The Secret Behind Great Photos: Connection
Here’s something most photographers won’t tell you.
The best photos don’t come from perfect lighting or expensive gear. They come from connection. Connection between you and me. It is kind of weird to meet a photographer (often someone you just know from their website) and all of sudden we are expect to connect. But the truth is… that is what happens. We both have to get past awkward quickly and into authentic. We both have to come ready to work and ready to make magic. I have to come confident about my skills and you have to come ready to show your true self.
That moment when you finally exhale. When you stop worrying about your hands, your angles, or your so-called “good side.” That’s where the real magic happens.
Because photography isn’t just a transaction. It’s a relationship.
When You Actually Connect
When you step in front of my camera, I’m not searching for the perfect pose. I’m watching for the moment you forget about the camera. I used to think that more backgrounds, more options is better. What I have learned is that less movement, less change allows you to become more relaxed.
The split second your shoulders drop. The half-smile that turns into a real one. The look in your eyes when you feel confident again. That’s the moment we get a photo that feels like you.
A good photographer doesn’t just see faces. They see the small things that make you human… the spark, the nerves, the energy shift when you start to relax. That’s where trust lives, and that’s what makes a photo powerful.
My Process Is Personal
When someone books with Still and Wild, I don’t start by talking about cameras or lighting. I start by asking about you.
What do you need this photo to say?
Is it for your business or your brand?
Is it about showing your team’s personality, or your own professionalism?
Once I know that, everything else becomes easy. The lighting, the posing, even what to wear. It’s all built around helping you show up as the real version of yourself.
Comfort Always Shows Up On Camera
You can always tell when someone is uncomfortable in a photo. The smile looks tight. The posture feels forced. And somehow the whole thing ends up looking... polite.
That’s why connection matters so much. When you feel safe, seen, and guided, you stop performing. You start showing up.
And that’s when the good stuff happens.
That’s when your photos go from good to wow, that’s me.
Connection Builds Confidence
Photography is part art, part energy. The more comfortable you feel, the more confident you look.
That’s why I spend time talking, laughing, and checking in during sessions. It’s not small talk — it’s how we find your natural rhythm.
When you feel like yourself, you look like yourself.
The Short Version
You don’t need to know how to pose or what to do with your hands. You just need to connect.
I’ll handle the light, the direction, and all the details. You just show up. Together, we’ll create images that look real, feel genuine, and tell your story perfectly.
Because the best photos don’t just show confidence. They come from it.
