Last month, I started putting together my primary portfolios; one for portrait work and one for urban work. Recently I started a third one for my spicy work.

This will be one book that represents my favorite portrait work and, more importantly, the work that truly resonates and represents my style. These are my notes and observations on curating this book.

Right now, I have but one standard I’m using in the curation/editorial process; would I make a print of this photo and put it on my wall? Also, I’m pondering the question, what am I trying to say? More specifically, what’s the narrative of the image? What does it convey (idea, feeling, etc.) and (as an artist) how does the image achieve that (pose, expression, lighting, etc.)?

As I’m reviewing my favorite portrait shots, there seem to be two distinct types of portrait I like; the art/editorial style shots, and the more classic close-up style of portrait, particularly when the frame capture some soul and personality of the subject. Since the whole spirit of this project is to curate a single collection of portraits that show the range of my work and style, I’m working to a) be very specific about the classic portraits that really click with me, and b) blend these two different kinds of portraits in a sequence that makes sense aesthetically.

Another thing I’m becoming more aware of during this review process is the importance of styling. I’ve always had a sort of aversion to getting involved in the styling aspect of many of my shoot, instead relying on the model to handle that aspect. This needs to change. It’s finally sinking in that styling is just as important a factor as anything else.