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THE PROCESS

It begins with a studio photoshoot. Just basic studio lighting. A typical shoot will last about an hour. Then JD goes to work.

"The photo session is just the tip of the iceberg. Now, the work begins. I pour over each individual photo and listen. They talk to me! Every pose, every expression, every gesture communicates a mood an emotion. I try to capture the essence of the subject. I  sense what they are feeling. In art, as in life, this is called empathy. When you are creating a work of art it is not just an image that looks pleasing. It is much deeper. It is emotional. Exactly the same as when I am painting or drawing. The only difference is the medium. To me these photographs are more than an outward representation of the person, but a revelation of their being and the inner and outward beauty."