12/18/2025
Then vs. Now. Same pose. A completely different level of understanding.
This is an honest, vulnerable image of one of my early attempts at this seated, forward-leaning pose. At the time, I remember thinking, this is strong work. Maybe my strongest yet. And it was—for where I was then.
Looking back now, I see how much has changed:�– How I read body language�– How I shape and control light with intention�– How subtle adjustments create confidence instead of tension�– How restraint elevates presence�– How intentional retouching completes the portrait rather than distracts from it
Early on, my motto was “I’ll fix it in post.’ It was just that. It was all about fixing. Today, I no longer do my own retouching; I hire professional industry-standard retouchers, and now, retouching is about refinement—preserving texture, respecting character, and enhancing what’s already there without announcing itself. The final image isn’t just captured in-camera; it’s carefully finished with the same level of thought and care as the lighting and pose.
Growth in photography rarely happens in big, dramatic leaps. It happens through experimentation—trying things that feel right at the time, even when they eventually make you wince a little when you look back. But I took a step forward that day and have continued to build on that first photograph.
Those early experiments matter. They were and are necessary. And yes, sometimes they are painful to revisit. But every refinement—both behind the camera and in post—every quiet improvement, every ‘I’d do this differently now’ moment is proof that, thankfully, my craft is evolving.
If you stay curious.�If you keep experimenting.�If you keep refining instead of repeating.
What once felt good becomes the foundation for something truly exceptional.
This is the process. And it’s why I never stop perfecting the art of my work.
If you’re ready to update your photo with Contemporary Headshots from GSKdesign, I’d love to connect with you.
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