Editorial-style portrait and headshot photography for Chicago executives, agents, founders, and agency talent. Natural light when the location supports it, controlled studio lighting when consistency matters. Most portrait sessions are an hour on location with professionally retouched final selects delivered within a week.
The editorial approach
Editorial portraits read differently than studio headshots. The lighting feels found rather than constructed. The subject appears engaged in a moment rather than posed against a backdrop. Backgrounds carry context — an office, a workshop, a meaningful environment — without competing with the subject. The result is a portrait that says something about who the person is, not just what they look like. For executives and founders, this approach reads as confident rather than corporate.
Sessions we run
Executive and founder portraits for company About pages, press kits, and board materials. Agent and broker headshots for the real estate and financial services industries, where the photo lives across MLS, LinkedIn, and personal marketing. Agency talent headshots for actors, models, and on-camera professionals. Team and group portraits for company brand pages. Editorial portraits paired with brand films or feature articles. Personal branding photography for consultants, coaches, and independent operators who need a professional digital presence.
What’s included
A one-hour on-location or studio session with up to three outfit/look changes. Direction throughout the shoot — posing, expression, framing. Ten to twenty professionally retouched final selects, color-corrected with skin and clothing detail handled carefully. Delivery in both print and web sizes via a private gallery. Full license for marketing, social, editorial, and personal use. Larger sessions (group portraits, full company team days) are quoted by scope.
- 1-hour on-location or studio session
- 10-20 professionally retouched final selects
- Delivery in print and web sizes
- Lightroom-quality color and skin retouching
- License for marketing, social, and editorial use
questions, answered
Where are sessions usually shot?
Most portraits are shot on location at your office, a relevant backdrop, or a Chicago location that fits your brand. Studio sessions are also available.
How many edited photos do I get?
10-20 final retouched selects from a one-hour session. Additional retouches available a la carte.
Can the photos be used for marketing and social?
Yes. Standard licensing covers marketing, social, editorial, and web use. If you need rights for paid advertising or out-of-home (billboards, transit), we'll discuss extended licensing in the project agreement.
portrait photography in chicago in your area
Based in Jefferson Park, working across the city and the inner suburbs. A few of the neighborhoods and towns where Em has filmed recent projects:
selected projects
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