Lux et Veritas

Let me share a secret gleaned from 35 years in the industry: the cornerstone of a successful shoot lies in the relationship with the client. Jeanine Dunn, a veteran in this field herself, understands this implicitly. Our paths first crossed back in 2007 at Creativity magazine, during the memorable Kirt Gunn & Associates session, where our subject embraced nature in its entirety. 

Our recent reunion led to an invitation from Dunn to collaborate on a series of understated yet gratifying portraits for the Yale Alumni Magazine. It's now routine to find me traversing Route 95, bound for New Haven armed with concepts for a potential cover and a commitment to excellence!

Among these shoots, two stand out vividly.

Capturing the essence of Yale's Institute for Sacred Music was no small feat. From choral singers to academic scholars, we documented the breadth of the program in a single, monumental day.

A highlight was cajoling some of the choral students to sing a few bars in front of our camera. One student, when asked, wryly replied, “I only sing for money.“ Soon her other-worldly voice was filling the room, and I can see why it commanded proper compensation.

Our most recent session was with designer John Gambell. Of course, a master in the visual realm is going to get me particularly excited. His biggest achievement was redesigning the overarching branding for Yale, ranging from small printed pieces to on-campus signage. Epic indeed!

Despite his ease behind the scenes, John's comfort in front of the camera was a work in progress. Yet, as we transitioned from formality to spontaneity, his artistic flair shone through, resulting in portraits that were surprising and inviting.

Top Image: Institute for Sacred Music cover, designed by Jeanine Dunn. Picturing: Alex Whittington, Andrew Liu, Sarah Shapiro, Terrance McQueen, Eliana Barwinski.

Second Image: John Gambell cover, designed by Jeanine Dunn.

Bottom Image: BTS of John Gambell session, photo by Jordan Szostak.