Faces of 2011 ... and beyond

It's been my privilege to shoot lots of portraits in the past year. It's a privilege because a lot of people have placed their trust in me to produce pictures that go beyond a simple documentary record of their physical appearance. The DMV can do that much just fine, thank you.

I work hard to combine lighting, angles, focal lengths, time of day, witty repartee and sometimes some outright goofiness to place people, young and old, in their best light. To those of you whom I have had the honor of standing before you with a camera, thank you. To those of you yet to appear in my viewfinder, I hope to see you in the coming year.




James Jordan, Chicago and suburbs professional portrait photographer

A Little Wine?

This lineup of wine bottles for a retailer's catalog was carefully set up and lit to produce the classic reflection of light along the side of the bottles. Likewise, the photographs of wine glasses, with and without wine also employed classic lighting scenarios to create high-end imagery.





James Jordan - Chicago and suburbs commercial product photographer

Commercial shoot - interiors

The trick to creating good shots of interiors is to carefully control the lighting, balancing existing light with supplemental lighting to avoid dark areas and harsh reflections in shiny surfaces.



Bathrooms are the most challenging. Space is often limited and mirrors and glass surfaces offer abundant opportunities for distracting glare, not to mention unintended views of the photographer or his/her equipment. Careful placement of lights and camera ensure a successful result.







These photographs were taken for a tiling contractor for use on his web site and printed marketing materials. Wide views and detail shots were requested, along with a portrait of the business owner in his element.



James Jordan - Chicago and suburbs commercial photographer

Images © 2011 James Jordan.

Life's too short to have to live with bad photos of yourself

I'm on a crusade. I see too many portraits on web sites, brochures and business cards that look like the one on the left. One flash, staight into the face, like a shovel. And like a shovel to the face it can leave you looking flat. It doesn't matter how many gismos and gadgets you have on that camera. A portrait using the on board flash will always look like it was taken at the DMV.

You say you're a professional. An expert in your field. You want me to trust you on that and do business with you. It would be easier for me and a whole lot of other folks to work up some trust if you had a portrait that said "Wow!" instead of "All that's missing is the orange jumpsuit and numbers across the bottom."

Just sayin.'

Here's the deal. I can come to your office and make some boffo portraits of you and your professional, dedicated staff at package prices for as low as just $20 per portrait. We can show all of you in your environment or make it look like you sprung for a day at a photo studio -- all without leaving the building. Your call.

Whattaya say? All you've got to lose is your DMV/police lineup look.

How do people see you?

If you can only focus on two things to build your business, those two things should be 1) credibility and 2) likeability. People choose to do business with people they trust and people they like.

Can you deliver on what you promise? Are you someone with whom people can relate? More and more businesses are discovering that the best way to assure future customers that the answers to those two questions are a resouding "Yes!" is to show them in pictures.

This series of photos were taken recently at an optical retailer for its online marketing. The photographs show the inside and outside of their location -- clean, accessible and organized.

They show the staff -- friendly, helpful and knowledgable.

They even show customers sampling the merchandise and having fun in the process. Who wouldn't want to do business with these folks when the time comes for eye exams?

You can put yourself in the same kind of positive light through photography. Let me show you how.

On-location: Your own backyard

You don't have to travel far to find a background for outdoor portraits. The best backdrops could be found right outside your door.

These mommie/baby portraits were taken in the sideyard of their home. Fences, swings and shrubbery provided familiar props and background items, and I worked hard to throw them slightly out of focus to keep the viewer's attention on our two subjects.

Thinking of getting some portraits made? I'll visit your home beforehand to discuss possible locations for pictures both inside and out, and will even take some sample shots so you can see how others see you home -- I'll bet you'll be pleasantly surprised at how good your home can look in a photo (not to mention you!).

When you get portraits made at one of those franchise/chain places ...

... you're probably getting your pictures taken by someone who answered a help wanted ad that said, "No experience necessary."

Just sayin.'