I ventured into portrait photography in the early 1990s, at roughly the same time that I began photographing weddings.  Portrait photography, in the kind of relaxed setting that you see here, represents everything that I loved about shooting weddings without the stress and the hectic pace that comes with wedding photography.

I enjoy working with people who are eager to create images that will be valuable keepsakes, perhaps even family heirlooms.  Whether the subjects are couples, families, children, individuals, or pets, I do my best to not only create attractive photographs, but also to find that instant where a person's true character shines through.  Those are the photographs that will stand the test of time.

This is especially true when working with children.  My favorite location for photographing children is a park near my home.  Most children will sit still for traditional portraits for only so long, so I work swiftly with simple poses.  When they become restless, we move to the playground to photograph the children on the swings and the monkey bars.  Children at play make some of the greatest subjects.  So a typical shoot will include a handful of poses sitting in the grass, sometimes with a favorite toy, and then several pictures of the kids being kids.

Not long ago I ran into a woman whose children I photographed over ten years ago.  Those children have grown and gone to college, but the photographs we shot that day in the park are still hanging in her living room, and a photograph of her youngest drinking from the water fountain remains one of her favorites.  That's why I do portraits, and more specifically, that's what is so special about photographing children.

Depending on your preference, the session could take place outdoors (the engagement photos displayed above were shot in a park in York, Maine) or indoors, even at your home if you wish.

The samples shown here (left) were photographed in a studio setting with black and white backdrops (my personal preference).  My studio is portable, and I can travel to locations that are special to you.

If you have an important event coming up, and you would like to discuss portraits (and candid shots of the event), I am an experienced event photographer, including weddings, and I would be very interested in speaking with you.

If you would like to discuss a photo session, including locations and rates, please contact me.