© Armando Bellmas

This is an outtake from a shoot with Natalie. A different photograph from this shoot graces the main page of my portfolio website. They’re both beautiful images. The natural light coming in from the right side of the photograph couldn’t be better. However, the reason I chose the wider view for the portfolio is a result of focus and creative vision.

A few months ago I started to diligently focus on the things that tie my work together and, ultimately, tie my photographs to the kind of clients I want to work with. I keep in mind a visual frame of reference that guides my work: what a person does or interests them, specific editorial styles, natural light, intimacy, and capturing a genuine emotion. Sure, there will be times when a client or project calls for something a little different from my vision, but the guideposts are always there to zone back in on. Even if only one of them applies to the shoot at the moment.

As a result I believe my photographs are stronger, focused, and more compelling.