For many years I did commissioned portraits, which meant working with my clients to satisfy their expectations. I also brought my own outlook and perspective to these sessions as portraits are a mixture of the subject and the outlook of the photographer. I tend toward more serious portraits as I feel they go deeper than the usual “say cheese” and smile, which tends to keep the focus on the surface. My preferred portraits are those that both portray and transcend the sitter and become closer to a universal archtype. These are a few of my favorites.