Ed Verosky

With photography, it's easy to say, "there are no rules." But there are best practices and expected outcomes. First, know the basics; know why things are done a certain way, and how to reproduce those looks. Understand the basics of lighting, composition, posing, focus, etc. Then you'll have the tools you need to make informed decisions about your image crafting.

4 weeks ago | [YT] | 27

Ed Verosky

If you want to discover your own unique vision. Your style. Your voice. Just keep working. It'll reveal itself over time.

Photographers and other artists seem to be in such a hurry to create a "style" before they've even created a real body of work.

Building that body of work is a journey. Your style is developed along the way.

It starts with learning the fundamentals of your craft. Then finding ways to use the skills to express your vision. This is an ongoing process where you find out what it is you like, and don't like, about your work.

You make something, learn from the making, then make something else. It's an iterative process that you shouldn't expect to ever complete. You, and your work, just evolve.

Eventually, you'll notice--and other people will notice--that there are some things about your work that are undeniably YOU.

That's a style emerging.

1 month ago | [YT] | 22

Ed Verosky

At the end of the day, portrait photography isn’t just about the hard skills (lighting, editing). It’s about connection. Your subject wants to be seen, and your job is to use your craft to say something interesting about them. The technical stuff? It just helps you say it better. But at the heart of it all it's still that human connection that can make an otherwise good portrait a really great one.

1 month ago | [YT] | 20

Ed Verosky

A good portrait photographer is like a good musician — always practicing, and improvising when the moment calls for it. Don’t just wait for inspiration. Set up test shoots. Try new setups. Make mistakes. It’s through the repetition and basically, the practice, that you build the instincts that eventually get you to creating great portraits.

1 month ago | [YT] | 19

Ed Verosky

It's worth the effort. Really.

1 month ago | [YT] | 14

Ed Verosky

Some photographers avoid flash because it seems complicated or artificial. But if you REALLY want to be creative with light, indoors or outdoors, learning flash is going to give you more control, more consistency, and more options. Once you understand how to use light, your creativity has a fighting chance.

1 month ago | [YT] | 13

Ed Verosky

Everybody wants a “signature style,” but here’s the truth: style reveals itself over time. It develops as a result of skillful experimentation. You try things. You get better. You make deliberate choices. The more tools you master, the more you’ll find yourself gravitating toward what feels like YOU. Experience helps you when it comes to owning your process and letting your vision grow.

1 month ago | [YT] | 18

Ed Verosky

A beautifully lit portrait doesn’t require a $4,000 light. But it does require you to understand what light is doing in terms of how it affects the look of your subject. Even just one light, and a little know-how, can go a long way. Personally, I think limiting your gear can push your creativity further. Constraints tend to make better and more artistic work.

1 month ago | [YT] | 15

Ed Verosky

If you’re second-guessing your lighting or fumbling with settings during a shoot, it’s hard to be creative. Mastery of technique isn’t about being a perfectionist. It’s about removing obstacles so you can focus on your subject and your vision. The more you understand light, composition, and just directing your subject (or prompting them), the more confident you’ll feel. And that confidence will show up in your work.

1 month ago | [YT] | 21

Ed Verosky

Creative portraiture doesn’t happen by accident. You’ve got to understand the tools: light, lens choice, posing, so they’re second nature. Once those basics are locked in, you’ll free up mental space to actually create. That’s when the good stuff starts to happen. So if you ever feel “stuck” creatively, don’t assume you’re out of ideas. Maybe it's just time to learn something new. Like a technique, a concept, or a skill. Maybe that'll open the creative floodgates up again.

IMAGE: I noticed a bright area of sunlight coming in through the studio windows. Asked the model to position herself there on the floor, shot through a metal ladder (with an intriguing stain on one of the steps). Make up your own story. That's the idea.

1 month ago | [YT] | 14