The Subtle Arts

In hindsight, every shoot feels inevitable—but before it begins, there’s that unnerving stretch of uncertainty. Stressful, yes, but also the most thrilling part. 

This session with Mark Manson came through writer friend Benjamin Wallace, whom he trusted. Still, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Subjects often want safe, PR-friendly portraits and I hoped for something more.

As we arrived, I caught myself hesitating outside his door—already playing it too cautious. I reminded myself to shoot the way I work best: with passion and boldness.

Mark quickly put us at ease. After a few minutes in his kitchen, chatting with him and his wife, the tension lifted. During a tour of the house he said, “Yeah, I like your work a lot. I’ll do pretty much anything you want.” I laughed, “You might regret saying that.”

With no client or agenda, we dove straight into "the fun shots." Over ninety minutes we made only three setups, spending most of it around a tree on his property. He rolled in the dirt, posed on the road, even offered to go nude—which, surprisingly, I declined. 

At one point, with beautiful hazy light streamed through their back patio, I found myself crouched deep in his hedges to get the shot. Mark laughed, and showed me a meme of Homer Simpson disappearing into a hedge. I was pleased that this man that I admired was riffing on the situation with my assistant and I.

Later, my assistant noted how much time I spent just talking with him. Even with a tight schedule, we paused between shots for real conversation—about our own searches for meaning, purpose, and navigating the world in chaotic times.

Jake was impressed that I took the time to let Mark see who I genuinely was but I have such respect for Mark’s journey that I could have spent the entire hour and a half just talking.

Top Image: Mark Manson in rock star mode, Los Angeles, CA, September 2025

Second Image: The shot where he isn’t nude.

Bottom Image: BTS shots by director and actor (and my assistant for the day) Jake Thomas.