Shooting Stars: Natural Woman

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Shoot Title: Natural Woman

Model: Jamie Mack

Team: Claire Verity, wardrobe; Karina Talaro, hair and makeup.

Inspiration: These pictures were inspired by a fashion editorial we did with Jamie about six months ago called American Beauty.

In American Beauty, we combined our love for Ralph Lauren clothing with a pastoral beauty of Jamie’s family farm. For Natural Woman, we stayed even closer to home, taking pictures next to her living room fireplace and in her atrium, where she often sits at her grandmother’s piano and writes music.

The title, Natural Woman, actually came after the fact, while editing a promotional video for the session. Carole King’s “A Natural Woman” came to mind as background music and Aretha Franklin’s version ended up on the soundtrack.

How many shoots we’ve done together: 12, with hopes of a couple more before she skates off to the frozen tundra of upstate New York for her first year in college.

Time of year: Spring 2022

Location: Jamie’s house in Oregon.

Shoot music: Sarah Vaughan’s 1971 album, Feelin’ Good, which actually has a sort of Carole-King-meets-Aretha-Franklin vibe.

Shoot munchies: Our jack-of-all-trades wardrobe stylist, Claire Verity, also does a killer job on craft services, with everything from vegan treats for Jamie to lots of cheeses for yours truly.

Most unexpected turn: The shot through the window wasn’t planned but there it is.

My favorite part of the day: “This shoot was all about great people, great clothing and a great atmosphere coming together and organically offering us beautiful pictures. It’s not the most secure way to do a photoshoot — building a framework and leaving the rest to the artistic spirits hanging around the set — but it’s the ‘letting go of the result’ that makes the magic.”

Camera: Sony A7rIII

Lens: This session was shot with a variety of Sigma ART prime lenses, ranging from 35 to 105mm, depending on the situation.

Propers: Jamie, who is truly a muse; Jamie’s mom, Barb, who supports our artistic endeavors; wardrobe stylist, Claire Verity, for making the vision happen; and makeup artist Karina Talaro, who knows me so well she doesn’t even have to ask.

Michael Verity is a Portland-based photographer specializing in professional headshots, modeling portfolios and fashion editorial photography. The husband of an acting coach and father of two young adult actors, he’s been photographing successful actors, creatives and business professionals for more than a decade.

Featured Photos - April 2022

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Spring is the time for new professional headshots and modeling portfolio updates. Here’s a selection of new work from the past month.

Avery, Simply

Sometimes, when the vibes at a session are particularly cool, we’ll shoot a few extra frames at the end, just to see what happens. This image was taken at the very finish of the headshot session with our new friend, Avery. There’s something about the old soul behind those knowing eyes that just captivated us. Add a little black and white magic and you have an image worth featuring.

Hudson, Energetically

Without question one of the sweetest (and most polite!) 3-year olds we’ve ever met, Hudson came to our studio this past month to get his first portfolio for his agency, Ryan Artists. He was so easy and fun to work with we captured his full portfolio — 3 outfits — in the snap of our fingers. Kids portfolios are our jam and kids like Hudson are the reason why.

Alexa, Artistically

For years, we’ve told actors: “If you want what successful actors have, do what successful actors do.” And success actors, like the Damons and the Robbies of the world, do a lot of editorial sessions. So we were totally “chuffed,” as our British friends say, when Alexa said she wanted to do a fashion editorial. We rented out a big studio, put together some great outfits, did some beautiful hair and makeup and crushed this wonderful session.

Jamie, Athletically

We’re both super excited and a little sad that our dear friend, Jamie, will be headed to the other side of the planet for college this fall. So we’re gathering up as many sessions as we can with her, including this wonderful couple of ath-leisure shots, made right in our studio.

Theron, Classically

Theron came to us looking for some senior pictures with a bit of a classic twist. So we took him and his Grandma’s chair out into the field in front of our house and kicked off this wonderful senior session with a wonderfully organic vibe.

Nicolette, Rebecca, Kaylee and Ryan, Creatively

These four people are all actors with Portland ties who posses a variety of skills and experiences, from just starting out to extensive work in film and live theater. One thing they have in common is they know how important it is to have a high quality acting headshot. All four joined us in April to create some new headshots and we’re pretty darn pleased with the results.

Michael Verity is a Portland, OR-based photographer specializing in professional headshots, modeling portfolios and fashion editorial photography. The husband of an acting coach and father of two young adult actors, he’s been photographing successful actors, models and creatives and business professionals for more than a decade.

How To Create A Modeling Portfolio

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Great visual presentation is essential in all professions. But when it comes to modeling, looking fabulous is a must and it all begins with your portfolio. As an aspiring model, your portfolio is your resume; it is often the first impression a client or an agency gets of you. 

Creating a modeling portfolio is so much more than putting together a collection of images. Unlike a collection, a portfolio conveys a story about who you are, showcases your talent and versatility as a model and tells the client why you are the best person for the job.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to create a fantastic modeling portfolio for a great first impression on clients and agencies.

How Do You Create A Modeling Portfolio?

A modeling portfolio is a series of professionally taken shots that showcases your abilities as a model. It’s a critical part of marketing your skills to clients and often makes the difference between landing a modeling gig or not. In short, you must make it count. 

Before we get into how to create an eye-catching portfolio that will boost your modeling career, it’s important to know that a modeling portfolio is not reproducible. Each model, including you, has distinct physical and psychological features to showcase. Instead of emulating another “more successful” model’s portfolio, focus on showing what makes you stand out from the other models.

1. Determine Your Modeling Type

The first step of building a great portfolio is deciding what specific type of modeling you are best suited for or prefer. Although the modeling industry has been actively embracing diversity and breaking stereotypes, your facial structure, body type and general appearance still play a part in the assignments you get.

Understanding the type of modeling you are best suited for can increase the chances of success in landing jobs and make creating a portfolio easier. Fortunately, there are many different types of modeling you can get into. From commercial modeling, fashion and runway to fitness modeling. 

Selecting one type of modeling will help you understand the expectations your clients will have for your portfolio. It also helps potential clients to easily assess your skills and suitability for a specific role. Research the different types of modeling and the kind of shots you need in your portfolio. 

2. Practice Your Posing 

Posing for a camera is an art that you must learn as a model. While it may seem straightforward, it is way more complicated than people realize. As a model, your poses should bring out your best angles and make the clothing or outfit look their best. 

Modeling photoshoots tend to take a long time, even with experienced models, so don’t wait until you are in the studio to figure out how you should pose. Allocate some time to research and practice beforehand, as it will also make you comfortable posing before the camera. Take a look at other models in your niche, their poses, and the type of photos in their portfolios. Try to emulate the poses you see. 

