10/22/2026
Can we talk about something Iāve been thinking about lately?
Iāve spent over 30 years learning to see light. To shape it, understand it, and know when it falls just right. And honestly, itās still one of my favorite parts of photography. That moment when the light is just right and I get genuinely excited about what Iām creating.
But lately, Iāve been thinking about how something Iāve spent my career perfecting can now make people wonder if a photo is even real.
And honestly, thereās something a little heartbreaking about that.
Because this light? Itās real. Itās not AI. Itās years of learning, experimenting, making mistakes, and developing an eye for something I still get excited about after all these years.
The shoulder lighting that separates him from the background, soft transition of light and shadow on his face, catch lights in his eyes and highlights on his face to create depth. Then backgroundā¦.matching the clothes with the colors of the background, creating various levels of depth and mood within the image.
I understand wanting photos that feel real. I want that too. Thatās where the years of posing and expression training come in. I donāt believe we have to choose between authentic and beautiful.
We donāt have to choose mediocrity so someone knows we are real...this goes for life AND photography.
We can have both.
I donāt want to stop chasing beautiful light. I donāt want to stop getting excited when I see it. And I donāt want to lose the artistry that made me fall in love with photography in the first place.
