Does This Belong?
A study in clarity, intention, and images that stand on their own.
Welcome to This Week’s Edition of The Carty Method Magazine
This week, we returned to Open Submission, an opportunity for photographers to present work that reflects their strongest creative voice.
With no brief to follow, the focus shifts to selection.
Members were asked to choose a single image that stands on its own, a photograph defined by clarity, intention, and professional standard.
Open Submission weeks aren’t about execution.
They’re about judgment.
Choosing the image that best represents your work.
There is nothing more revealing than an open submission, it shows what a photographer is willing to stand behind.
Why This Matters
Growth in photography isn’t only about creating images, it’s also about knowing which ones matter.
Open Submission challenges photographers to think like editors, selecting work that demonstrates clarity, consistency, and purpose.
This process sharpens visual standards and builds the discipline required to curate a portfolio that communicates both professionalism and identity.
Assignment Brief
At the end of each review session, CARTY delivers a focused brief, outlining exactly what members must create for the following week.
For this week, members returned to Open Submission.
Participants were invited to submit a single photograph that represents their strongest work.
An image that communicates clearly and stands confidently on its own.
Open Submission is guided by one simple question:
Does this image belong in a portfolio?
Ozzy Stewart
What made this image strong enough, in your mind, to belong in a portfolio?
It felt intentional all the way through.
There’s a balance between something polished and something real.
For me, portfolio work should show a clear vision and consistency and this image does that without relying on anything distracting.
When reviewing your own work, what separates a good image from one you would confidently present at a professional level?
A good image can have strong elements like nice light or a good expression, but a professional mage feels complete.
Everything works together.
The lighting, pose, styling and emotion are done with intention.
I look for images where nothing feels random.
If I can see the decisions behind it and it still feels effortless, that’s when I consider it portfolio worthy.
What decisions did you make to ensure clarity and intention in this photograph?
I focused on keeping things simple.
The light was soft and directional to shape.
The wardrobe was neutral so the attention would remain on the subject and the background was clean and not distracting.
I also paid attention to little details like hair movement, hand placement and expression so that it feels natural.
Was there a specific photographer or reference image that influenced this photograph?
I am inspired by photographers who focus on clean, timeless portraiture and natural light.
That influence shows up in the simplicity of the frame and the focus on subtle expression.
How did you interpret that influence while still making the image your own?
I didn’t try to copy anything directly.
I focused more on the feeling those images created, which felt honest and refined and then I just applied that to my shoot.
Social Media Handles:
IG: ozzy.stewart
Website: ozzystewart.com
Lyncia Taylor
What made this image strong enough, in your mind, to belong in a portfolio?
I was try to follow the tips that Carty gave me and apply them to my work.
When reviewing your own work, what separates a good image from one you would confidently present at a professional level?
For me, not much.
My goal is for every photo that I create to be on a “professional” level.
What decisions did you make to ensure clarity and intention in this photograph?
The lighting and the aperture.
And also I wanted the background to be something different.
Was there a specific photographer or reference image that influenced this photograph?
Nothing and no one specific.
I just thought the location would fit his style.
And I like to use graffiti in a lot of my work as a backdrop.
I Love the aesthetic.
How did you interpret that influence while still making the image your own?
I like to just look through images any and everywhere.
I may have seen something similar online or in a magazine but I am always looking.
Social Media Handles:
Roberto Carlos Castrejon-Perez
Social Media Handles:
IG: portraits.rc
Website: portraits-rc.com
Mira Lee
What made this image strong enough, in your mind, to belong in a portfolio?
It tells a story about the small business owner and her work.
By showing what she is passionate about, this image connects with the right people.
The composition and light feel natural and clean.
It has all the information it needs while nothing is overdone.
When reviewing your own work, what separates a good image from one you would confidently present at a professional level?
For me, it’s about how focus and clarity.
A strong photo has a clear message, clean visuals, and nothing in the frame that distracts from what matters.
It should also make you feel something or spark curiosity and connect on a personal level.
What decisions did you make to ensure clarity and intention in this photograph?
I carefully thought about how to present this small business owner’s personal brand in the strongest way: how can I show her work, her passion, and the value she brings across?
Was there a specific photographer or reference image that influenced this photograph?
There was no external influence.
I worked closely with her to really understand her business and intentions, and created a series of images that tell her brand story visually.
How did you interpret that influence while still making the image your own?
In this photoshoot, I wasn’t influenced by other photographers, but by the information I gathered from my client.
Based on that story, I developed ideas with a strong message and executed them in my own creative style.
