soulportrait is a simple, natural way to be photographed that creates a soulful image of yourself. My intention is for you, the sitter to do very little, leaving your personality out of the foreground, let your soul/inner essence shine through, your true inner nature to fully step forward, to be relaxed and present. This is an exercise in accepting all of yourself fully in the moment, coming from an internally focused place while in front of the camera, with a resting face, simply yourself in a deep way, no pushing to look a certain way, can have a great healing effect of self-acceptance and a peacefulness. Leading with your inner state of consciousness/awareness/ soul, creates an inner grounding and a beautiful image. I believe as Einstein does that energy does not die but transforms. Therefore, we who are made of energy housed within a body, a soul having a human experience being photographed, taking our emphasis off the external self.

The procedure - We engage in a short conversation, a short relaxation and meditation to focus on being more embodied, focused within, present, more still, as you simply share of yourself in that moment as your image is being created by the camera. Leading with your soul. To quote Eckhart Tolle “an emphasis on being rather than doing” “you are most yourself within stillness”. This is an opportunity to trust that your beingness is beautiful and interesting as it is.

Logistics

The Where - My studio of natural light centrally located in Larchmont Village and Melrose Avenue on the cusp of Hollywood. Next to Café Gratitude with ample street parking

Time - approximately 30-45 minutes

What to Wear - Simple solid colored shirt or sweater without a pattern. Jeans or solid pants or skirt. Something you are comfortable in. One look per session (no exceptions)

Completion of images - 5 images in jpeg format sent unedited via WeTransfer within one week or less.

Retouching - After you choose your favorite image(s) simple retouching is available for $20 per image.

Cost - $50 per single session. $180 for four sessions to be done one time a week within a period of one month (no exceptions)

My philosophy - Since about 1940 the phrase “say cheese” began. Cheese was chosen because the elongated eee created a smile with the muscles of the face. No matter what a person was feeling one has felt the obligation or been conditioned to smile, often fakely in a photograph. Why? With the appearance of iPhones, selfies have become the norm as has posing. People pose and attempt to push forth a particular way they wish to be seen. Sometimes people want to be seen as cute, beautiful, handsome, rugged, sexy, successful, intelligent and more. Most of the time one is motivated by an external idea of themselves they wish to be seen as. Rarely does one connect to their internal state of being, the core, the spirit of what and who they are when photographed. The soul and internal, true state of being seems to be forgotten altogether and a nervous, self-consciousness and wish to look good takes over. Rousseau, a French philosopher, coined the term amour-de soi, meaning love of oneself. This concept of self-love is natural, instinctive, a focus on a feeling of well-being, motivated by a feeling of being comfortable with yourself. This self-love does not involve comparing oneself to others or seeking external validation. By connecting to yourself, by relaxing, getting still, connecting within to a place of non-egoic, self-love while being photographed is deeply healing. This process elicits a soulful, present, portrait.