The Art and Science of Soulful Portraiture
Jonny Edward
There is a decisive moment in portraiture when technique harmonizes with connection—when light, expression, gesture, and emotion come together to create something singularly unique and deeply human. The Art and Science of Soulful Portraiture is a five-day exploration of that moment.
Designed for photographers of all experience levels, this immersive experience deftly blends the practical and the poetic, offering a thoughtful approach to creating portraits that feel intentional, authentic, and visually captivating. Together, we’ll explore lighting, set design, posing, wardrobe styling, color theory, post-processing, and the often-overlooked power of the connection between the photographer and the subject.
This workshop is not only about learning how to produce stronger portraits—it is about learning how to see more clearly, direct with confidence, refine vision, and create from a place of heartfelt curiosity and impassioned purpose. Whether you are refining your artistic voice or reigniting your creative spark, you’ll leave with new technical skills, fresh inspiration, and a deeper understanding of and appreciation for creative portraiture as a powerful amalgamation of art, science, connection, and humanity.
Sponsored by
Nanlite
Adorama
Capture One
Printique by Adorama
Autobiography: Jonny Edward
For me, portraiture is a sincere conversation, a wonderfully surreal collaboration between light, shadow, trust, and truth. It is a way for me to make others feel seen, heard, safe, loved, accepted, and celebrated; to tell their singularly unique stories and, in the process, tell a bit of my own. Ultimately, it's the alchemy of humanity and reciprocity.
To that end, over the last 11 years, I've photographed tens of thousands of people — artists, rebels, entrepreneurs, rock stars, leaders, dreamers, the everyday folks, and uncannily uncommon individuals, those at the very top of their game and those navigating the lowest points in their lives, the shy and the bold alike. I've created and taught around the country and across the globe, exploring the poetic interplay of light and shadow, how contrast and narrative intertwine, and at times, combine to reveal who we truly are. My camera has been a passport to new worlds, a powerful conduit for heartfelt connection with fellow humans, and a mirror through which I've come to know and love myself.
I adore the dance between technical precision and creative intuition: shaping scenes, invoking emotion, layering light, and crafting narrative. But at its core, my work is about energy, trust, and presence. When those elements align, a photograph becomes so much more than a mere image; it becomes art, an honorific to the essence of an individual.
I don't want to make pretty, perfect pictures.
I want to create heartfelt, soulful, authentic art.
And I aspire to mentor and support fellow photographers to do the same.
