mm f/2.8 Tilt Shift Fixed

Canon EF 50 mm f/1.4

Canon EF 100 mm Macro f/2.8L

Canon EF 70-200 mm f/2.8L

Promaster Digital HGX UV Filters

Canon Lighting

(3) Canon 600EX-RT Speedlite Flashes

(1) Canon 580 EX II Speedlite Flashes

Canon ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmitter

Paul C. Buff Studio Lighting

Einstein™ Flash Unit 

CyberSync™ Trigger Transmitter 2

CyberSync™ Transceiver 

CyberSync™ Battery Powered Receiver (3)

Manfrotto MK294C3-A0RC2 3 Section Tripod

LiteMod™ Unit Mainframe + Barndoors 

LiteMod™ Gel Holders + Gels

14” X 60” Foldable Stripbox + Grid

86” White PLM™ Umbrella + Diffusion Fabric

Westcott / Other Lighting

(2) Westcott 2334 28" Recessed Medium Softboxes

Westcott 2332 43-Inch Collapsible Umbrella

LumiQuest Mini SoftBox

Stands/ Bags/ Post Production Tools

(3) Manfrotto 1004BAC Master Stands

Naneu Sahara 217f Expandable Backpack

Lowepro Pro Trekker 600 AW Backpack

(2) Seagate External Hard Drives

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Lightroom

Canon TS-E 45mm f/2.8 Tilt Shift

Built for correct linear perspective in architectural images, this tilt shift lens can also be used for artistic portraiture, making use of shallow depth of field and soft bokeh.

Canon EF 70-200 mm f/2.8L

This telephoto lens helps me stay in the moment, but from a distance (outdoors with a barrier between me and the subject, during a Wedding ceremony, sports photography, etc.) It's also super fast, which helps freeze the action when dealing with movement. 

Canon EF 35 mm f/1.4L

This wide angle lens produces super sharp images and wide aperature for nice depth of field.  It's become my workhorse lens for portraits.

Canon EF 17-40 mm f/4L

A wide angle lens with zoom that allows flexibility in frame choice.  Great for panorama/environmental images and group portraits.

Canon EF 50 mm f/1.4

It's tough to take a bad portrait with this lens in hand.  Great for even shallower depth of field.

Canon EF 100 mm Macro f/2.8L

A powerful macro lens.  I use it primarily for wedding ring photographs.  Also nice for bug photography if you're in to that.

Remote Flash System

Off-camera lighting couldn't be easier.  Step 1: Angle the flashes where you want them.  Step 2: Use the on-camera transmitter to control the lighting output.