3. Hire The Right Photographer 

Everything – your poses, outfit, and locations -- may be on point but if the photographer isn’t up to the task then your portfolio won’t bring out your best. Choosing a photographer is the first step in planning a photoshoot and is often the most important.

Ask for referrals and check their work beforehand. Most photographers will have modeling portfolios that they have shot, so you will know if they are a good fit before engaging them.

4. Get Your Hair And Make-up Done By A Professional

While it's not a must, getting a professional hair and make-up artist can add a lot of value to your modeling profile so ensure you ask your photographer for a recommendation. 

5. Prepare Adequately For The Photoshoot

Treat the photoshoot as your first modeling gig. Make sure you know the locations beforehand and make all the necessary travel arrangements. Also, ensure you have been allotted enough time so you don’t have to rush things through.

Get adequate sleep the night before the shoot. When the big day comes, arrive early. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or for direction.

Ideally, you have a plan outlining exactly the kind of images you need beforehand. If not, communicate your expectations to the photographer in detail so you are both on the same page on the goals of the photoshoot. 

Decide on the wardrobe, locations, themes, poses, and concepts to reduce the risk of mistakes or nasty surprises. Depending on the type of modeling you want to pursue, ensure you get great portraits, close-ups, and full-body shots.

Potential clients and agencies want to see versatility and flexibility, especially if you are just starting out. Plan your wardrobe items to show versatility. Generally, you will want to include basic pieces of clothing that show off your frame and features. 

Take images that vary in style to demonstrate your capability of working in different productions. Play around with the poses to show off different angles and your best features. 

6. Choose Your Best Shots

This is one of the most challenging steps of creating a great modeling portfolio. After completing the photoshoot, you will have a vast collection of images to sort through carefully to ensure only the best goes into the portfolio. 

The general rule is to have 9 to 19 images, more than that is too many, and less than 9 won’t be enough to show your versatility. 

Focus on showcasing versatility and your qualities, don’t choose numerous images in the same pose, location, or wardrobe items. Select different types of images, including headshots, full-body shots, and mid shots, in different outfits and locations if possible. 

Pay attention to the first few images in your portfolio. Experts recommend including a “page-turning” shot at the front to capture the attention of anyone looking at it. Clients and agencies will look at hundreds of portfolios and will not spend time on yours if you don’t capture their attention with your first image.

7. Create Your Modeling Portfolio!

There are several ways to present your modeling portfolio. One way is using a printed portfolio. A printed modeling portfolio book comes in handy since you will be meeting many people face to face.

A printed portfolio is tangible and allows the client or scout to peruse the work with you present. You can make a portfolio by printing images and adding them to a folder, but it doesn’t look as sleek and professional as a properly printed portfolio.

A printed modeling portfolio also shows you are serious about your modeling career. 

8. Include Your Model Details

A modeling portfolio is like your resume. Don’t forget to include details such as modeling experience, hobbies, interests, work you are willing to do, and your information. Key information includes name, age, height, eye color, hair color, body measurements and sizes, distinguishing features (such as tattoos, birthmarks, etc.), and contact details.

9. Update Your Model Portfolio Regularly

As you age, it's important that you update your modeling portfolios with more recent photos and work experience. Updating your portfolio also shows clients and agencies that you are able to keep up with the latest trends.

You should also check your measurements regularly and make changes to your portfolio. You can also update or replace images when you get better shots or change hairstyles and other features. 

How To Create A Modeling Portfolio Online

The internet is where much of the action is. While there will be face-to-face meetings now and then, chances are most clients and agencies will first look at your online portfolio. 

Many top models prefer having a website as it offers an opportunity to show off other skills and qualities that may boost your modeling career. Alternatively, you can create an electronic version of your portfolio to send to potential clients online. So, how do you create a model portfolio online?

Many website builders have portfolio templates that you can select depending on the preferred layout. Once you choose a template, you can customize it to present your artistic vision and design of the portfolio. Drag and drop website builders are great if you are just starting, but if you are looking for something unique and more professional, you should hire a website designer.

Like the printed portfolio, ensure you only pick the best images for your website, with the most captivating being the most prominent. Having a website also offers an opportunity to add diverse media such as videos or other projects that you have worked on. 

Don’t forget to add an “About Me” page with your vital information, and a contact section that employers and clients can easily reach out to you. You can also share links to your online modeling portfolio on your social media pages to reach more people. 

Are you interested in taking high-quality images to build your professional modeling portfolio? Contact Michael Verity Photography for modeling portfolios, acting and business headshots, fashion editorial photography and kids portfolio styling in Portland.

Michael Verity is a Portland-based photographer specializing in professional headshots, modeling portfolios and fashion editorial photography. The husband of an acting coach and father of two young adult actors, he’s been photographing successful actors, creatives and business professionals for more than a decade. If you are in the Portland, OR or Vancouver, WA area you can book a session with us.

4 Tips To Get A Great Headshot

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Whether you’re an actor, a model or a business professional, a high quality headshot is essential to your success.

For actors, a world-class headshot is the “calling card” that introduces you to agencies and casting directors. For models, a high quality headshot is the connection between you and those who cast talent for a wide array of opportunities. For business professionals, a warm and engaging headshot connects “the face with the name” and builds confidence between you and your prospective client.

So how do you rise to the top of an increasingly virtual world, where actors audition via Zoom, professionals do business via LinkedIn and everybody needs a profile picture to get started? How do you create a photo that makes you look trustworthy and competent? How do insure your headshot “hits the right notes” and reflects your authentic spirit and individuality? How can you be certain you’re catching your “best side?”

Can you set up a headshot at home with your smartphone? After all: “portrait mode” is pretty cool. Or do you need the experience and expertise of a professional photographer?

If these questions have been on your mind, have no fear. Here are 4 tips to get that perfect headshot. (Spoiler alert: save portrait mode for snaps of your bestie or your bulldog, put aside your DIY dreams and hire a professional photographer to get professional headshots.)

How To Take A Professional Headshot

1. List Your Expectations

Before creating an acting, modeling or business headshot, develop a mental image of what you want and try to explain it to your photographer in as much detail as possible. Even better: find examples of headshots you like and share them with your photographer. Professional photographers are, obviously, visually oriented; a mood board of images you like is an excellent way to communicate your ideas.

Do you want a formal headshot or something more candid? Do you want a traditional studio setting, with a plain color background, or something more environmental? Indoors or outdoors?

How will you use the headshot? For auditions? Casting calls? Press releases? Publications? Social media? Your website?  

