The Portfolio Standard
Work that reflects the photographer’s voice without instruction.
Welcome to This Week’s Edition of The Carty Method Magazine
This week returned to Open Submission, giving photographers the freedom to present work that represents their strongest creative voice.
Without a specific prompt, members were asked to select an image that stands on its own. A photograph that reflects clarity, intention, and professional standards.
Open Submission weeks shift the focus from executing an assignment to making a decision: choosing the image that best represents your work.
There is nothing more revealing than an open submission, it shows what a photographer chooses to stand behind.
Why This Matters
Creative growth isn’t only about making images, it’s about recognizing which ones truly represent your voice.
Open Submission challenges photographers to think like editors, selecting work that demonstrates clarity, consistency, and purpose.
This discipline strengthens visual standards and reinforces the ability to curate a portfolio that communicates 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 one 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?
Sonny Warren
What made this image stand out to you as portfolio-worthy compared to others from the same shoot?
The connection with the model on this shot was particularly genuine.
The composition and lighting had been dialed in, so I was able to focus on drawing the model’s personality forward and that is what ultimately made this photograph stand out from the rest.
What decisions in composition, lighting, or timing contributed most to the image’s strength?
The Avedon inspired lighting and white seamless backdrop is a bold look that pops.
Also, this was one of three outfits that I brought for the shoot.
The styling of this look was the strongest with the leather adding highlights and texture to the black and white image.
How does this photograph represent your current style or creative direction?
I am carving out my path in editorial portrait photography.
This photograph is a profile of established writer and director Geoffrey Simon Brown.
I am shooting people who are practicing artists and bringing their profiles forward.
Was there a photographer or specific image that influenced this photograph? If so, who was the reference?
This shoot was very much inspired by Richard Avedon.
What made you confident that this was the image you wanted to submit for Open Submission this week?
I was happy with all the technical elements and I knew the photograph captured the personality of my subject.
Social Media Handles:
IG: sonnywarrenphoto
Website: sonnywarrenphoto.com
Jessica Mendez
Social Media Handles:
Michael Walls
What made this image stand out to you as portfolio-worthy compared to others from the same shoot?
It was the main photo that came off as me trying to make a picture vs taking one. The others were also pretty distracting with pictures and signs along the whole back wall of the food truck.
What decisions in composition, lighting, or timing contributed most to the image’s strength?
Composition - I wanted to isolate him the best I could and capture him preparing his product.
Lighting - Old Florissant lighting and older paint made me choose to go with black and white.
I feel the white balance looked good in colour, it was just the state of the paint that I couldn’t get past and it looked better B&W
Timing - I wanted to catch some motion in his hands so it didn’t look like I just posed him awkwardly in the position he is in.
How does this photograph represent your current style or creative direction?
It was my first time working with a business owner.
But I feel that it shows my current direction of capturing owners passion and care for the product they give their customers.
Was there a photographer or specific image that influenced this photograph? If so, who was the reference?
Unfortunately for this photo no.
I went out that day with a mood board for tattoos and barber shops but could not get a yes from the shops I stopped at.
Determination to not come home empty handed, I pivoted to this food truck and went in with the same intentions of capturing the same style of photos as I would in the shops.
The owner was hesitant to let me inside the truck with him to get behind the scene pictures, so I gave it my best from the front.
What made you confident that this was the image you wanted to submit for Open Submission this week?
Honestly the only confidence came from knowing it was framed and could be used as the 8x10.
Other than that I was just excited to turn it in to get my critique and learn how to improve for my next opportunity
Social Media Handles:
IG: wallsofmemoriesphotograhpy
Website: michaelwallsphotography.com
Francis Jeffery
What made this image stand out to you as portfolio-worthy compared to others from the same shoot?
The mood as well as how it is framed well for Instagram and print.
The others are from less important parts of Notre Dame University Stations of the cross and are much more about the people instead of the cross.
There was one that had the Notre Dame Golden Dome in the background that was framed well and therefore technically good enough to be in my portfolio but not as strong as this.
What decisions in composition, lighting, or timing contributed most to the image’s strength?
It was Good Friday, there’s like a solipsistic feel to this because of the wooded setting and nobody in the image except the 2 people.
It was overcast and this was meant to be for the black and white assignment last year so it was very important that this photo get made on an overcast day.
I got thrown out of the program the next day so I couldn’t submit this.
I posed them the way I did due to the contrast in their clothes and either bend over or knelt down so that the cross was imitating the trees and looking like it was growing out of the ground along with them.
I used my Rebel SL3 instead of my Cannon R6 Mark II because the crop sensor makes the image more vertical.
This was the last image I submitted for advice from the community before getting thrown out last year.
I also made the image symmetrical so that the statues on the left and right are looking at the 2 women making them more important.
I also told the model on the right which coat she should wear because it will contrast well with the other woman’s coat.
