Who is Josh Beaton?
That is a really tough question. I feel like I am in therapy. I guess the answer
that fits best is that I am a luxury portrait photographer from Chicago, IL. I am someone with creative ADHD and, I need to be doing something creative all the time or I will go crazy. I’m a father, a husband, and an unapologetic opti-mist.
How did your storytelling journey begin?
I have loved storytelling and, in particular, photography for most of my life.
The defining moment in my creative life is when I saw the cover of Bjork’s album “Debut.” I don’t know what it was, but when I saw that image, I knew I
wanted to be a portrait photographer. My life took a different path for a while and I studied graphic design and that became my career. In the last 5 years or so, portrait photography has become a bigger focus for me (no pun intended)
What inspires you to create?
Everything. I know that is a lame answer, but it is absolutely true. It could be a movie I saw, a book I read, something my wife said, or another image I saw. Inspiration can strike at any time. When I get ideas, I try to make mood boards (mainly on Pinterest) so I don’t forget when a day later a new idea pops into my head.
If you could give new artists advice about photography, editing, or even the business side of the industry; what would it be?
Try everything. That has been the most fun for me. When I wanted big, dramatic skirts for my studio, but I couldn’t afford to buy them… I tried making them. It was the same thing with headpieces. Just get some glue and give it a try. Go into the studio for two hours and move the lights after every 5 shots.
Put them in places that make no sense. You never know what can happen. Go outside at all times of day and no matter the weather. Shoot, shoot, shoot. I have discovered a lot of my “style” but just playing around. We are lucky right now.
Tell us what’s in your camera bag.
Land what works for me and stick with it. Right now I have a Canon 50 Mark Ill and a 24-105L lens. That’s pretty much what I use for everything. I plan to upgrade to mirrorless at some point mainly for the eye focus. For now, I have all I need.
If you had an unlimited budget and could go anywhere in the world, what would your dream session look like?
I will always have only one answer for this. Iceland. Always Iceland. It is the most amazing place I have ever been. I would love to take someone there with a variety of dresses and travel all over the country. I want to shoot on the black beaches, in the hot springs, on a glacier, in the moss fields… literally everywhere. I have been playing around with the idea of offering a “Dream Session” package that brings me and a client to Iceland, but I haven’t figured it all out yet.
If you had an unlimited budget and could go anywhere in the world, what would your dream session look like?
I will always have only one answer for this. Iceland. Always Iceland. It is the most amazing place I have ever been. I would love to take someone there with a variety of dresses and travel all over the country. I want to shoot on the black beaches, in the hot springs, on a glacier, in the moss fields… literally everywhere. I have been playing around with the idea of offering a “Dream Session” package that brings me and a client to Iceland, but I haven’t figured it all out yet.
What’s the hardest thing you had to overcome that made you the person you are today?
Something I am working on, but I still struggle with is the difference between arrogance and confidence. There is nothing more unattractive to me than arrogance. Because of that, I have carried myself with low confidence and erred on the side of extreme humility in order to avoid ever being labeled arrogant. I am learning that confidence is important and I work on it daily.
How do you prepare for a session?
I like to speak with my client before the session to get an idea of their personality and goals. I have a questionnaire they fill out that asks about things like favorite musician, why they want to get their portrait taken, and things like that. After that, I create a mood board for the overall style I will work with. Otherwise, I like to keep everything pretty organic and free-flowing. We have a lot of fun in my sessions and I don t want to make it too rigid and scheduled out.
If you could have dinner with one artist that has impacted your photography today, who would it be and why?
Annie Leibovitz. She is my absolute hero. She gets a lot of hate and criticism, but I think she is the greatest portrait photographer of all time. She has had a tremendous impact on the way I shoot.
Tell us some wise words you live by.
A quote that I love and has changed the way I look at things is by Jim Carrey. He was speaking about how his father would have been a great comedian, but instead, he played it safe and became an accountant to take care of his family. He hated his job and was eventually laid off and his famiy was homeless for a time. The quote goes, “You can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance at doing what you love.
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