Black-and-White Photography and Mobile Studio Sessions
Creative Authenticity. Celebrating You!
You’re not a generic person, let’s not do generic portraits. Bespoke portrait sessions are the answer. Only the photos you want, at the location of your choice. (Thanks to my mobile portrait studio.)
Who: Very Interesting People
The VIPs of life...and of RVA
- Adults, 45+ preferred
- Couples (from new love to golden anniversaries), or online dating profiles
- Professionals, fellow creatives, entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, influencers, speakers, college grads, authors, and actors
- People with stories
- People with patina
- Pets always welcome!
Begin Planning Your Photo Shoot
What: Portraits
Classic headshot or full body.
Emotion-based images that look how you feel.
Celebration. Graduation. Engagement. Milestones achieved, new life-levels unlocked. Rebranding and reinvention.
Scroll-stopping no matter who or what.
The Signature Portrait Session
Clean and Simple, Personal or Professional
Your session is built around one concept and one location in the Richmond area. We utilize a simple photographic background or a simple environment so the focus is entirely on you. You can be deliberately posed or follow my easy posing prompts for a more natural feel.
You fill the frame.
Expect to spend 60–90 minutes to check off the shot-list (created during our Consultation), but photography sessions are not timed unless you have scheduling restrictions. You get the chance to relax at your own pace because that’s when the magic happens.
Investment begins at $700 and includes four fully-finished black-and-white images. Additional images are available at $99 each, so you can buy exactly what you want instead of preset packages.
During the Consultation, the pricing is tailored to your photoshoot because everyone has different needs and wants different results. (I offer more detail on the pricing page.)
If you don't want homework, don't worry, everything is covered during our Consultation. By the end, you'll know what your photoshoot will cost, how many images are included in your custom portrait session, and what you can do with them after.
Schedule Your Signature Session
Every Photo Session Includes:
- Your pre-determined number of final images (included)
- Natural or studio lighting
- Posing in the style of your choice
- No hard time limit
- Pet(s) welcome
- The addition of another person or two (e.g. your partner, your parents)
- Your choice of proofing style: immediately after our session, via a private online gallery, or printed 5x7 proofs to keep
- Every final image includes: a high-resolution, print-ready file with print release—
- And a smaller, web-ready file
- Additional images: $99 each
- In-person delivery of printed products
- No markup on any prints or printed products: they're offered at lab cost
- A free Consultation to plan your shot-list, your wardrobe, and conceptual ideas
Extended Photoshoots
Documentary-style photography. Tell your story via imagery.
What story? you may ask.
The story you wish to tell. For your families, your self, because you have something you don’t want lost to time. Create a personal legacy.
There are two types of documentary-style photo shoots offered.
Environmental portraiture/Storytelling
...at the levels usually reserved for celebrity interviews and heads of state (like the feature stories in Vanity Fair). Right in your own home, starring you. Your daily life, your stories, your accomplishments, your values expressed in portraiture.
Branding/Storytelling
Storytelling is a major marketing trend; and conceptual, environmental portraits are a very good way to do this.
Personality-driven small businesses rely original, non-cliched images (and words) for success. It is your personality, after all. Not anyone else.
All branding sessions include at least one finished headshot as part of the experience.
Where: Mobile Portrait Studio
My studio is mobile. I go to you, wherever you feel comfortable having photos made (or where I can fit any necessary equipment). I'm perfectly capable of turning a clean garage into a professional portrait studio.
If needed, I can guide you to local studio rental options. But your office, your home, your own workspace can all work as an ad hoc photo studio. Everything is discussed during the Consultation, there are no surprises on photoshoot day!
Natural light or studio lighting, it all depends on the resulting images you want for your custom portrait session.
How: The Process
- Consultation—Always free, and required. Every detail is planned for smooth photoshoots.
- Portrait Session—Where the ideas become reality. Exciting and exhausting, but worth it.
- Proofing—Choose your final images via printed proofs, private online gallery, or immediately post-session. Retouching notes made here.
- Delivery—Final, fully-retouched images delivered digitally, and printed products by me (if you create an order).
- Reviews/Testimonials—Not required of anyone, but encouraged. If I made you feel beautiful, your praise can leave me glowing for weeks, too!
Questions? Concerns? Puzzlement?
I may have some answers for you.
Model Calls and Portfolio-Building Sessions
As I continue to test and refine my methods and styles, I'll offer limited portfolio sessions at a reduced rate. These sessions are announced privately through the newsletter and require a signed model release.
Models calls are always portfolio-building sessions, but when I'm seeking a specific type of model.
Portfolio-building sessions are when I'm seeking to add a specific style to my portfolio and the type of model could be anyone. (Given that my preference is for adults over age 45, my model calls are more about who you are than dress measurements, or your sex.)
I take care of any third-party expenses for my portfolio-building sessions. All session include a few final images as my gift for your participation. (If you want more images, they can be purchased for $99 each). The model release allows me to use your images in my portfolio and as promotion.
If you don't want to be included on this website or in my marketing/advertising, then you want a Privacy Clause with your Portrait Contract instead of a model release. That's available for any regular session, not a Portfolio/Modeling session.
Portfolio-building sessions are very limited opportunities, with very few people needed each time. These sessions are scattered throughout the year, as need arises and time allows.
Artist Statement
I’m somewhat new to Richmond, as I’ve been in the area for a little over two years. I'm still learning about new locations and possibilities. There's a lot of exploration in my future!
And I'm new to offering portraits professionally, but not new to photography, lighting, Photoshop, or business.
VIP RVA is a business designed for clarity, flexibility, and fairness—for both of us. I realize my desire to photograph in black-and-white, and my modified commercial pricing-style is very unusual in the general field of personal/family photography.
Not to worry, I can answer your questions during the Consultation (and, over time, via the blog). I like black-and-white for its simplicity; and I like to keep it simple and real in all aspects of business.
My photographic standards are high, which can be complex to achieve in practice (the more you know, the more complicated it gets). So keeping it simple everywhere else makes life easier for me, ultimately making it easier for you!