Remember, headshots are all about first impressions. The final product will impact potential clients and casting directors and their decision on whether they will book you, hire you or buy from you. 

Have a specific angle you think works for you? While most professional photographers are experienced at reading faces, if you have a side you prefer, tell the photographer. If there are certain things about your face you’d prefer to downplay (scars, moles, etc.), tell the photographer upfront. He will appreciate that information. 

If you explain your ideas to an experienced photographer they will meet your expectations. You’re more likely to get a photo that you will love if you know what you are looking for and clearly communicate your ideas.

2. Dress For The Part

The way you dress will naturally affect the overall look of your headshot. Solid and neutral colors work best as they tend to put the focus on your face, just where you want it. Bright jewelry, clothing with big, bold patterns and shirts with large logos should be avoided. Headshots should be more focused on who you are rather than what you’re wearing. 

That being said, there are exceptions to every rule. Are you a big personality who likes pink paisley shirts? Go monochrome and do your images in front of pink paper. Do you sell country properties? An outfit that says “outdoorsy” (and is preferably shot, outdoors) is the right way to go. Whatever you choose, clothing should be consistent with your personality, look great with your eyes and complexion and work well with your chosen environment.

Need wardrobe help? Always consult with your photographer on what to wear. It will make you more comfortable and help them prepare. (At Michael Verity Photography, basic wardrobe consultation is included with every session.)

3. Pay Attention To Your Posture.

Your body posture says a lot about your confidence so it’s important to get this part right. Good posture insures the right angles and helps show your best features. 

Generally speaking, you should position your upper body diagonally to the camera while keeping your chin toward the photographer. Keep your back straight with your shoulders relaxed and avoid having your shoulders too high, which indicates tension. It’s a good idea to avoid body language - like slouching - that makes you seem unapproachable.

As with wardrobe, however, these are general guidelines. While an “arms crossed” pose doesn’t work well for a therapist, that type of pose from someone in the legal profession is often considered a sign of strength. It also works well for actors who are cast as police officers (and, oddly, for those who are cast as gangsters.) A “slouchy” pose wouldn’t work too well for a doctor but for young fashion models, that sort of approach is acceptable (and sometimes encouraged.)

As with points one and two, thinking about what you’re trying to achieve and communicating it with your photographer is key. An experienced photographer will have ideas, coach you through the process and help you achieve your goals.

4. Smile, No Smile

To smile or not to smile, that is the question. The short story is this: if you’re not someone who smiles “naturally,” don’t expect that to change magically once you step in front of the camera. It probably won’t happen. 

So what do you do? Think happy thoughts. Think about your favorite funny movie. If you think happy thoughts, you’ll look like a happy person. If you think about how you look, you’ll look like a person who’s worried about how he looks.

Another trick is to look at the camera as if it’s someone you love: your best friend, a beloved grandparent, a favorite nephew, your new kitten. Whatever it takes to put your brain in active thinking mode, not passive wondering mode is the way to go.

Pro Tip: change your facial expressions throughout the shoot. Make a great big goofy smile, followed by a huge frown. Make the silliest face you can followed by the meanest face you can. Have fun with it. An experienced photographer will find the “genuine you” in between all the exaggerated expressions. 

Lastly, remember these words: Shy is beautiful. Warmth doesn’t always require a big toothy grin. Start with who you are and see what happens. 

What About Using Your Smartphone For Headshots?

While we admit smartphones have come a long way in recent years, there’s really no debate on the advantages of a professional photographer over the DIY method.

Even the latest and greatest smartphone in “portrait mode” has its limitations: limited lens options, limited zooming capacity, limited images quality. 

More important, smartphones don’t know how to move a light an inch to the left to change your headshots from strong to stellar. They don’t consult with you on wardrobe, show you how to pose, offer you a cup of tea or coffee when you walk into the studio, ask how you how you’re doing today or give you real time feedback on how the session is going. 

This is because smartphones (or even expensive DSLRs) aren’t human. They don’t come with experience and expertise.

Professional photographers understand lighting, how to capture the best angles, what are the best camera settings, how to do the best retouching. In short, they know what you need to get a beautiful headshot. Follow these tips to get a great headshot photo that you’ll be proud to post on your website, your social media or your casting site. 

Michael Verity is a Portland-based photographer specializing in professional headshots, modeling portfolios and fashion editorial photography. The husband of an acting coach and father of two young adult actors, he’s been photographing successful actors, creatives and business professionals for more than a decade. If you are in the Portland, OR or Vancouver, WA area you can book a session with us.

8 Tips For A Great Business Headshot

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You open your work email and at the top of the inbox is the message you dread: your company’s marketing department has hired a photographer to do business headshots for the sales team and your number has come up. Memories of toothless school pictures in front of musty, mottled backgrounds come rushing in, with visions of bad passport pictures racing through your head.

Have no fear. Business and corporate headshots are easier than you think if you follow these simple tips.

Preparation

1. Get some sleep. 

That’s right: our first suggestion is laying down and doing nothing. Preferably, though, you do it at home the night before and not at your desk that morning. 

You want a good night’s sleep before doing a photo session for the same reason you want to be rested before making a big presentation: you’ll look sharper, feel sharper and perform better.

(Pro tip: hand-in-hand with being well rested is staying hydrated. Your skin is 64% water so give it plenty of what it wants.)

2. Plan your time.

In most cases, your marketing manager will book a block of time with the photographer and parse out 10-15 minute sessions to each person. So, the time of day when you shoot may be out of your control. If not, ask to be scheduled when you’re at your best, whether it’s first thing in the morning, right after lunch or at the end of the day.

Regardless of when you shoot, leave yourself 20 or 30 minutes of prep time to take a breath, check your hair and straighten your tie. You won’t do yourself justice rushing from a conference call to the photo shoot with 30 seconds to spare.

3. That outfit looks great on you (or what to wear for business headshots).

Unlike an acting or modeling headshot, where there’s room for personal clothing styles, your type of business (and the vision of your marketing manager) will play a big role in determining what you wear. 

Whatever their direction, pick something within their vision that works well with your complexion and brings out your eye color (e.g., blue eyes and blue shirts go well together.) It’s always good to wear an outfit that’s fairly new (because newer looks fresher) and to bring a couple of variations, ‘cuz spills happen.

At The Session

4. Remember why you’re there.

You’re not making an acting headshot for Phantom of the Opera. You’re not creating a modeling portfolio. No one expects you to photograph like Matt Damon or Margot Robbie.

You’re there to link a “face to a name,” to show your clients that you’re warm and engaging and trustworthy so they’ll ink that $1M deal you’ve been working on. 

