Get 10 photographers in a room and ask them what “Fine-Art” means, you'll get 10 very different answers! 

To me, Fine-Art embodies the result of your inner creativity. 

The result when your inner artist is allowed out to play. 

The creative process for that one perfectly executed portrait. 

A “still-story”, with instant narrative. 

A unique emotive image that elicits an emotional response in the viewer.

WHAT'S IS THE STORY?

Sometimes, you might get lucky, and a “Fine-Art style" photo can just pop out of one of your regular client sessions. 

But most often, those one-of-a-kind portraits you see from a photographer that stops you mid-scroll are generally the result of a twinkle of an idea one night, that the artist didn't let slip away.

These ideas that suddenly come to you can come as a final concept, before you've even tried to plan the lighting and execution of the photoshoot.

It's almost as if you have to work backward from the first glimmer of a thought to make it happen.

That idea you've had in your head for months? Don't let it slip away, there is no time like the present to be bold and start the ball rolling!

2. PREPARATION BEFORE THE SESSION:

A fine-art concept piece is more than a “happy lighting coincidence”. It's planning. 

Preparing. 

Storyboarding. 

Test-shooting (with a grumpy family member before your subject arrives) to perfect the light one last time. 

Sketching, designing, thinking... 

The more pre-production you can put into your project, the more polished your vision will be, and the more confident you'll be in the execution… before you even pick up the camera. This way, you'll have everything as wonderful as it can be out of your camera.

#TIP:Think about the editing during your photoshoot, not after! Editing should enhance your vision, but rookie mistakes can make your edit 10x longer! Pull backdrops straight, make sure there are no distractions in the shot you'll have to clone out later. Get your lighting and white balance perfect, so when it comes to editing, you can focus on your art, not fixing things that shouldn't have been there!

3. TIME TO SHOOT! 

Take your time to get that one shot you were planning… But evolve it a little as you go. Try slight posing variations. 

Be led not by the rigid theme you've planned, but by your instinct and creativity as the session evolves. Take your time, don't rush a concept session. 

Breathe, check your notes if you need, and make sure your light, setup and scene match your idea. 

Don't be afraid to pause for a 20-minute break while you rearrange things to start new! 

Whether you like to take 10 calculated shots, or 2000, you'll KNOW when you have “the one”. 

Then? Go wild card! Try something different. Silly. Switch it up. Flip it on it's head. You have the shot, now see how you feel about something different quick! But don't overthink it. 

You never know what might pop out of this photoshoot, now you have the shot you wanted, try something new off-the-cuff while you're there.

4. THE EDITING CAN MAKE IT OR BREAK IT - ALLOW YOUR HEART IN!

When it comes to fine-art photography, the editing is what brings your idea to life. After the prep, planning, and execution of the photoshoot, the ideas, design, all the creativity… the editing is where you sit and truly paint your vision with a master's hand, to finish and enhance the emotion and final image. 

Rich boosts, deep shadows, muted pales, silky skin with the pore texture intact, rich light boosts and textured backgrounds you feel you could reach out and touch. 

Masterful Editing is where your vision truly comes to life. 

5. DON'T FORGET TO LOVE YOUR OWN EVOLUTION!

To be a photographer is to be an artist of the light. 

We are the memory keepers. 

The storytellers. 

Keep a folder of your most favorite work. Not what got the most likes on socials, or the things your clients always ask, but the work that truly reflects your soul. 

Because here, you will see your journey, your style evolving, and the patterns of what you love to create most and your own body of work will start to form.