Social Media Handles:
IG: miralee.photography
Website: miralee.nl
Michael Walls
What made this image strong enough, in your mind, to belong in a portfolio?
It was more the story behind the chef.
He is 16 years old and it was during spring break.
Instead of being out with friends, he wanted to learn the family business to he can take the torch one day.
His work ethic and skillset at that age was nothing less than amazing.
Cooked some tasty food.
When reviewing your own work, what separates a good image from one you would confidently present at a professional level?
I feel that the level of paying attention to detail is what separates good and professional photos.
Meaning that every line is straight, the composition is not only strong but intentional placement in the frame that tells a story.
What decisions did you make to ensure clarity and intention in this photograph?
I cut out as many surrounding distractions that could take away from the chef doing his job.
Was there a specific photographer or reference image that influenced this photograph?
The main influence comes from Carty’s guidance and how he makes us see a scene and all of the little things that take away from the photo or make the photo great.
How did you interpret that influence while still making the image your own?
By taking more time to visualize the scene and adjust frame by frame until it feels right.
Social Media Handles:
IG: wallsofmemoriesphotograhpy
Website: michaelwallsphotography.com
Denise Tuggle
What made this image strong enough, in your mind, to belong in a portfolio?
This image is a continuation of the previous week’s double-page spread submission.
That assignment was re-shot with a refined approach, specifically focusing on introducing deeper shadow to the side of the bottle opposite the light source.
This adjustment added dimension and visual balance, elevating the overall impact of the composition and making it strong enough for portfolio inclusion.
When reviewing your own work, what separates a good image from one you would confidently present at a professional level?
The distinction ultimately comes down to intentional and well-executed composition. I recognized that the foundational layout was effective, as it had already proven successful in a previous submission that earned Photo of the Week.
Building on that success, I maintained the same compositional structure while enhancing the lighting.
Specifically by introducing more direct light behind the product.
This decision created a stronger shadow definition and added depth, helping the image feel more refined and dynamic.
The adjustment was a suggested improvement that significantly elevated the final result.
What decisions did you make to ensure clarity and intention in this photograph?
My priority was to refine the lighting to reinforce clarity and purpose within the composition.
By increasing the light within the layout, I was able to create more defined shadows that not only emphasized the product but also gave the bottle a subtle sense of lift.
Additionally, I incorporated backlighting to enhance the texture and presence of the coffee beans.
This brought them to life visually, adding richness, depth, and a tactile quality that draws the viewer in.
Was there a specific photographer or reference image that influenced this photograph?
This work was heavily influenced by Raymond Meier.
I am particularly inspired by his masterful use of colour and space, as well as his ability to create visually compelling compositions through simplicity and thoughtful spatial relationships.
How did you interpret that influence while still making the image your own?
While I drew inspiration from Meier’s approach to composition and design, I made a conscious effort to adapt those principles to fit my own creative voice.
I focused on maintaining a clean, intentional layout while emphasizing the narrative of the product through lighting and texture.
By incorporating my own stylistic choices, particularly in how I used light to shape the subject and highlight the coffee elements, I was able to create an image that feels both inspired and original.
Social Media Handles:
IG: denisetphotography
Website: denisetugglephotography.com
Necumba Booker Jr.
Social Media Handles:
IG: bynecumba
Website: www.bynecumba.com
Sonny Warren
What made this image strong enough, in your mind, to belong in a portfolio?
I was really happy with the light, the colour palette and the subjects connection to the viewer.
When reviewing your own work, what separates a good image from one you would confidently present at a professional level?
When an image hits beyond “good enough” it ticks three boxes for me:
i) technically sound,
ii) confident execution of the idea,
iii) an undeniable connection with the subject
What decisions did you make to ensure clarity and intention in this photograph?
Simplicity was key.
I was hosting an event where I was taking portraits of multiple subjects, so I wanted a simple, yet dynamic setup.
That is why I opted for a tighter lens and even front lighting and the texture in the backdrop
Was there a specific photographer or reference image that influenced this photograph?
I am inspired and influenced by Szilveszter Makó.
His painterly style lighting and use of texture in his backdrops and backgrounds.
How did you interpret that influence while still making the image your own?
Szilveszter Makó reaches into surrealism in his photography.
I am inspired by his technique and art direction, but since I create my own custom painted backdrops and don’t go quite into the surreal with my portrait it is still uniquely mine
Social Media Handles:
IG: sonnywarrenphoto
Website: sonnywarrenphoto.com
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👉🏾 Carty a Pro Photographer, Director, and Educator based in Toronto, CA.
His goal is to educate and connect a global network of visual creators.
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Watch the replay of these photo submissions below.