Being warm and engaging doesn’t mean having a fake smile. It means being open and accessible.

5. How to be open and accessible.

Look at the camera like it’s someone you care really care about, who makes you smile, who gives you a warm feeling. If you look at the camera that way, the viewer will pick up on your “affection” and feel you’re a warm and engaging person. It’s pretty simple.

6. Now, about those poses (or, what a business headshot should look like.)

Business headshots, more than any other type of portraiture, are all about the introduction. The way you would approach someone and make an introduction in-person is how you should approach the camera.

Generally that means right shoulder forward, as if you were reaching out to shake hands, but there are variations on that theme that might work better for your body type and face shape. An experienced photographer will point you in the right direction so trust their expertise.

(Pro Tip: contrary to what a lot of photographer’s suggest, don’t bother practicing in front of a mirror. What you see in the mirror is backwards so it won’t look like your picture anyway. And it’ll probably make you ore self-conscious. Better you spend your time doing breathing exercises.)

7. Remember to breathe.

Breathing is a good idea. Doing it keeps you alive. Breathing deeply while in front of a camera is an even better idea. It will relax you. 

8. When all is said and done.

Hopefully, your marketing manager will have picked a photographer with considerable experience and expertise, who makes you feel comfortable, who captures a wonderful picture of you that makes you think “yeah, maybe that modeling contract is a possibility.” But, regardless of whether there’s a Men’s Health cover in your future, if you follow these guidelines you’ll insure your business headshot will be warm and engaging and worthy of your company’s website.

Now get back to your desk and close some business.

Michael Verity is a Portland-based photographer specializing in professional headshots, modeling portfolios and fashion editorial photography. The husband of an acting coach and father of two young adult actors, he’s been photographing successful actors, creatives and business professionals for more than a decade. If you are in the Portland, OR or Vancouver, WA area you can book a session with us.

Featured Photos - March 2022

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Spring is the time for new professional headshots and modeling portfolio updates. Here’s a selection of new work from the past month.

Claire, Stunningly

The words “beautiful inside and out” get thrown around so much they’ve become cliche. But, in Claire’s case, they couldn’t be more true. Absolutely stunning and resolutely humble, Claire is truly a beautiful person through and through. And, yeah, she takes an amazing picture. Check out this month’s Shooting Stars feature to see a retrospective of all the sessions we’ve done with Claire over the past 2 years. Claire’s outfit is by Free People and she’s represented by Ford/RBA.

Jordyn and Ayah, Adorably

Sisters Jordyn and Ayah are Phoenix-based child actors who work with me every time I head south to shoot amongst the cacti. Along with a national Macy’s commercial this past Christmas, Jordyn recently appeared in the Nicole Kidman project, Roar, on AppleTV. Ayah’s “Make a Wish” T-shirt is by Fabvokab. They’re represented in Phoenix by Ford/RBA and in LA by Dream Talent Management and The Osbrink Agency. Ayah is also represented by DDO Kids, LA.

Jude, Confidently

We were honored that Jude and his family made the 6 hour round trip from Southeastern Oregon to our Vancouver, WA studio to make headshots for his LA acting ventures. He confessed to being a little nervous but you’d never know it by the results. We’re confident of his confidence and appreciate being part of his youth acting journey.

Karissa, Colorfully

Karissa is another local kid with LA ambitions who dropped by our studio to make some kids modeling portfolio pictures. The creative brief for Karissa was quirky and colorful. Mission accomplished.

Lila, Fantastically

We photographed Lila for the first time back in December and have been singing her praises ever since. These images are from our first portfolio together, which we’ll expand upon when we go to the beach this summer. You can see more from Lila’s session on our teen modeling portfolio page.

Nina, Jaime and Whitney, Professionally

No matter what your business, a professional headshot for your LinkedIn, your website and your company’s marketing materials is an absolute must.

Nina (left) is a finance professional who chose a brown palette to compliment her red hair and convey a sense of warmth and accessibility to her clients.

Jaime (center) is a young professional whose company provides venture capital for science and research. She needed a headshot with a clean white background for her company’s website.

Whitney (right) is a real estate agent who specializes in rural and recreational properties. Shot outside, his headshot tells the story of exactly what he does.

Have a professional story to tell? Connect with us and let’s talk about your business.

Magnolia, Chris and Eleanor, Artistically

Magnolia, Chris and Eleanor are all Portland, OR actors with a variety skills and experiences. One thing they have in common is they know how important it is to have a high quality acting headshot. All three joined us in March to work up new imagery for their portfolios (and we know, for a fact, that at least two of them have had significant auditions since we snapped their mugs.)

Michael Verity is a Portland, OR-based photographer specializing in professional headshots, modeling portfolios and fashion editorial photography. The husband of an acting coach and father of two young adult actors, he’s been photographing successful actors, models and creatives and business professionals for more than a decade.

Shooting Stars: Claire Dailey

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This month’s Shooting Stars feature offers a retrospective of images created over the past two years with teenage model Claire Dailey, shot in Portland, OR and Phoenix, AZ for the Ford/Robert Black Agency.

Model: Claire Dailey

How We Met: Claire’s Mom, Julie, reached out to us via Instagram and invited to come to Phoenix, where she helped us connect with a number of other Moms and models, many of whom have become regular customers.

Our First Session: We did our first session in January 2020, just a few months before the arrival of COVID-19. I told her Mom I like a “rock and roll vibe” and she came up with four amazing outfits, including this leather jean and jacket combo that made for an amazing close to a great session.

Our Most Recent Session: Our most recent session included 8 outfits shot over the course of two days. On Day 1, we bounced around her neighbor’s backyards and shot a mix of Free People and beach wear. On Day 2, we rented an authentic 70s location, complete with wood paneling and shag carpets, and matched our love for Free People with a zealous affection for the olden days. We also listened to the Mamas and Papas.

What We’ve Done In-Between: Like everyone, the shutdown slowed us down. It took almost a year for us to get to session 2, which happened in downtown Vancouver, WA and featured what “Phoenixians” called winter wear (but what Northwesters call a “light sweater”). All totaled, we’ve shot 30 different outfits over 8 sessions in just over 2 years. We’ve shot in the desert, on a boat and in downtown streets all over Vancouver and Phoenix.

Favorite Session: They’ve all had their highlights but my favorite sessions are probably the first — ‘cuz, you know, rock and roll — along with the images we did on the boat. Claire and I had known each other for awhile and that’s when we really connected, which raised our work up several notches. Shooting in the desert was fun, too.

