Lighting Portraits on Fire
Plus: The Portrait Prompt That Always Works & More.
Jeff Tan
July 15, 2025
"To know ahead of time what you’re looking for means you’re then only photographing your own preconceptions." — Dorothea Lange
Hello Photo Friends,
This issue dances between firelight and soft smiles, between instinctual timing and hard-earned craft. We’re going from viral portraits lit with real flame to the quiet art of capturing joy without a prompt. Whether you’re chasing McCurry’s emotional resonance or coaxing natural grins in golden hour light, there’s something here to reignite your photographic eye.
Photographer Josh Zumbro doesn’t fake it — he shoots with live fire. Using fire-safe gels, expert prep, and bursts of creative courage, he lights up portraits that pulse with drama and tension. Viral, yes. But more than that: unforgettable. TAKE A LOOK →
From lopsided grins to accidental acrobatics, these thirty animal portraits show what happens when comedy and timing collide. Each frame is a little miracle of spontaneity — a reminder that funny is fleeting, and you have to be ready. TAKE A LOOK →
There’s a real, quiet reward in getting a stranger to trust you enough to be seen. This guide is a great place to start if you’re new to portraiture — or just need a push back into it. TAKE A LOOK →
A real smile lights the eyes before it ever touches the lips. These techniques ditch the canned prompts and dig into what actually makes people react. It’s subtle. It’s human. And it shows. TAKE A LOOK →
Steve McCurry’s portraits stop time. But they also speak. This breakdown distills his seven key approaches — from eye contact to ambient detail — that make his work hum with feeling. TAKE A LOOK →
"Photography is an austere and blazing poetry of the real." — Ansel Adams
Tomorrow: Bring stillness into your landscapes with slower glass and clearer skies.
– Jeff