My Approach to Projector Photoshoots

The core of this work involves using a projector as a primary light source. By tethering an old-school projector to my laptop, I project custom SVG patterns—generated via pattern.monster—directly onto a model’s torso and face. This technique turns the body into a digital canvas, allowing for complex, high-contrast imagery that is impossible to achieve with traditional modifiers.

I utilize two main creative lighting techniques for these sessions:

• Ambient-Mixed Projection: Layering patterns over soft, natural light for a textured, editorial look.
• Sole-Source Projection: A high-contrast projector photoshoot style where the projector is the only light source, creating a sharp, atmospheric aesthetic that emphasizes the contours of the skin.

Because I control the patterns through Photoshop in real-time, the process feels less like traditional photography and more like live digital illustration.

The Technical Challenge: A Case Study in Self-Portraits

This series has evolved through three distinct sessions. While working with models allows me to choreograph the patterns precisely, the self-portrait session was a significant test of my workflow. Without a second pair of eyes to monitor how the light fell across my body, managing the projection and focus was a rigorous technical hurdle—one that ultimately helped me refine my process for future shoots.

Exhibition and Impact

The Projection Project was recently showcased at the Sullivan Gallery in New Orleans. This experimental work has sparked a different kind of dialogue with viewers than my documentary portfolio, proving that there is a deep interest in the intersection of digital light art and portraiture.

See more of my work or learn about my upcoming shows on my Fine Art Photography Exhibitions page.