Purpose of the shoots: For Claire’s agency portfolio at Ford/RBA.

Shoot music: Well, we did listen to 60s and 70s music at our last session but, for the most part, things are pretty quiet on our sets.

Most unexpected turn: For our session in Tonto National park, I wore flip flops into the desert and learned about cactuses that actually jump onto your legs because they sense the heat of your skin. That’s was an unexpected turn. And we got thrown out of the lobby of a hotel once, but not before I got all the pictures we needed. (The security guard was not fooled.)

The reason why we love Claire Dailey: In a world of overnight influencers and kids who think they're brands (and have forgotten they’re kids), Claire stands out because of what’s she’s not. She’s not full of herself, not wrapped up in her beauty, seemingly unfazed by how she looks in pictures. She quiet, humble and unassuming, the kind of kid who actually should be influencing other teenagers.

Camera: Sony A7rIII

Lenses: For the most part, I use Sigma lenses. The Sigma 105mm f1.4 is a particular favorite.

Lighting: Pretty much everything in these pictures was done with natural light. It’s just about pointing the model in the right direction. We did use a makeup ring light to photograph her in a hotel room but, otherwise, the sun is what does the job.

Team:

Talent: Claire Dailey (Instagram)

Creative Director and Photographer: Michael Verity (Instagram)

Fashion Editor: Julie Dailey

Portland/Vancouver Hair and Makeup Stylist: Karina Talaro (Instagram)

Phoenix Hair and Makeup Stylist: James Matthew

Agency: Ford/Robert Black (Instagram)

Session #1

Session #2

Session 3

Session 4

Session 5

Session 6

Session 7

Session 8

Featured Photos - February 2022

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We squeezed a lot of work into the shortest month of the year. Here are some of our favorites of February.

Taiyah, Colorfully

OK, who are we kidding? We’re crushing on color images, too, and we love these pictures of our new client, Taiyah (who is also with Ryan Artists). We started outside but, when the red noses of winter got the best of us, we jumped inside and had ourselves a dance party.

Nicolas, Um, Quietly?

Make no mistake: this kiddo, who models for The Option Agency, is not the quiet type. From the moment he jumps from the car, he’s all energy and curiosity. When he got done his shoot, he went mutton busting. True story.

A.T., Handsomely

Referrals make the world go ‘round. Well, they make our world go ‘round, anyway. So we’re very grateful our client Kody Harvard (great actor name, right?) referred A.T. our way. We fell right into a groove that produced these nice relaxed images for his headshot portfolio.

Akina and Zendaya, Beautifully

Sisters Akina and Zendaya came back to our studio in February for a fun session that included the requisite number of beautiful glances (and a little bit of horsing around, too.) These pictures, taken for Ryan Artists, are just a few of our fave frames of these beauties.

Alexa, Sublimely

We’re crushing on the black and white photos these days and we’re totally crushing on Alexa, who joined the MVP family this past month with her first portfolio shoot. Next up, an editorial session that will rock the house.

Mya, Colorfully

Mya was probably Taiyah’s age when we started shooting together and she just gets more beautiful with every passing day. This session, inspired by the fashion of Billie Eilish, is our most favorite yet. This marks the first time we worked with Portland, OR hair and makeup artist, Kerrin Birchenough, who simply killed it.

Melvin, Our Stand In

OK so we don’t take pictures of pets but we couldn’t help sharing this cute picture of our man Melvin, underbite and all. He stepped onto the paper as we were setting up for some toddler sessions — they’re about the same height — so we captured Melvin’s mug for posterity.

Featured Photos - January 2022

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From professionals starting anew to fun photos of some longtime favorites, we’ve enjoyed a wide variety of sessions in the month of January ‘22. Here are some of our favorite photos.

Susan, Starting Anew

After a career as a successful attorney, Susan wanted new pictures for her social and professional profiles, images that reflect a new chapter in her life. “I really like how natural these pictures are, wrinkles and all,” she told us ivia email. “These images do just what I hoped for -- they portray me as a more polished, but definitely older (yet still vibrant) version of myself.” Case closed!

Harley and Casey, Polished

Did someone say January was Handsome Guy Headshot Month? It was at our studio. Harley, on the left, is a longtime friend who came to the studio to refresh his portfolio. Casey, who’s a professional nurse, is reviving his love of musical theater, starting with a wonderful set of new headshots.

Piper, In Living Color

Taking pictures of Piper is less like doing work than going to a show. Something WILL happen and it’ll be fun. These images, taken for ZTA are some of our favorite kids portfolio pix of all time.

Jamie, Naturally

It’s no secret Jamie Mack is one of our favorite people to photograph. Her creativity, professionalism and free spirit show in each and every frame. And, in case you didn’t know it, she’s a singer along with being a model, actor and dancer. Dig it.

Lila and Ella, Rockstars

Our kids sing and dance and act and swim and make music. Even when they’re not making music, they look like rockstars, which is what our yearly Rockstar Sessions are all about.

Featured Photos - December 2021

We wrapped 2021 with an eclectic mix of sessions, from jazz swingers to opera singers, kids to adults, at home in our studio and away in LA with friends old and new. Here’s a sample of what we made.

Lizzie, Happily

This Texas transplant, who recently signed with The Option Agency, is a talented signer, dancer, actor and all-around sweetheart. All the charm you see here is what she brought to every minute of her session.

Antone, The Renaissance Man

Every session we do with Antone shows us a different side of his personality. This session, to update his modeling portfolio and promote his newest musical release, combines the ring-a-ding-ding romance of the Rat Pack with the class of Mel Torme and Bobby Darin.

Kyra, Stunningly

One of our most cherished friends, Kyra has been a client since we started this adventure almost a decade ago. Though it’s been a minute since we last worked together, it was like we’d just seen each other yesterday. This gorgeous image was created in downtown Los Angeles.

Emory, Bringing the Love

Charmer. Gem. Sweetheart. What else can we say?

Shawnte, Handsomely

This handsome actor, model and entrepreneur happens to be Emory’s dad. Wonderful kids seem to come from wonderful parents, don’t they?

Laura, Professionally

Personal branding is essential to professional success and a great headshot is a key element in telling your story and selling your services. This headshot of vocal coach and singer Laura Thoreson is the perfect blend of openness and professionalism, exactly what she needed for her new website. PS: We know from experience — our daughter studies with her — there isn’t a better voice teach in the PNW.

Michael Verity is a Portland-based photographer specializing in professional headshots, modeling portfolios and fashion editorial photography. The husband of an acting coach and father of two young adult actors, he’s been photographing successful actors, creatives and business professionals for more than a decade.