Furthermore I’m Roman Catholic and so since I was in trouble with the program at the time but not thrown out yet it could be seen as a prayer.
The fact that I got back in could be seen as a sign of my prayers being answered.
How does this photograph represent your current style or creative direction?
My niche is environmental portraiture, I want to do weddings but unfortunately I haven’t been able to leave my food service job (will do soon) which requires me to work weekends.
So I figured since weddings often take place at churches this probably fits in my portfolio because it relates to the church.
I will also do engagement shoots which also tend to be environmental portraits.
Carty put it like this “I live in a small market plus work a day job so if I niche down too much I won’t have enough clients to complete these assignments or even start a business as a side hustle”.
Therefore I have to do environmental portraiture for now.
Was there a photographer or specific image that influenced this photograph? If so, who was the reference?
My own magazine end page portrait of my father holding up a bible while looking at a stained glass version of The Virgin Mary behind the altar inside one of the smaller churches on the University of Notre Dame’s campus.
I submitted that one and got a photo of the week and best in show for that one.
What made you confident that this was the image you wanted to submit for Open Submission this week?
I knew it was a portfolio bound image due to composition and lighting + interesting story.
I also figured it was in my best interest to show that I did the last assignment that was active during my time with the program last year which was unfortunately cut short.
This also goes along with some of my other open submission photos that are coming.
Social Media Handles:
IG: francisjefferythebest
IG: scenery_michiana_portraits
Website: 500px.com/photogenicconnections
Jim McDonald
What made this image stand out to you as portfolio-worthy compared to others from the same shoot?
I think the golden hour light was a big contributor to success of this photo.
What decisions in composition, lighting, or timing contributed most to the image’s strength?
Golden hour was my goal for this shoot.
I chose an area under a a highway that divided into two separate directions, this provided many different light angles and shadow/light areas to move around to for the best capture.
How does this photograph represent your current style or creative direction?
My niche is transportation/automotive photography.
I am now trying to incorporate the driver with their vehicle during this shoot.
Was there a photographer or specific image that influenced this photograph? If so, who was the reference?
I was looking through images on IG and came across Andrew Wille, a photographer base out of LA.
He had a series of photos with a female and a Ford Bronco.
I liked the series he created and was trying to emulate a few.
This one just sort of happened.
She was resting against it and I liked how she looked, so I just went for it.
What made you confident that this was the image you wanted to submit for Open Submission this week?
I was not too confident in my choice.
I have only submitted a portrait style photo once before and it did not go well.
Some members of our group were encouraging so I took a chance.
Regardless if the shot is good or bad, you learn something every time you submit.
Social Media Handles:
Website: jhmphotography.com
Denise Tuggle
What made this image stand out to you as portfolio-worthy compared to others from the same shoot?
What made this image stand out as portfolio-worthy was the composition and presentation of the products.
I wanted to showcase them as if they were displayed inside a bathroom medicine cabinet.
To achieve this effect, I photographed the products at close range while maintaining just enough space between each item to create a sense of symmetry and visual balance.
As the image developed, I refined the background lighting to ensure it remained clean and evenly illuminated.
I also paid close attention to technical details, ensuring the focus was tack-sharp and the products were perfectly level.
Because the products were positioned on glass, it was important that they appeared to float effortlessly while remaining spotless and well-defined.
What decisions in composition, lighting, or timing contributed most to the image’s strength?
The most important decisions contributing to the strength of the image were related to composition and lighting.
The composition needed to feel simple yet elegant, with a symmetrical and balanced arrangement that still felt natural rather than overly staged.
The lighting was carefully controlled to maintain a clean, polished look while emphasizing the products’ form, texture, and clarity.
How does this photograph represent your current style or creative direction?
This photograph reflects my current style, which emphasizes clean lines, minimalism, and a refined presentation of products.
The concept was inspired by imagery I have seen in magazines and on various websites, but I approached it with my own interpretation.
My current creative direction focuses on using light intentionally to guide the viewer’s eye and maintain attention on the product while creating a visually engaging composition.
Was there a photographer or specific image that influenced this photograph? If so, who was the reference?
One of the key references that influenced this photograph was the visual presentation on The Ordinary website.
I often look to their product imagery for inspiration because of its clean aesthetic and minimal, product-focused approach.
What made you confident that this was the image you wanted to submit for Open Submission this week?
When developing the concept for this composition, I knew I wanted to create something different from my usual approach.
I experimented with a new style of product placement and introduced a different product than what I typically photograph.
This particular image felt like the strongest representation of that exploration, and it integrated well with the growing collection of images I have been developing.
Social Media Handles:
IG: denisetphotography
Website: denisetugglephotography.com
Roberto Carlos Castrejon-Perez
Social Media Handles:
IG: portraits.rc
Website: portraits-rc.com
Amund Thompson
Social Media Handles:
IG: amundphoto
Website: amundphoto.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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See work at 👉🏾 SteveCarty.com
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Watch the replay of these photo submissions below.