Portrait Photography in Meaningful Spaces

I recently had the pleasure of photographing Jasmine Rashid, a financial activist, writer, impact investing pro, and dog mom to one sweet pup and one very spirited one. She’s the type of mission-driven person we love to work with, someone deeply invested in economic justice and moving through the world with intention. Before the shoot, we talked about the kind of vibe she wanted: something that felt true to her everyday life, with her dogs in the mix (of course) and maybe a few photos by the water near her place. We decided to go with an environmental portrait, something grounded in her real spaces.

I always find that someone’s surroundings can tell so much of their story, and often, the best backdrop is the place they already feel most like themselves.

We started in her living room, filled with meaningful little details. The dogs definitely brought the energy, but that just added to the charm. Then we headed out into her neighborhood and found a few quiet spots with beautiful light. We even ran into a few neighbors.

This shoot was a great reminder of why I love working in people’s own spaces. There’s no pressure to perform or pose a certain way, it’s just real life, captured.

A natural-feeling headshot can say more about a person than a bio ever could. It shows who you are without explanation—your energy, your environment, your essence. And because it feels true to you, you’re more likely to use it confidently and often, on your website, your speaker bio, your LinkedIn, or wherever your story needs to be told.

Not every shoot calls for a standard headshot. So if you're unsure where to take your portraits, start with where you already feel most at home. That might be the perfect location after all.