When Presence Becomes Portrait

Greg’s session was one of those moments that reminded me why I do this work.

From the very beginning, he showed up with a willingness to be seen—not just by the camera, but by himself. And that makes all the difference.

We didn’t rush. We didn’t pose. We arrived.
Together we created space—for breath, for stillness, for story, for soul. His laughter, his presence, his curiosity... it all wove into something that felt less like a photo session and more like a remembering.

The reveal later on was its own ceremony.
Watching Greg witness himself through these images—truly see himself—was deeply moving. Image after image, there was no mask, no performance. Just him, relaxed and radiant in his own skin.

He later said the experience was “illuminating,” and I couldn’t agree more.
It was a joy and an honor to hold that mirror up.

These are more than pictures.
They are reminders.
That your essence is enough. That your truth belongs in the frame.

I’ll let his own words tell the rest—his testimonial is below.

Illuminating.

The one word most readily coming to mind when I look back upon my photographic experience with Asha. The reverence, the engagement, the support, the comfort, and the results— all key elements of such a profoundly illuminating experience.

"Asha is a master craftsman, creating an open and supportive space not only for the photo shoot itself, but also for the ‘reveal’ of the final photographs - an experience for which I have had no parallel. I feel truly honored to have shared these moments with Asha, and forever grateful for the images I walked away with.

The original impetus for the engagement was straightforward, updated professional photos were long overdue. Candidly, I had been putting this off for many years as I did not want to relive the hassle, discomfort and awkwardness. I had distant memories of the forced smiles and attempts at comfort-setting by my last professional photographer nearly a decade ago. The results were solid professional photos and yet, while the images checked the box, it is only following this experience with Asha that I have realized, those original photos didn’t actually capture me. 

For the photo shoot, Asha selected distinct locations and settings which I now understand were chosen to evoke specific elements of my own character. 

She created ceremony and space to allow the shoot to unfold naturally. It’s clear that she is guided by deep intuition and instinct in her engagement style. Her disarming nature behind the camera was like nothing I'd before experienced. Her conversational approach was intriguingly unique, setting the tone by presenting me with queries on topics to then actively discuss before the lens. The opportunity / expectation / pretense and need for forced smiles were nullified. Instead what was captured was simply, me - unfiltered, unforced, unequivocally, me. 

I'll admit to being nervous, even scared immediately before the shoot. These were emotions I did not expect and was hardly prepared for. These feelings washed away quickly and were replaced by a calm and comfort, a natural and honest state I would later witness so clearly captured in the photographs. 

Within mere minutes of beginning the photo shoot, my thoughts and concerns on the end results were swept away, in its place was presence, an embodiment of the present moment. And the results of this were images of my genuine self.

Of course, I wouldn't know this until the reveal, but I recognized this flow state while the camera was clicking. I was able to acknowledge that my mind had ceased. Rather than finding myself trying to project an image, Asha held a place for me to settle into the moment and simply connect with her and unknowingly, with the camera.

In this space that she so uniquely creates, there is a surrender. From this place arrives a gentle current of honesty which carried me through the experience. Within this special moment, within this container of safety, Asha captured integrity and honesty. Such genuine images of me. Such genuine reflections of the person I am but so rarely see, so rarely experience myself. Of course, again, it wouldn't be until the reveal that I could fully appreciate those moments that were created. 

And for the reveal itself, Asha once again evoked a beautiful ceremony, creating another special moment in time to review the images she had captured. 

It is no exaggeration to state that I had never before looked upon myself in this way. In no other moment had I experienced myself captured - so genuine, so expressive, so comfortable, so open, so truly and honestly me. 

Image after image I met an individual with whom I have had a lifetime of experience, but yet have never known in this way. I was not merely viewing photos of myself. I was seeing myself in honest expression in genuine comfort, openly inhabiting the person that I am, preserved.

In reviewing the photos, there were moments of genuine catharsis. Emotion brought forth from viewing, from experiencing the honesty of my expressions, the Integrity and of my natural poses of my natural body positioning, the candor of my expressions. 

Asha had captured the individual that I am, the individual I have felt that I am, but had not before seen in imagery. Truly, genuinely … illuminating.

I am challenged to effectively express the depth of my gratitude to Asha for the experience, for the results, for having created such a sacred moment of truth, and to have captured it and in such beautiful fashion.

Asha is a true professional and a genuine artist whom I would recommend profoundly. And for anyone who would like to hear more about this incredible experience and astounding results, I would be more than happy to speak with you live, to share further on this incredible experience with this profoundly special and talented photographer and artist.

Deeply, sincerely,

Greg Brinton