On January 18, 2019, something went slightly wrong in my studio — a small electrical failure… so I had to urgently call an electrician ⚡️
While he was dealing with cables inside the electrical box, I — like any responsible person — was scrolling Instagram and occasionally checking if he was still alive 🙂
He fixed everything pretty quickly and said we should test the system under load.
So I brought out the most power-hungry studio lights, turned them to full power, and we waited to see if anything would explode 🚀
Nothing exploded.
So I asked him:
“Since you’re already here… maybe we make a portrait?”
At first, he got a bit shy.
Then he stepped in front of the camera.
We took a few shots.
Recently, while going through old archives, I found the RAW files from that session.
And it’s a great reminder that literally anyone can have a strong portrait.
You don’t need to be a model.
You don’t need to know how to pose.
Sometimes, all it takes is showing up — even if you just came to fix the electricity.
As a portrait photographer, I’ve seen this again and again: real people, with real jobs, can look confident, natural, and professional in front of the camera.
This is exactly what I focus on — helping people who don’t see themselves as “photogenic” walk away with a strong portrait.
In the frame: Michael.
And here is the retouching timelapse of Michael’s portraits
More real people. More stories. Soon.
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