PREPARING FOR YOUR PRESENCE
A guide to the Radiance Within portrait session.
The Journey Forward
A Radiance Within commission is a study in subtraction. By removing the distraction of color, we invite the emergence of character, form, and light. This session is not about how you look, but about how you inhabit the space.
We work exclusively in black and white to ensure the final piece remains quiet, honest, and eternal. These portraits are designed to live on your walls as anchors of stillness—pieces that move you without asking for attention
The Next Steps
Your commission is now active. We believe the process of creating a portrait should be as intentional as the final piece itself.
- The Calendar: Nisha from our studio will reach out to you within the next 24 hours. Her role is to steward the logistics, ensuring we find a date and time across our Miami, Toronto, Ottawa, or Montreal studios that allows you to arrive feeling unhurried and present.
- The Consultation: Once your date is set, we will have a brief conversation to discuss the specific mood and movement of your session.
- The Sitting: On the day of your commission, the first 15 minutes are dedicated to stillness, a time for us to settle into the space and the intention of the day.
Wardrobe
The Art of Dressing for Tonality. In black and white photography, texture is the language of the image. When choosing your attire, consider how a garment feels rather than how it looks in a mirror
- Dark, Solid Tones: Black, charcoal, and deep navy provide the necessary contrast to draw the eye toward your expression and the light on your skin.
- Tactile Textures: Silk, heavy wool, linen, or lace provide depth and visual interest in the absence of color.
- The Power of Simplicity: Avoid patterns, logos, or high-contrast pairings (such as a white belt on a black dress). We want the clothing to support your presence, not compete with it.
- Flesh and Form: Consider garments that allow for the play of light on shoulders or the neckline. The goal is to capture the architecture of your being.
Grooming & Details
We advocate for a "regulated" version of yourself.
- Makeup: Natural and matte is preferred. Heavy shimmer can catch studio lights in distracting ways.
- Hair: Style your hair as you feel most like yourself—uncomplicated and unforced.
- The Small Things: Ensure nails are neat and skin is hydrated. These small details speak to the reverence we hold for the final archival print.
Final Thoughts
This is a curated moment shaped around your truth. If you have a specific heirloom or a garment that carries personal weight, bring it. We are not looking for perfection; we are looking for resonance.
A Note on Stewardship
A Radiance Within portrait is a collaboration. From this moment until the final archival print is in your hands, you are under our care.
Nisha will be in touch shortly to begin. In the meantime, we invite you to sit with the wardrobe guidance above, not as a set of rules, but as an invitation to consider how you wish to be seen.
We are honored to begin this work with you.
The Presence of Place
Portraits are commissioned in quiet, light-filled environments—from Miami’s Design District and the refined pace of Yorkville in Toronto, to the historic stillness of Ottawa and Montreal, and the restorative calm of Mont-Tremblant in the Laurentians.
The Practice