“A portrait is not made in the camera, but on either side of it.”
Edward Steichen
Picture 2025
When folks ask me what kind of photography I do, my answer is “portrait”. That’s why I chose to use a quote offered up by Preston Page, a friend and a man with the soul of a photographer. Thank you Preston! As I thought about it, the quote I mean, I don’t suppose it matters if you have the latest mobile phone or have the resources to buy a top end professional series camera, the portrait will be created on either side of the film. And that’s the difference.
Types of Photography
How many types of photography are there? I’ll name a few: Portrait, Landscape, Wildlife, Street, Macro, Architectural, Sports, Event, Photojournalism, Fashion, Fine Art, Aerial, Travel, Food, Black and White, Abstract, Still Life, Night, Documentary and Minimalist to name a few.
As a certified professional, I wouldn’t claim to be an expert in all these styles. If I don’t have a paying client in front of my camera, I will go shoot landscape, wildlife, events like festivals just to stay sharp. I even sell some of that work on the back side as fine art or fine art greeting cards. But my real passion is for capturing faces and people, thus preserving a moment in time in a person’s life. That to me is work that matters and how I picture 2025.
Looking back on ’24, I enjoyed some pretty good successes. I do have paid “portraits” in 2 unaffiliated nationally published 2025 calendars. I did this project for Pittsburg Paint and Glass (PPG) that went out to their Platinum Distributors, locally Mid-Nite Auto Supply. It’s a 1972 442.
This second one is a 2024 Corvette Z51 shot for the Alex Viola Foundation.
Like I said though, portrait photography is my passion. Yes the cars are beautiful and expertly photographed, however they offer no feed back such as, “I hate having my picture taken. I never look good or like the pictures of me”. Believe it or not, I hear that often and do my best to prove the client wrong. They’ve just never had a professional do the portrait.
Speaking of portraits, I’m getting a little closer with this cover that I shot for CityLifestyle, a local upscale city living magazine.
And lastly, there is a story and name behind each of the portraits I’ll leave you with today along with these 2 questions. How do you picture 2025? And how do you wish to be remembered?
Final Thought
The apex of cowardice is taking innocent lives in the act suicide.
Thanks for dropping in today,
Mike
P.s. If you have a project in mind, contact me here.
Hi Mike,
Another portrait related quote, by Helmut Newton, is something I keep in mind: “My job as a portrait photographer is to seduce, amuse and entertain.” And I agree 100% with your note about cowardice.
Beautiful pictures, Mike! I love how vibrant all of them are.
Thank you Paige. You are vibrant yourself !
Great work as always
Robert, thanks for dropping by !
Can’t say I can get behind the final thought, but I do appreciate your photography. Have you given more thought to my Christmas card pack idea? Hoping to have it for next year
Well, young lady…you won’t get censored or cancelled for disagreeing here. I’d be interested to hear your thought regarding the so called terrorist driving a pickup down Bourbon Street. And I will make sure you have cards, but please remind me of the discussion because I forgot my pen that day. Hugs!