Chicago Professional Photographer – 3 Ways of Exploring Artistic Creativity

Why I continue to pursue my artistic development as a Chicago Professional Photographer of over 20 years

A fun sidenote: this page may be my favorite page on this Chicago professional photographer website because it’s all play!!

If you ever wonder what I might be doing when I’m not photographing clients, this gallery and page offer a partial answer.

  • Artist and workshop images taken during professional development by Marmalade Photography
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Why I pursue artist development

I believe photography is a craft that demands continuous learning — not just technical skill, but posing, prop use (Victorian slips, lace), and integrating landscape into composition. These images were made during photographer-centric workshops and collaborative sessions; many poses document what instructors demonstrated, others grew from collaboration.

As a Chicago professional photographer, I push through creative and technical boundaries by:

  • Attending workshops and masterclasses
  • Engaging in collaborative shoots with models, MUA, stylists
  • Pursuing personal experimental projects, model sessions and play

As a Chicago professional photographer I am dedicating to pushing, stretching and exploring the boundaries of what is and what can be expressed in a photograph.


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Model Shoots, Cosplay and Playful Practice

Model sessions are a low-pressure way to explore creativity. Note: this gallery is the only place on the site where subjects are models; the rest of the portfolio features real families and clients.

I didn’t expect to enjoy cosplay shoots, but my “Year of Yes” (YoY) led me to a cosplay workshop where I had a blast. Cosplayers are excellent at character posing, which created flow and freed my creativity – a useful reset that improves client work.

The cosplay workshop was led by a fellow Chicago professional photographer – I was able to get out of my own way and had a blast just enjoying the recreational act of photography with other photographers in a low-stress environment. The great thing about cosplayers? They’re amazingly creative with what tools they have available to them creatively speaking, they are masters at posing in character – which made the shooting all flow and allowed me to do what I enjoy best. I believe shooting for pleasure is something all photographers should engage in to remind themselves why they do what they do. It’s high on my recommendation list for keeping your passion for photography.

Speaking of getting out of one’s own way…

iPhoneography & small-format experimentation

Catching unexpected moments by Chicago Professional Photographer Marmalade Photography
Making Monarch Caterpillars: capturing the unexpected by practicing the art of seeing

I’ve been engaged in recreational photography using only my iPhone SE2. iPhoneography is something I’ve had a blast with, helps keep my skills sharp in a convenient way – we photographers always say “the best camera is the one you have on hand!” and I’m living that truth.

Shooting recreationally with my iPhone SE2 during daily walks with my dogs allows me to see without pressure. These sessions during our walks help keep my eye sharp and inspires creative techniques, including:

  • Magnifying lenses and other basic everyday tools
  • Faceted crystals, prisms, and water drops for refraction effects
  • Shooting natural elements (icicles, dew) for texture and light play
  • Having my camera on hand helps me catch unexpected moments

A fun technical note (if you’re geeky enough to think math calculations are fun – lol): my homemade magnification setup produces an extremely shallow plane of focus (estimated f/0.05–0.07), which makes tiny details pop in unexpected ways. I like to call my technique THE IMPOSSIBLE PLANE OF FOCUS because shifting the camera even a millimeter off to the side will change the entire image.

How this benefits my clients

These artistic experiments feed directly into my Chicago professional photographer client sessions by:

  • Expanding posing and styling vocabulary
  • Improving comfort with unexpected props or setups
  • Maintaining a fresh creative perspective that enhances client imagery

A call to action

Maybe you’re interested in expanding your visual eye as well – I suggest a nice nature walk where there is plenty of inspiration! Consider a nature walk at the Morton Arboretum (in DuPage County) as a wonderful way to get your eye creatively in tune. It’s great practice for composition, light study, and small-subject macro work.

If you’re interested in a session or collaborative project? Contact me to discuss availability and creative ideas.