Michael Schmelling takes photos that are so raw, honest and exposed, it's the photographic equivalent of open heart surgery: everything is left bare out on the table.
From behind his lens, Schmelling has a remarkable ability of bringing his subject's wonderful weirdness to the forefront. His portraits reveal something that might not be immediately apparent, which makes going through them feel like a special, intimate, nearly voyeuristic experience. Ultimately, Schmelling's music editorials illuminate something important about each individual, almost as if saying, "Here I am, warts and all."
Whether it's a red-eyed Earl Sweatshirt grinning as someone holds a switchblade worryingly close to his face, or an up-close-and-personal shot of R.Stevie.Moore, Schmelling's photographs are instantly recognizable.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Intimate Musician Portraiture
- There is an opportunity to create an intimate and unique photography niche within the music industry which showcases the true personalities of musicians through raw and honest portraits.
- Raw and Emotional Photography
- There is a trend towards raw, honest and exposed photography that captures the raw emotions of its subjects, rather than traditional posed shots.
- Visual Storytelling
- There is a trend towards photography that tells a story of an individual or group through visual cues and symbolism.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Music
- Musicians require unique and personalized promotional materials that showcase their true personalities, which creates an opportunity for intimate music portraiture.
- Fine Art Photography
- There is a trend towards fine art photography that captures raw and emotional subjects, creating an opportunity for photographers to specialize in emotive portraiture.
- Fashion
- Intimate portraiture can be a valuable asset in the fashion industry as it captures the essence of a subject, creating advertising that speaks directly to a targeted demographic.
