Portrait & event photographer
I photograph portraits, families, and events across Columbus and central Ohio. Years of street work taught me to read light and wait; client sessions turn that into images you will actually use.
This page is about who you are hiring. If you have not looked at the work yet, start there. If the feel is right, we will know quickly whether to book.
How I shoot
Street photography trained me to watch light and wait. Portrait and event work uses the same habits, with more coaching when you need it.
I pose, direct, and help with movement when that serves the image. I also step back when the candid moment is better. Natural light when it is enough; strobe when the room needs it. The mix depends on you and what we are making.
You should never feel awkward holding a smile for ten minutes. We warm up, we talk, we adjust. Sessions move at a human pace. I would rather get fewer frames that matter than rush through a checklist of poses.
On delivery, you get a curated set with restrained editing: color and tone that match what we talked about, light retouching where it helps, nothing that makes you look like a different person.
Who I love working with
People getting their first professional photos. Teams that want headshots without the corporate stiffness. Families who know their kids will not sit still. Couples who want something real from their day, not a wall of forced poses.
Brands and small businesses that need usable assets for web, social, and print. Founders updating a site. Teams that need a consistent look without a full agency production.
If you are nervous, not sure what to wear, or convinced you are not photogenic, that is normal. Most of my clients start there. The first part of a session is always about getting past that, not pretending it is not there.
Portrait & headshot work
Natural light, room to move, and direction when you want it. Professional without the stiff corporate feel.
A little more about me
I am Matt. Columbus is home base for most of my client work, with travel when a project calls for it. I came to photography through years of shooting streets and travel on my own time; client work grew from people who wanted that same eye on their portraits and events.
I bring a technical background to how I run sessions and deliver files: responsive communication, realistic timelines, and assets organized the way a marketing team expects. Photography is the work you are hiring me for; the rest is there when it helps your project.
That also means I am comfortable with specs when you need them: aspect ratios for social, crops for web versus print, brand color references, and handoff that does not leave your designer guessing.
I have aphantasia, which affects how I hold visual memory. It shapes how patiently I watch during a session. You will read more about it in Stories if you are curious. What matters for your booking is whether you like the work and whether we click in a conversation.
Family sessions
Comfortable pace, a few strong frames early, then room for the moments you will actually want back.
Where I shoot
Most client work happens in and around Columbus: downtown, the suburbs, parks, offices, and homes. Hilliard, Dublin, Westerville, and the greater central Ohio area are all in regular rotation.
Outdoor sessions follow the light. Indoor sessions follow the room. If you have a location in mind, we can walk through it together. If you do not, I can suggest spots that match the mood you want.
Before you reach out
- Do you only shoot documentary style?
- No. Street and documentary work shaped my eye, but client sessions are a mix. We can work posed and polished or loose and candid. We talk about the balance before shoot day so you know what to expect.
- What if I have never done this before?
- That is most people. We start with a short call or message, keep the plan light, and ease into shooting. I give simple cues for posture and movement. You do not need to know how to model. We can start with walking shots and build from there.
- Can you work from a shot list for events?
- Yes. Tell me the must-have moments and people. We build a plan so you can stay in the event while I cover what you need. For larger events we align on timeline and priorities upfront.
- Do you shoot brand or commercial work?
- Yes. Team headshots, product, lifestyle, and environmental work for brands and small businesses. Brand work is quoted per project, and the quote spells out usage rights, turnaround, and deliverables. Tell me what you are making and where the images will live.
- How far in advance should I book?
- It depends on the season and session type. Portraits often book a few weeks out; events need more lead time. Send a note with your date range and we will figure out what is realistic.
- How is this different from other Columbus photographers?
- Scroll the portfolio. If the light and pacing feel right, reach out. We will know quickly if we are a match. I am not the right photographer for everyone, and I would rather find that out early.