The Method: What is a portrait?

How is an Elias portrait made? That is a question with many answers. The simplest answer is this: in a natural, honest way, without altering the environment or the subject in any way. This explanation goes a long way to answer many of the questions we are commonly asked, however there are a few more details about which our clients often have concerns.

We do not work in a studio. Certainly we could, but the point is, we don't need or even desire to do so. The goal is to make a portrait in a way that truly captures the essence of a person's very being. The location may make no difference in the long run, but if you capture the image in an environment that is not natural for the subject, you are already taking away from the character of the person, and therefore their portrait.

Our surroundings have a continual effect on us, whether or not we see it or even notice it. How often do we sit at our desks working or sit in a room visiting with another person for hours, then suddenly, we notice that it is dark, and we need to turn on the lights? The change was happening for hours, but it went unnoticed because that's not the kind of thing we spend time thinking about. These same surroundings (especially the lighting, where photography is concerned) are very much a part of us, and play a huge part in any honest pictorial. Because of this, we use no additional lighting equipment for light, only what is normally existing in the subject's environment.

The next consideration is the location in which to photograph an individual. That's fairly easy. It is just a matter of discussing with the photographer what is important in this era of your life. Is your life busy with your kids, your career, extended family, and organized events? Or is your life basically quiet, spending time with your spouse or even by yourself? You don't have to have any ideas when you come to have your portrait made. If you are considering having an Elias portrait, then you have seen the results; now you have to let us guide you through the process of making your portrait. You can relax and just let us guide you in the decision of "what to do."

You may be thinking, with all this honesty and reality: That's fine, but I want to look my best! And you will. It is our job to find the right angle and the right composition to capture each person looking their best. By you being in your own environment, doing the things you usually do and being yourself, we can capture an image that will be a true portrait. In the finishing, we also include retouching, so you can have every confidence that you will be proud to display your photographs for years to come.