See our Top 21 of 2021

6 Favorite Records of 2021

Before I was a photographer I was a freelance music journalist who covered every kind of music on the planet. When I started doing photography full-time seven years ago, it was cool to retire from my music writing career. Do you know how nice it was to listen to an album and not have to come up with an opinion about it?

Years later, I’m still a music junkie and, because I spend a whole lot of time in front of a computer, editing pictures, I get to listen to a lot of albums. A LOT of albums. Like 2 or 3 a day, on average.

Though I no longer have to come up with an opinion as my job, like anyone, my opinions still happen naturally and I have my favorites. So here are my 6 favorite records of 2021, along with the brief notes I might have made as I listened.

Strawberry Mansion - Langhorne Slim

My highest rated album of the year (4.5 on a scale of 5) oddly has no notes attached to it. I was probably busy listening and not thinking, which is the best way to go. For certain, there’s a hopeful spirit about this record that transcends the words and music. (If you’d like to read an interview I did with Slim — aka Sean Scolnick — you can check one out here.)

Todd Snider - First Agnostic Church of Hope and Wonder

The time I first listened, all I said was “I love it,” probably because it’s all soul and funk and acoustic guitars. If I understand correctly, this was inspired by a series of Sunday morning online concerts that Snider did during lockdown (and the spirit shows).

Dave Alvin - From An Old Guitar (Rare and Unreleased Tracks)

“Rare and unreleased” can mean true gems or pure garbage (hence the reason why they were unreleased). In this case, it’s the former that happens here. And you gotta love the guy’s voice.

Tom Jones - Surrounded By Time

Yes, Tom Jones is still alive (he’s 81 years old) and he’s still recording (this is his 41st album) and it went to #1 in the UK, making him the oldest legitimate pop star on the planet. And, to be honest, he sounds AMAZING. My original notes summed it up": “Tom’s a dude.”

Amethyst Kiah - Wary + Strange

I came to this album late in the game — just a few weeks ago, in fact — and though I didn’t rate it as numerically high as others, it probably deserves a 5 out of 5. It’s that good. Or, as I said at the time: “Wow.”

Allison Russell - Outside Child

Pure magic. ‘Nuf said.

Runner’s Up

(aka albums released in 2020 that I just go to this year)

Waylon Payne - Blue Eyes, The Harlot, The Queer, The Pusher and Me

Herman Dune - Notes from Vinegar Hill

Bonny Light Horsemen - Bonny Light Horsemen (probably the best album I’ve heard in the past 4 years)

Justen Farren - Pretty Free

John Craigie - Asterisk The Universe

Bob Dylan - Rough and Rowdy Ways

Here’s a little sampler playlist

5 Books That Inspired Us in 2021

I’m a massive reader — non-fiction, please — and an addictive collector of books about art and photography. There are always a few that rise to the top and rank among the most inspiring books I’ve read over the previous 12 months. Here they are.

Natasja in Colares

Lachlan Bailey

If I have the story straight, world-renowned photographer Lachlan Bailey and model Natasja Madsen found themselves simultaneously quarantined in the (not-so-horrible) confines of Colares, Portugal.

With the help of Erik Torstensson, co-founder of FRAME clothing, the pair spent a few days at a rented villa, creating the remarkable photos that inhabit this book. While shooting the stars for Vanity Fair and Vogue may be out of my reach, the work in this book reminds me great pictures are always attainable. They don’t require a team of 20 stylists, just the right people, the right place and the right attitude.

The original print run of 2000 — with proceeds to benefit Wildlife Victoria — sold out almost immediately but it looks like a second run is available at the FRAME website.

It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be

Whatever You Think, Think The Opposite

Paul Arden

I discovered “It’s Not How Good You Want to Be …” at Chelsea Books in NYC but, as I was trying to travel light, I didn’t buy it until I got home. Thanks to Amazon, I found “Whatever You Think …” and it’s turned out to be my favorite of the two. No matter though: you can read both in the span of an hour and return for nuggets of wisdom here and there.

My favorite part is page 81 of Whatever You Think …”, wherein Arden talks about reviewing the portfolios of photographers seeking commissions. He said 99% of the work was of a high standard but 98% seemed like something he’d seen before. The two percent that stood out, he said, did so because they had a point of view that was uniquely their own. “These were often difficult people,” he writes, “almost unemployable because you couldn’t tell them what to do. Sometimes it went wrong.” he added, “Sometimes it didn’t. When it didn’t go wrong it more than made for the times it did.”

A great book for anybody who lives a creative life, which is all of us.

Erwin Olaf

I’d never heard of Erwin Olaf before I set about spending my life’s savings this past fall at The Strand bookstore in New York. This is a case where the book was definitely sold by its cover. I’m fascinated that an ordinary (albeit beautiful) girl doing something as simple as sitting with a glass of milk can have such otherworldly qualities. (She looks like an insect, her wings the sofa and her dress.)

ONE + ONE = THREE

Dave Trott

Obviously one plus one equals two. What else could it be? Well, that’s what this book is all about.

Creating Photographs

Albert Watson

This book is actually a condensed transcript of key points from Watson’s Masters of Photography class. The video is better, of course, but it’s also 10X the cost of this book, which is just $14.95. It’s also nice to have the words in front of you, especially when there isn’t a device on which to watch a video (like when you’re on holiday at the North Pole, the only place left without wi-fi). The site also has classes by Steve McCurry and Joel Meyerowitz, a couple other guys who knew what they were doing.

Runners’ Up

Nadav Kander - The Meeting

Craig McDean - Amber, Guinevere and Kate

The last several of Homme Girls magazine

21 for 21: Our Favorite Photos of the Year

Thank you for an amazing year. Here are our favorite images from 2021.

21. Chloe and Kate helped us launch our newest event, Classic Portraits, this past November.

20. When we launched our new Retro Session event, beautiful Miss Mallorie was the first person we wanted to photograph.

19. Dancer and all around talented guy John A. Mays relaxes on set during his recent portfolio session.

18. One of our favorite places is the coast and one of our favorite kids is Piper. So that’s easy math.

17. We were at a transit stop in Phoenix but we felt like we were with Makena at a Paris train station for the wonderful portfolio image.

16. We liked this picture of Ja’Bryce so much we put it on our home page (and we’re planning to keep it that way).

15. One of several dozen pictures we could have included of Hannah, this homage to Marilyn Monroe is certainly among our favorites.

14. A perennial pair of favorites at our annual Rockstar Sessions, these kids have just the right amount of rock and roll attitude.

