Life is full of unexpected turns, and sometimes that means finding new ground—literally and figuratively. Today marked a milestone as I held my first session in my new studio space, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to break it in than with friend and collaborator, Jarvis (@jaythreedagreat). What initially felt like a challenging transition quickly became a reminder of why I fell in love with photography in the first place. During this session I gained the perspective that new spaces bring new energy, and with them, fresh possibilities to create something special.
I was excited for my third portrait session with Jarvis because he and I always hit it off. We share a deep connection through our interests, especially in the realm of music and creativity. This session was no different. As we moved through the shoot, we found ourselves reminiscing about the brilliance of Little Brother, the nostalgia of vintage Fruity Loopz, and how Cool Edit Pro shaped a generation of creators. More importantly, we talked about the core values we both hold—authenticity and positivity, qualities that we believe every creator should carry.
For this session we decided on a moody black and white image with a minimal styling so that the focus remained on the most important thing in the portrait, Jarvis. While I navigated lighting setups ranging from a mix of butterfly, overhead, single light source, and even going bare bulb, Jarvis remained locked into my direction to remain his true authentic self during the session. With that in mind we capture a range of images that I feel give viewers a better understanding of the depth of Jarvis as a human.
As I reflect on this session, I’m reminded that growth comes from embracing change, and that every curveball life throws can be an opportunity to evolve. I hope these images capture not just the moment, but the energy and shared passion that came to life in this new space.
I had a blast creating these, and I hope you enjoy viewing them just as much.
Best,
Jay Daniel
