Not every photograph I make begins with a commission—but every commission I accept begins with intent.
Over time, I’ve learned that the most meaningful commissioned works don’t start with a request for an image. They start with a shared understanding that the photograph is not the end product. It’s the vessel.
When I consider a commission, I’m not evaluating logistics first. I’m listening for resonance.
A Clear Relationship to Place
Place is never incidental in my work. Whether it’s a street corner, a coastline, a lifeguard tower, or a familiar interior, the location carries weight. I’m drawn to commissions where the place itself holds memory, transition, or personal gravity—where the photograph becomes a way of acknowledging a chapter rather than simply documenting a scene.
A Willingness to Slow Down
The work I’m proudest of isn’t rushed. It requires space for observation, return, and refinement. I look for commissions where time is treated as a collaborator, not an obstacle—where the process is valued as much as the finished piece.
Trust in the Process
Every commissioned work that lives comfortably inside my practice is rooted in trust. Trust that I’ll see what matters. Trust that restraint can be as powerful as spectacle. Trust that the final image may not look like what was imagined—but will feel like what was needed.
An Understanding of Scale and Permanence
Most commissions I accept are intended to live large—physically and emotionally. They are meant to anchor a space, to be lived with over time, to grow more familiar rather than fade into the background. I’m looking for projects that understand the photograph as an object with presence, not a temporary solution.
Alignment With the Work I’m Already Making
Commissions don’t sit apart from my collections—they live within them. The strongest projects feel like a continuation of an ongoing conversation rather than a departure from it. If a commission naturally belongs inside the broader body of work, it’s usually a sign we’re aligned.
Accepting a commission is less about availability and more about compatibility. When the intent is clear, the place is meaningful, and the process is respected, the resulting photograph doesn’t feel commissioned at all—it feels inevitable.
If that approach resonates, we’re likely already speaking the same language.
