Editorial Portrait Job for Totem
Great Editorial Photography Job
I recently completed an editorial portrait assignment for Totem, a design firm in Toronto. They wanted an edgy portrait of Jon Ikeda, the head of Acura North America. That request stood out — most of my editorial photography of corporate executives has been more conservative, with minimal interaction. This project, however, called for more personality and collaboration.
What made it unique was the time I had with Jon. Normally, I get just a few minutes with executives, but in this case, I had nearly an hour. He was personable, curious, and fully engaged — which gave me the space to capture genuine moments. This experience reminded me how important it is to approach even editorial work with the instincts of a corporate photographer: connecting with people, finding authentic expressions, and delivering portraits that tell a story.
Editorial Meets Corporate Photography
We used a Profoto beauty dish for lighting, which gave the portraits a stark, modern look that matched Totem’s design direction. The production was minimal — just me and my assistant — but the results were powerful.
Even though this was an editorial commission, it overlapped with the work I do in corporate photography. The goal in both cases is to balance professionalism with authenticity, whether I’m creating executive portraits for a law firm or editorial portraits for a design company.
Finding Authentic Moments
The challenge in assignments like this is capturing authenticity within a limited window of time. I often do this by asking personal questions or creating moments of distraction so subjects briefly forget about the camera. These techniques apply whether I’m shooting corporate headshots in Los Angeles or editorial work for an international client.
If your company or publication is looking for authentic executive portraits or modern corporate headshots in Los Angeles, I bring the same blend of editorial instincts and corporate expertise to every assignment.
