Why don’t you shoot men?

Iconic Corporate Head Shots & Dynamic Personal Branding with Ashtyn Jade Productions in Utah County

Oh, but I do. And I adore it. The strength they exude and the way in which they do so… is such a powerful counterpoint to the women I photograph. Both genders embody strength in magnificently different ways — and photographing men frees me from some of the constraints I typically embrace when photographing women. Yes, it’s true: I did use the verb “embrace” with regard to the word ”constraints.” Because I know what breathtaking images those constraints allow me to produce.

But that’s a tale for a different day. For now, let’s stick with the simple fact that I do, indeed, photograph men. And excel at it.

A defined jawline, broad shoulders, strong brows, masculine hands, that air of casual confidence… And can we talk about lighting? The depth and dimension added to a man’s face — to his entire persona — with an extra bit of shadow. It jjust wins me. A loosely curled fist, a crooked smile, an ankle crossed over a knee… from the posing to the expression, the images we capture communicate a message. What that message might be is determined by the goals of each client. And how do we determine the goals of each client? We take the time to communicate and connect. It always comes back to connection. And we nail that every time.

So the real question might be, “Karen, why don’t you market to men?” And the answer? Because I create an experience that women don’t just want. It’s an experience women need: an opportunity to truly be seen. To be captured in a way that removes the years of doubt, in a way that holds space for the inevitable pain which accompanies a life fully lived. I shift the way you see yourself, remove the fog through which you’ve resigned yourself to view… yourself. I bring to light that thread of royalty and divinity within. And I preserve it as a visual and tactile piece of your personal history — your legacy — for all the beautiful lives that value and follow yours.

Yes, I do love photographing men. But I live for photographing women.