Making the Cut
A portfolio-level decision.
Welcome to This Week’s Edition of The Carty Method Magazine!
This week’s Photo of the Week comes from our Open Submissions.
Open Submissions ask a simple but important question:
Does this image belong in my portfolio?
Without a fixed brief, photographers are free to submit work they believe represents their strongest thinking, execution, and direction.
It’s less about meeting a specific brief and more about judgment.
Thus, knowing when an image stands on its own and earns its place.
Let’s take a look at this week’s selected photographs and the thinking behind them.
Michael Stimatze
What initially drew you to create this image?
Alyssa is my daughter’s best friend and she wanted to get maternity photos for her first pregnancy.
My daughter asked what I would charge for the session.
That got the shoot started.
This shot I submitted was inspired by what she was wearing, the location and the golden hour time frame.
What do you feel works strongest in this image?
Her outfit fits the rural location, the old fence posts frame her well, and the light from the golden hour sun was almost perfect.
If this image were the first someone saw from you, what would you want it to say?
I would want this photo to tell anyone looking for editorial (ish) portraits that I am the person to come to.
How does this image represent where you are in your work right now?
I feel that is imagine not only represents where I am in my work right now but it inspired me to shift into this style/genre of photography.
What did this photograph teach you about your own work?
This photo - more accurately the entire session the photo is from - taught me, confirmed for me, that I am a portrait photographer, that I can make great photos of people and that I enjoy working with people over things or places.
Social Media Handles:
IG: mestimatze
Website: michaelstimatze.com
William Sedgwick
Social Media Handles:
IG: will_sedgwick1
Website: www.sedgwick.pixpa.com
Mira Lee
What initially drew you to create this image?
I wanted to capture a natural moment, casual, professional, real.
There’s something special about a crisp, cold winter day so I wanted to transfer this atmosphere through the portrait.
What do you feel works strongest in this image?
Simplicity, calmness, unpretentiousness, and connection.
If this image were the first someone saw from you, what would you want it to say?
I want to see you in your most authentic way.
You don’t have to pretend, you don’t have to fit in.
Just the way you are is strongest and most authentic.
This is the version I want to capture.
How does this image represent where you are in your work right now?
It reflects the phase I’m in.
I’m very intentional with all the technical settings– the lighting, composition, the background.
With every photo I want to refine and master my skills more.
Stylewise it is how I have photographed for a very long time.
I’ve always preferred shooting with natural/available light and with little posing, or candid photos.
So this has intuitively been a red thread throughout many years, and now I am deepening my work in this style.
What did this photograph teach you about your own work?
Less is more.
In this photoshoot I tried different locations, angles and compositions.
I wanted to show this professional man in an upcoming area with an entrepreneurial vibe.
Most photos had some interesting backgrounds: buildings, water, graffiti walls... I wasn’t quite convinced until I spotted this concrete wall.
And then I knew: this is the best option to capture the moment, simplified to the point.
Social Media Handles:
IG: miralee.photography
Website: miralee.nl
Linkedin: miraleephotography
Levi Wells
Social Media Handles:
IG: leviworx
Malik Brand
What initially drew you to create this image?
I wanted to create a strong branding visual for the client while still keeping my style in mind
What do you feel works strongest in this image?
the lighting is strong but still approachable for the clients brand
If this image were the first someone saw from you, what would you want it to say?
That i understand what a person needs to elevate their brand to the next level
How does this image represent where you are in your work right now?
it’s a part of my work but i am testing other areas as well
What did this photograph teach you about your own work?
that your photos need to be cool but still practical for the client.
Social Media Handles:
IG: Malik.a.brand
Website: www.malikbrandphotography.com
YouTube: Malikbrandphoto
Charles Fortin
Social Media Handles:
IG: charlesfortincreative
Website: www.charlesfortincreative.com
Jim Sinicki
What initially drew you to create this image?
This image was planned entirely around the feedback Carty gave me during the first two submissions.
During my first submission I was told to separate my subject from the background, so I knew I wanted add a second light and bring another layer into this image.
In my second submission, I mistakenly uploaded a low res image.
I’ve got to be honest with you, I was embarrassed, not because I was called out on it, but because I didn’t check my settings.
It was a simple mistake that I should have caught, so the goal was to show how I pride myself on nailing my focus and providing high quality images.
Everything about this image was intentional to show that I know what I’m doing... for the most part.
What do you feel works strongest in this image?
I personally enjoy the pop of color, which is surprising because I’m someone who likes to shoot dark and moody.
I like Contrast and emotion in my images, I’m a simple person who likes to keep things simple, 95% of what I do is done with one light.
If this image were the first someone saw from you, what would you want it to say?
I want it to say this photographer takes his craft seriously.
I want it to show the person viewing it that I’ve studied my craft and I’m confident in what I do.
Yes, I’m still learning, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop (I know I don’t want to), but I want that potential client to feel that I take this very seriously.
How does this image represent where you are in your work right now?
It represents where I want to be heading.
I’m an absolute sponge when it comes to photography, and having someone mentor me who’s been doing this at such a high level for so long is only making me better.
What did this photograph teach you about your own work?
That there’s a long way to go to get to wear I need to be, and that’s ok.
I want this journey to never end, and everytime I pick up my camera I’m going to get better and better.
Social Media Handles:
IG: charlie_james_photo
Website: www.charliejamesphoto.com
Professional feedback will change your reality. Joining Portfolio Lab is the only way.
👉🏾 Carty a Pro Photographer, Director, and Educator based in Toronto, CA.
His goal is to educate and connect a global network of visual creators.
👉🏾 Masterclass Level Photography Business Education from a 35yr Pro 👈🏾 on YouTube
See work at 👉🏾 SteveCarty.com
Work with him 👉🏾 TheCartyMethod.com
Subscribe to The Carty Method Magazine to see the best new photographers from all over the world level up right before your eyes. Weekly photographer transformations are happening right now.
Become a smarter photographer in 5 minutes a week by Subscribing to CARTY on The Carty Method - Substack.
Watch the replay of these photo submissions below.