ACT & ESSENCE PORTRAIT COMMISSIONS
Act & Essence sittings are private conceptual commissions built on the same deliberate, archival rigor deployed for museum collections, civic installations, and institutional archives.
Available within the studio or deployed as a site-specific installation in private residences, architectural spaces, and natural environments, each sitting pairs high-production lighting, vintage optics, and specialized film systems to produce images of unvarnished character and enduring physical presence.
A portrait is an artifact meant to outlast digital platforms. Every sitting is conducted with the conviction that a work is only complete when realized as a physical, archival print.
Recognized Scopes & Environments
Sittings are structured for private individuals, creative practitioners, executives, and families:
In-Studio Sittings (Executed within controlled, highly structured studio lighting setups)
Environmental & Architectural Installations (Commissions conducted in private residences, historical spaces, or natural landscapes)
Conceptual & Narrative Studies (Deep multi-setup exploration for editorial, publication, or personal archives)
COMMISSION OFFERINGS
The Immersion
A narrative-driven study across formats, engineered for depth, variation, and unfolding presence.
The Sitting: 3 to 4 hours of dedicated studio or environmental time with open-ended narrative direction and deliberate pacing across multiple setups.
The Process: Multi-system creation utilizing medium-format analog film, character-rich vintage optics, and live instant portrait backs.
The Artifacts:
Complete proofing gallery (60+ curated studies)
18 final finished portrait works, fully polished and retouched
4 physical instant film portraits rendered and delivered live upon session conclusion
Includes a $150 Archival Print Credit toward museum-rag cotton prints
Commission: From $1,800
The Study
A slow, singular large-format experience emphasizing architectural precision, quiet focus, and physical presence.
The Sitting: 2.5 to 3 hours centered on the deliberate, contemplative pace of large-format sheet film portraiture.
The Process: Made exclusively on 4x5 large-format view cameras using vintage optics, continuous studio lighting, and traditional sheet film.
The Artifacts:
Comprehensive sheet-film proofing gallery
4 final finished large-format portrait works, fully polished and retouched
Physical 4x5 studio contact sheets delivered with final works
Includes a $100 Archival Print Credit toward museum-rag cotton prints
Commission: From $1,350
The Continuum
A high-velocity, layered sitting leveraging digital medium format and vintage optics alongside analog film.
The Sitting: 2 to 2.5 hours of active portraiture designed for fluid experimentation, varied lighting setups, and real-time visual iteration.
The Process: Driven primarily by digital medium-format systems paired with rare vintage lenses, anchored by a single intentional roll of medium-format analog film (6x4.5, 6x6, or 6x7).
The Artifacts:
Expansive digital and film proofing gallery (50+ curated studies)
12 final finished portrait works, fully polished and retouched
2 physical instant film portraits rendered and delivered upon conclusion
Commission: From $1,200
The Essence
A focused, intimate sitting built around a single medium-format film system and a measured rhythm.
The Sitting: 2 hours dedicated to unhurried, character-driven portraiture under controlled studio lighting.
The Process: Made on 6x7 medium-format analog film systems paired with single-emulsion focus and classic studio lighting.
The Artifacts:
Curated medium-format film proofing gallery
8 final finished portrait works, fully polished and retouched
Physical studio contact proof strip delivered with final works
Commission: From $950
The Presence
A tactile studio sitting centered on immediacy, vintage optics, and one-of-a-kind physical objects.
The Sitting: 2 hours focused on live physical creation and immediate material artifact production.
The Process: Made exclusively on instant analog film using vintage large-format and medium-format camera systems.
The Artifacts:
16 original, physical instant film portraits rendered live during the sitting
High-resolution archival digital scans of all selected original works
Commission: From $800
Archival Printing & Post-Session Menu
A portrait is completed in print. To ensure your commissioned works maintain their tonal depth, material richness, and archival permanence, all physical printing is fulfilled locally in collaboration with premier fine-art print labs using 100% cotton museum-rag papers.
Additional Polished Portrait Works: $85 per image (Includes high-resolution digital file and archival archive license)
Museum Cotton-Rag Prints (Unframed):
8×10 / 8×12 Fine Art Print: $125
11×14 / 12×18 Fine Art Print: $210
16×20 / 16×24 Exhibition Print: $380
Custom & Large-Scale Exhibition Sizes: Quoted upon request
Custom Studio Framing: Hand-crafted museum-grade framing with UV-protective glass is quoted individually based on material, dimension, and matting preferences.
On-Location & Travel Commissions: Sittings outside the regional studio area are accommodated with custom travel arrangements quoted in advance.
Payment & Commission Terms
All commissioned sittings are secured with a 50% retainer upon booking, with the remaining balance due on the date of the sitting. Flexible 3 or 4-part installment payment schedules are available upon request for higher-tier sessions—including The Immersion, The Study, and multi-generational legacy commissions—allowing patrons to spread the investment across the production timeline.
Inquiry & Reservations
Sittings are strictly limited each season to maintain absolute material quality, personal attention, and deliberate production pacing.
For session availability, location requests, or custom commission consultations → Inquire About a Sitting