A HISTORY

North light benefits were first recognized centuries ago by Renaissance artists. Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, known for his photorealistic paintings of middle class life, used north light from a window as his source of illumination. Painters recognized the beauty of north light, which is “reflected light or indirect light,” not direct light coming through the window.

The history of daylight studio photography began in the 1840's when the earliest  photographers (learning from painters) started using natural light to make portraits. These types of studios were often built in urban centers. The spaces were designed with large windows on the rooftops, earning them the nickname "glasshouses." Irving Penn and Richard Avedon were two 20th century photography icons who helped make north light studios famous. 

My windows create a soft, indirect light which allows me to create flattering portraits without harsh shadows or unnatural colors. Rather than using artificial light sources, I alter the placement of my subjects in relation to the windows, allowing the natural  north light to wrap around their face and figure.

Come for a session and experience being photographed in a historic north light.