M. Fitzgibbons Photography

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M. Fitzgibbons Photography Lifestyle, Cinematic, Storytelling Portrait Photography in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom
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Cinematic Photography: Rule #1 is...Don’t break the fourth wall.In "typical" portrait photography, we are often making ...
10/19/2026

Cinematic Photography: Rule #1 is...

Don’t break the fourth wall.

In "typical" portrait photography, we are often making the photographer AND the eventual viewer a character in the scene. It's who the subjects in the frame are looking at. There's an interaction there.

In cinematic storytelling, the viewer is observing a moment; not participating in it.

As photographers, we can keep that feeling by not inserting ourselves into the scene.

Instead of directing subjects to look at the camera, allow them to remain engaged in their own world.

When people stay focused on what they’re doing, images feel more narrative, more "cinematic".

📸 This can look like:
– Back turned
– Mid-action
– Quiet, unaware presence
– Natural interaction between subjects

Try letting the viewer witness the moment, not interrupt it.

✨️Make sure you join in on the page for the other 2 cinematic photography tips this week!

10/19/2026

Cinematic Photography, Explained: Tip #1
Don’t break the fourth wall.

In cinematic storytelling, the viewer is observing a moment; not participating in it.

As photographers, we can keep that feeling by not inserting ourselves into the scene.

Instead of directing subjects to look at the camera, allow them to remain engaged in their own world.

When people stay focused on what they’re doing, images feel more narrative, more "cinematic".

📸 This can look like:
– Back turned
– Mid-action
– Quiet, unaware presence
– Natural interaction between subjects

Takeaway:
Let the viewer witness the moment, not interrupt it.

✨️Save for future reference

10/19/2026

Stop letting the camera decide where people should look. 📸

One of the biggest differences between a digital snapshot and a painterly portrait is intentionality. In my editing, I use Lightroom masks not just to "fix" a photo, but to sculpt the viewer’s experience.

In this edit, I used specific masks to:

🎯 Draw focus directly to the subject’s expression.

🌑 Subdue distracting highlights and contrast in the background.

🎨 Sculpt the light to create that 3D, painterly depth.

Let me know in the comments if you have questions ✨️

10/18/2026

Cinematic photography isn't as simple as just a preset; it’s built from quiet choices most people may never notice. 🎬✨

I’m breaking down the 3 rules I use to move beyond "nice photos" and into immersive, cinematic storytelling:

1. *Shoot for the story:* Suggest a before and after. Ask if your shots make a viewer wonder what happened before or what will happen next.

2. *The Fourth Wall:*
Let your subjects stay immersed in their own world.

3. *Embrace Imperfection:*
Movement and natural layering add a sense of realism and life.

There are more factors that play into it; but these are the ones that feel foundational for cinematic work I love.

This is part 2 of my new series on the "invisible skills" of cinematic and painterly photography.

If you'd like, join me as I go into more depth about the cinematic photography concepts ✨️

If I had one wish for next year, for my photography- It would be that I have more balance, and more spring and summer se...
10/16/2026

If I had one wish for next year, for my photography-

It would be that I have more balance, and more spring and summer sessions.

This year, I was booked, overbooked, and then SERIOUSLY overbooked for fall (I had to turn down sessions); but my spring and summer?

Pretty mellow.

I didn't advertise- because my family took a cross country trip and I wanted to give that trip plenty of space. But I did work in a few sessions before and after...

And I'm noticing they are some of my favorites of the year 💛

I love giving myself more space between sessions, breathing room in-between. Time to consider each one fully, and approach each with a completely full creative cup.

I'm starting to realize it's actually a very necessary ingredient in my creative process.

If you're a fellow creative feeling burn-out this time of year, remind yourself that giving yourself time to process and breath before projects is just as important as what you do during those sessions 🩵

Here's a summer gallery for some proof of all of what I just said ✨

What makes a photograph "Painterly"? 🎨I hear or personally get that question pretty often. So, what does exactly gives a...
10/16/2026

What makes a photograph "Painterly"? 🎨

I hear or personally get that question pretty often.

So, what does exactly gives a photograph that painterly quality?

While it's a blend of many things, including some not mentioned here, there are a few key common elements I see that are present in most all painterly work I admire.

✨ 1. Depth-building light and atmosphere

Painterly photos often have a strong sense of dimension. This is often created through thoughtful use of light and shadow, atmospheric effects like fog or haze, or careful dodging and burning in post. This enhanced depth gives the viewer a sense of space, emotion, and presence.
-> Light is often used in ways reminiscent of classic painters, like chiaroscuro.

🎯 2. Artistic focus.

Rather than everything being sharp from front to back, painterly images use focus with intention. This could be through shallow depth of field, lens blur, or selective focus added in post. Often the depth of field is dramatic enough that shapes become a little bit looser, more abstract, not unlike...*brushstrokes*

🌈 3. Intentional color.

Color in painterly photography is rarely accidental, much like it is rarely accidental in successful paintings. Whether it’s muted or bold, complementary or monochrome, the tones serve the mood and story of the image.

Of course, other things can contribute too; composition, texture, storytelling, etc....but these three feel foundational to me.

🌼What do you think?
What makes an image painterly to you?

( I made a reel about this earlier, so check that out too, but wanted to visit it with a bit more depth! Stayed tuned for "What makes a photo cinematic" next!)

10/16/2026

What exactly makes a photograph feel like a painting? 🎨✨

It’s a question I get asked a lot, and while it’s a blend of many things (beyond what's discussed here), I’ve found that these 3 rules are almost always present in my favorite painterly work:

1. *Depth:* Using light, shadow, and atmospheric effects (like fog!) to create a sense of dimension.

2. *Artistic Focus:* Using blur with intention to guide the eye and create softness.

3. *Intentional Color:* Choosing tones that serve the story and mood rather than just reality.

I’m starting a new series breaking down these "invisible skills" that separate a snapshot from a piece of art.

Next up... what makes a photo feel "cinematic"? 🎞️

Let me know if you have questions in the comments!

O hushed October morning mild,Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,Should waste them all.T...
10/15/2026

O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away.
Re**rd the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, slow!
For the grapes’ sake, if they were all,
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit must else be lost—
For the grapes’ sake along the wall.

🍂 Robert Frost

(It captures how I feel about October in Vermont)

10/15/2026

Photographing seasonal traditions doesn’t have to mean forced smiles and stiff clothes. 📸 🍁

I wanted to share 3 simple ways I captured our Vermont fall walk this year to make the photos feel more like a story and less like a chore:

1. *Embrace Scale:*

Don't be afraid to pull way back! Capturing the environment helps you remember the feeling of actually being there.

2. *Genuine Props:*

Skip the hobby lobby props and bring what they love. My son brought his dump truck and teddy bears; it kept him happy and made the memories more real to our everyday life.

3. *Color Contrast:*

We kept clothes comfy but chose blue because it’s the complementary color to all those orange leaves! 💙🧡

Which of these tips would help you most with your own family photos? Let me know in the comments! 👇✨

10/15/2026

Or maybe...11?

Gotta shoot for the stars 😅✨️

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Hardwick, VT
05842

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+14062409118

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