13. When kids are in front of the camera, we’re in our wheelhouse. Milo’s portfolio session this past summer was our first of what we hope will be many together.

11. Ella’s a big fan of our studio sessions and we’re a big fan of how she rocked this classic pose in a classic black sweater.

10. Avery’s a really cool kid who doesn’t think about how cool he is which makes him even cooler. We did this shot at our debut Retro Session.

9. We couldn’t decide which of these beach images of Eva we like best so ….

8. Same two girls, two different moods, both equally beautiful.

7. What can we say? One of the most beautiful faces we’ve ever seen, owned by one of the most humble people we’ve ever met. You can see more of Claire on our teen modeling page.

6. This picture of Kyra was actually taken just a few days ago and immediately jumped into our Top 10. Kyra was one of our very first clients way back when I was a baby photographer (and she was just a kid) so every time I work with her it’s a moment to be cherished.

5. These two images of Kloe, taken at the Arch Cape beach over the summer, could have easily been our top 2 images of the year.

5. This wonderful image of Jamie, created in collaboration with Alisa Powell Tetreault at Most Everything Vintage helped us launch our Vintage Hollywood series.

3. This wonderful portfolio image of LA-based singer Samantha Gangal and LA-based model Madi Hazelhurst was captured at an amusement park in Newport Beach and never fails to make us smile.

  1. One of our favorites faces at one of our favorite places.

Credits

When Mother Nature wasn’t doing her thing, hair and makeup (for most everyone on this page) was done by my bestie, Karina Talaro. Hair and makeup for Makena by James Matthew. Hair and makeup for Samantha and Madi by Christine Hazelhurst. Hannah did her own makeup for the Marilyn Monroe session. Clothing styled by various combinations of Carson Verity, Claire Verity and Michael Verity

Our Senior Session with Sidney, Music Lover and Kiss Fan

 

Though I don’t advertise myself as a senior portrait photographer, I do the occasional senior session by request (more so lately as many of my earliest child model clients turn into high school seniors). My session this past weekend with my new friend, Sidney, has me thinking I might like to do more.

We started by dancing in between the raindrops of the PNW, November-style, to capture some shots of Sidney cozied-up in her favorite sweater. You wouldn’t know it from her smile but, in the first picture, we actually wedged ourselves between some industrial sized air conditioners to escape the wind and rain. 

It was Sidney’s idea to shoot in a record shop and my idea to do it at 1709Records in downtown Vancouver, WA where Mikki, the owner was totally welcoming, supportive and enthusiastic.

I learned that Sidney is a major Kiss fan (Paul Stanley, preferred) and she learned (from me, a fountain of music trivia) that Peter Criss was laying flat on his back when he recorded vocals for “Beth.”

Big surprise: I also learned I can’t walk out of a record store empty handed — even though I have, literally, thousands of vinyls in my studio. Sunday’s haul was Stephen Stills classic ’76 long player, Illegal Stills; Duo-Glide, the 1978 follow-up to Sanford Townshend Band’s “Smoke From A Distant Fire;” and a repackaged version of the first album by The Raspberries. Check below for a little sampler and hit me up if you need some senior pix.

The Studio Sessions, Season 6

 
 
 

Classic Portraits

Season 6 of The Studio Sessions opens this Saturday with Classic Portraits. Inspired by Rembrandt and Vermeer and updated for today, our Classic Portrait sessions capture the soul of our subject in a timeless fashion.

 
 
 

Fun & Fashion

Speaking of fashion, our longest running studio session, Fun & Fashion, returns in 2022 with all new looks but the same abundance of smiles. Contemporary and colorful, Fun & Fashion is great for kids (and teens and fun-loving adults, too) looking for a quick portfolio update or just to have a good time in front of the camera.

 
 
 

The Retro Sessions

Launched in 2021 and continuing in the spring of 2022, The Retro Sessions pays homage to the classic photography of the 60s, 70s and 80s, styled with a modern twist. Like all our sessions, Retro works for kids of all ages.

 
 
 

The Rockstar Sessions

Our second-longest running and, by far, most popular studio event, The Rockstar Sessions, is about everything we love: music, fashion, beauty and, sometimes, guitars.

 
 
 

Vintage Hollywood

Inspired by vintage Hollywood promotional photos from the 30s and 40s, our Vintage Hollywood Sessions, created in collaboration with Most Everything Vintage in Vancouver, are a truly special event.

 

Credits

Models (top to bottom): Mya Jett, Olivia Heinrichs, Grace Leasure, Kylie Kimball and Jamie Mack

Hair and Makeup (Mya, Grace, Kylie and Jamie): Karina Talaro

Hair and Makeup (Olivia): Becca Olmstead

Wardrobe Design: Carson Verity

Vintage Hollywood wardrobe provided by Most Everything Vintage

Michael Verity is a Portland-based photographer specializing in professional headshots, modeling portfolios and fashion editorial photography. The husband of an acting coach and father of two young adult actors, he’s been photographing successful actors, creatives and business professionals for more than a decade.

Featured Photos - October 2021

Some of our favorite photographs from the month of October.

Boris, The Return

Boris was one of our very first clients. We worked together for many years and in many different ways, including a session with his sister, Bela, in the Alberta neighborhood of Portland, still among my favorite shoots. Boris has grown from really cute kid to handsome young man; as always, it was a privilege to create some new images for his portfolio.

Kerry, Fresh Faced

Though not new to being photographed, Kerry arrived at our studio new to us and new to the process of doing headshots. It took a few minutes but, like a true professional, she locked into the session with ease and charm and delivered some fabulous shots.

Michaela, Ready For The Next

Michaela is another longtime friend who has worked with us off and on for many years. This time around it was a portfolio session that combined headshots, for her acting and singing career, and senior pictures, just for fun. I love this picture; it captures perfectly the wit and intelligence of this talented young performer.

John, Magically

Speaking of talented performers, this guy — dancer, actor, YouTube content dude — John A. Mays just oozes talent. This picture, one of a few thousand frames we snapped of this kinetic young performer, beautifully embodies the life of a dancer, at rest but always in motion.

Cortney, Beautifully

This stunning young actress, who came to us thought Studio Northwest, was so relaxed in front of the camera you’d think she’d done a thousand headshot sessions when, in fact, this was her first time. And as I recall, this is one of the first frames we shot.

Mya, Colorfully

What can we say about Miss Mya V? Every time we work with her, which has been many times over the last 5 years, we are stunned by her beauty and amazed by her growth as a model. Truly one of the sweetest people we know, she is a gem through and through.

