“Never meet your heroes—they’ll only disappoint you.” It’s advice we’ve all heard, often with a smirk of world-weariness behind it. But I’d argue otherwise. In my experience as a portrait photographer, meeting—and photographing—my heroes didn’t just live up to expectations; it shaped the very arc of my career.
It was a pleasure to work with Michaela Paitan, a student from Peru, during her recent 30-minute headshot session in Manhattan. As a first-time client, Michaela stepped into the studio eager to create professional portraits that would help define her presence and personal brand.
