Shades of Elegance
A classic era portrait session, finished as a signature canvas wall portrait.
When the fighting stopped.
It was 1945, after years of sacrifice and uncertainty, the world experienced a collective exhale.
Attention turned inward. To more of an elegant identity and the quiet power of how fashion-minded men and women ... chose to present themselves to the world.
This is the era that Brian draws from for Shades of Elegance. And these are the portraits he makes, as a return to an era of introspect and peace.
To create images that ponder what matters and consider our legacy for the generations to come.
For Her
There is a particular kind of woman this session is made for. She doesn't follow trends ... she precedes them.
She understands that true elegance is less about what she wears and more about how she inhabits it. Refined, striking and timeless.
These portraits are made for the woman who has always known exactly who she is ... and is ready to see it reflected back for generations to come.
For Him
The debonair man is a rare thing. Unhurried, present and at ease in a well-fitted jacket, the way others are at ease in their most casual clothes.
This session is for the man who appreciates craft ... in clothing, in character, and in the photographs that will one day tell his story. Distinguished, commanding and made to last.
Your only task is to arrive.
After a brief phone consultation to discuss your wardrobe and investment, you can just let go to your own introspect and enjoy the process.
Before your session, we'll connect you with Sarah Adams, internationally renowned stylist and the person who will set the tone for everything that follows. Hair, makeup, and a shared vision, handled in advance so the day itself feels effortless.
We'll also send you a small collection of reference images from the era ... not a dress code, but an invitation. Wear what speaks to your architecture. A bespoke suit. A sculpted dress. Something that already feels like you, seen through a more elegant lens.
The rest is ours to handle.
These are not modern portraits. They are black and white by design ... timeless and finished to last. A small selection of color interpretations may also be available, should Brian break character during your session.
Your favorite image will be finished as a 16x20 linen, canvas wall portrait ... real, hand-selected fabric, (not the inkjet giclee canvas you'll find on competitive retail labs.)
Inkjet canvas has a visible dot matrix pattern, with a synthetic feel. Linen has an organic, random weave that adds tactile depth without competing with the image. Photographic paper is then vacuum-pressed onto the fabric, before stretching and stapling to a sturdy wood frame,
It feels like what it is … a piece of art, rather than a commodity product.
From there, your canvas can be upgraded ... up to 60 inches. These are images made to live on walls, not screens - digital files are not an option with Shades of Elegance sessions.
The session allows time for two complete looks ... but bring a third. We'll help you decide on your best options before the first frame is made.
The full experience runs three hours, from styling chair to final frame. Book it with a friend and we'll add an extra hour of photography time, trading turns in the camera room. A shared experience that becomes its own story.
The session is priced as a complete experience. Hair, makeup, styling, photography, and a ready-to-hang, 16×20" canvas wall portrait. This is actual, fiber canvas.
Your final portrait is protected hand-brushed acrylic-coated glaze to endure time. No obligation for additional purchases, this package will feel complete, with your one, timeless wall portrait to endure as an heirloom-quality work of art. Add-ons and upgrades optional.
In honor of my mentor…
Brian is the photographer who spent his formative years studying classic portraiture under Louis M. Ver Baere in the early 80’s. Lou a Chicago artist who’s love of Louis L'Amour novels, led him to “move out west” planting his roots in Pendleton, Oregon.
Lou had offered his entire legacy to Brian as a gift in 1988. He created a thriving portrait studio that drew clients from a 50 mile radius.
That offer came with one condition that Brian could not promise - to keep the studio in Pendleton.
“I did a great deal of soul-searching. Read the book ‘What Color is Your Parachute’ and moved back to Portland in 1989, to start from scratch.
Lou passed away in November, 1993, shortly after gifting Brian a box of professional gear. The tools that Brian opened his first studio with in SW Portland OR, Aug. 1st, 1996.
That lineage and passion for classical portraiture lives on through Brian’s personal creation, he dubbed “Shades of Elegance.”
If you have a hat from the era, or one that simply belongs there, bring it. We'll build a look around it. A change of hat means a change of everything, so our stylist will be on hand for styling adjustments and makeup touch-ups between looks.