Hair and makeup (Kerry, Michaela, Cortney and Mya) by Karina Talaro

Mya’s wardrobe by Carson Verity

Michael Verity is a Portland-based photographer specializing in professional headshots, modeling portfolios and fashion editorial photography. The husband of an acting coach and father of two young adult actors, he’s been photographing successful actors, creatives and business professionals for more than a decade.

See last months Featured Photos

Shooting Stars: Kloe Armstrong

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Beach Kloe Armstrong black and white

Shoot Title: Kloe Armstrong

Inspiration: This editorial story was inspired by the famous fashion photographer, Peter Lindbergh. It’s based on a behind-the-scenes video called Ault that was filmed for Vogue magazine in 2014 and features the beautiful models Mariacarla Boscono and Sharon Cohendy.

We traveled to one of Kloe’s favorite places, Arch Cape, OR, with the idea of capturing the same cloudy, misty feeling of Lindbergh’s video. Mother Nature, however, had other ideas. By the time we arrived, the sun was out in full force and the cove was full of surfers.

So our dark and desolate editorial story (originally titled Andata, Italian for “gone”) became a brighter and shinier story named Kloe Armstrong, a simple document of a beautiful person in her favorite place.

How many shoots we’ve done together: at least 10, with two more scheduled for this winter.

Time of year: Fall

Location: Arch Cape, Oregon

Shoot music: The ocean

Shoot munchies: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

Most unexpected turn: The sunny weather. (It’s the Pacific Northwest. We expect gloom.)

Kloe’s favorite part of the day: “The atmosphere that we created was absolutely inspiring, especially when it came to really being in that role. I loved the creativity and fun that we were able to incorporate!”

My favorite part of the day: “About 30 minutes before we finished, I watched Kloe’s approach to the camera elevated to a whole new level. Beautiful pictures are great. Seeing greater confidence in the young people with whom I work is even better.”

Camera: Sony A7rIII

Lens: Sigma 105mm f1.4

Propers: Carson Verity, who helped design the initial wardrobe direction; Danielle Armstrong, who made the wardrobe happen (along with providing the peanut butter cups :) and Claire Verity, my always supportive sidekick.

Michael Verity is a Portland-based photographer specializing in professional headshots, modeling portfolios and fashion editorial photography. The husband of an acting coach and father of two young adult actors, he’s been photographing successful actors, creatives and business professionals for more than a decade.

Featured Photos - September 2021

Some of our favorite photographs from the month of September.

Max, Stoically

Even though we spent some time on vacation in September, we still managed to take a whole bunch of pictures. This young man, for whom we did a first portfolio, is quite the charmer: intelligent, inquisitive, talkative and, as you can see, stunningly photogenic.

Nicolette, Enthusiastically

If they gave out Oscars for positive energy and good vibrations, this woman would be a perennial winner. This image, from her second headshot session with us, pretty much tells her story to a “T” (which is what we want from a headshot, isn’t it?)

Carson, Just Like That

This picture was taken in about 10 minutes, in an alley behind a restaurant in Great Neck, NY, about 6 hours after Hurricane Ida came through and dumped 8” of rain on the city in about 4 hours. So great images really aren’t about the 10 minutes spent pushing the button; they’re about the 10,000 hours spent learning how to push the button.

Evie, Perfectly

There’s nothing better than working with a kid who’s a true pro and Evie’s a professional in every sense of the word. Herein I reminded her that portfolio work is about the clothing and she created a picture worthy of a hundred catalogs and a thousand sweaters.

Irie, Collegially

In the super competitive world of college applications, a great essay and stellar grades aren’t enough. Every application benefits from having a top quality professional headshot attached to your docket. Enough said.

Irie’s hair and makeup by Karina Talaro

Michael Verity is a Portland-based photographer specializing in professional headshots, modeling portfolios and fashion editorial photography. The husband of an acting coach and father of two young adult actors, he’s been photographing successful actors, creatives and business professionals for more than a decade.

See last months Featured Photos

Shooting Stars: American Beauty

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_DSC5634-Edit - Jamie - (c) 2021 Michael Verity Photography. All Rights Reserved.jpg


Shoot Title: American Beauty

Inspiration: It’s no secret I’m a huge fan of Ralph Lauren, from the rugged style of his designs to the beautiful photography that appears in his advertisements. I’m also a huge fan of Jamie Mack, with whom I’ve worked several times. It’s been a year, at least, since I had the vision of shooting her in the RL style and, finally, this fall we made it happen.

Model: Jamie Mack

How many shoots we’ve done together: 8, dating back to our first headshot session in February 2019

Time of year: Fall

Location: Jamie’s family property (along with the lovely barn at their down-the road-neighbors) in rural Oregon.

Purpose of the shoot: To fulfill my vision and make some amazing pictures of one of my favorite models.

Shoot music: Just the quiet of nature, actually, and the sound of laughter and conversation.

Shoot munchies: Bananas and Bubly, ‘cuz energy and hydration.

Most unexpected turn: After shooting the first two looks at Jamie’s property we drove down the road and finished the last three outfits at their neighbors farm. I had no idea the space was so beautiful or that they would be so accommodating. 

Jamie’s favorite part of the day: The team manages to find pieces and locations that are unique in and of themselves, and once everything comes together the vision combines perfectly. It is always jovial to surround your self with people who are passionate about the art form while complimenting each person’s contribution.

My favorite part of the day: I can’t really narrow it down, to be honest. My wife and sidekick and fashion editor, Claire Verity, did an amazing job of putting together the wardrobe. Alysa Powell-Tetreault of Most Everything Vintage in Vancouver contributed some wonderful vintage items and, as usual, Karina Talaro rocked the hair and makeup looks. And it goes without saying — just look at the pictures — that Jamie is beyond beautiful.

Camera: Sony A7rIII

Lens: Sigma 105mm f1.4 and Canon 85mm f1.8.

Favorite shoot hack: With the exception of the plaid dress, everything in this session was shot at ISO 800 to get that softer, granier feel that comes with a more sensitive film (sensor) setting. There was a time when ISO 800 was to be avoided — there was just too much digital noise — but most cameras these days shoot beautifully at that setting. We also debuted an 8’ x 8’ scrim by Glide Gear which, while a little unwieldy at times, provided a big, bright and gorgeous soft light. The picture at the very bottom of this article was shot with the scrim, camera right.

_DSC7240-Edit - Jamie - (c) 2021 Michael Verity Photography. All Rights Reserved.jpg

Michael Verity is a Portland-based photographer specializing in professional headshots, modeling portfolios and fashion editorial photography. The husband of an acting coach and father of two young adult actors, he’s been photographing successful actors, creatives and business professionals for more than a decade.