Over the past few months, I have had the opportunity to work with Elizebeth Tenwolde. She is a photographer and model who walked onto the set, and by set, I mean my parent’s garage (we will get to that), and immediately we just hit it off and became instant friends.

It was that simple, but more so, she became my muse, and I mean that in almost every sense of the word. Not just "I must shoot your face," I'm talking about Greek mythology. I got to photograph the 9 daughters of Zeus mixed into a melting pot of awesome.

Meeting Up for Our First Shoot

Working together almost never happened. We scheduled a photoshoot at the tail end of a photoshoot road trip last summer. However, due to my car deciding it would stop being a car and my transmission springing a leak, leaving me stranded in Illinois, I had to cancel. Shortly after that, Lizzie moved out of New York, and it seemed that any idea of us shooting was just not meant to be. Then, with another twist of fate, she returned to New York for a couple of months, and we got to make magic.

Honestly, I would be lying if I said I wasn't surprised she showed up to our first shoot. We decided to reschedule right after I gave up social media and my studio space in Syracuse, NY. The schedule went like this: Hey, you won't be able to contact me on Instagram. Can I have your telephone number, and can you come to my parent's house so I can take pictures of you in their garage?"

The Always Sunny "Dick Flyer" party mansion episode comes to mind with how awkwardly bad I was at wording it.

However, it worked out, and she showed up, and it was like we had been friends since we were 12. We spent more time hanging out and talking during that first shoot than taking photos, but our photos were gold. The concept was to pull off as many styles as possible using tulle fabric, and the setup was pretty primitive. I suspended a canvas backdrop from a rafter using a 550 cord in my parent's garage.

A lot of photographers let conditions like this hold them back. Only having one light source, and no professional studio space available—whatever the excuse, this is how it went. As I said, we had a last-minute setup of minimalist equipment, and our only real idea was to use tulle as a prop. But this is what came out of it.

Elizabeth TenWolde holding the award winning photograph taken by Bryan Wark

Some images became visual representations of powerful messages through multiple publications, gallery runs, and online articles. Others were just fun, playful portraits.

Last Day in My Old Studio

About two weeks after our first shoot, we returned to the studio. This time we had access to my Syracuse location, as it was the last day I was allowed to use it before turning in my key. We ended up doing an impromptu military "out of regs" photoshoot. When my client canceled, I was texting Lizzie, and she was like, "Give me 40," and BAM! she was there with no idea other than a mix of Laura Croft meets disgruntled veteran. We could pull it together with an old steamer trunk, some rugged military clothing, a Micro Roni Glock 19, and a skull from a different shoot earlier that day.

Smoking on a Brisk Day

Our next set was more organized. We had one goal and a simple prop. The day was freezing, and we were back in my parent's garage. I wanted to capture that 1970s smoking vibe. It's one of those iconic obsessions of mine, and Liz just had the absolute perfect look to pull it off. I did a more in-depth write-up of the set; you can read about HERE.

The Finale

Our last shoot together was bittersweet. We had planned it for months and ran through 180 ideas, knowing we would only have time for some of them. Lizzie was moving back to Hawaii, and it would be the last time we could create portraits together for a while. I rented studio space in Binghamton at Clinton St Studios (an amazing place for creatives). Lizzie bought a suitcase for a little bit of everything, and we went to work. We shot photos for my Polaroid project.

Several wardrobes include goth punk, casual girl-next-door vibes, and a vintage prom dress. Sadly, a roll of film we had shot became ruined, and thus the pictures were lost forever. We still ended up with several very nice digital shots.

Establishing a Bond with Your Photography Subject: A Key to Capturing Exceptional Images

To truly create captivating images, it's just as crucial to build a connection with your subject. While focus and exposure remain vital in crafting exquisite photographs, mastering those techniques alone cannot take you far without an emotional bond between the photographer (you) and their muse.

Anyone can take technically correct pictures with a camera. However, will they move us or make the viewers feel something? Not always! To create captivating and meaningful images that draw people's attention, you must use your feelings as an influential tool while taking photos.

"If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough."

Robert Capa is renowned for his iconic war photography, and this popular quote of his lends itself to many more situations than conflict zones. This expression goes beyond the physical proximity of being in danger; it also implies a greater message about taking risks with life.

Getting close takes time and commitment. Sometimes you'll have to wait years to build a relationship with your subject. You may have a few moments to connect on other subjects, just like I did with Elizabeth. Getting close must be intentional.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to creating amazing art, it really helps when you have a person you truly vibe with. It makes shooting so much more fun, and the final product stands out. You can always tell from a photographer's body of work if they have a good rapport with their clients. Body posture is relaxed and natural, and facial expressions show raw emotions, from laughter to sadness. They are natural because they feel safe with you behind the camera to capture their true selves. That is the relationship Elizabeth, and I got to have when creating these shoots over the past few months. I am truly honored I had the chance to work with her during her time in NY.