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Editorial-style portraits for models, performers, athletes & visual storytellers.

“A strong portrait reveals what is already there.” —J Heroun

The perfect image creates opportunity: What’s your next chapter?

Let’s make a scene!

Comedic actor and improviser, Erin Farrington.

A woman with long black wavy hair, wearing a light blue sweater, smiling softly against a plain off-white background.

Close-up of a smiling woman with dark hair wearing a denim jacket against a white background.

Smiling woman with long dark hair wearing a red sports jacket with white stripes on the shoulders.

A woman with long black hair, blue eyes, and a fair complexion wearing a red Adidas jacket.

A woman with long dark hair smiling and wearing a navy blue top.

A woman with long dark hair, wearing glasses and a denim jacket, smiling softly against a plain background.

Seeing the light

When Boston comedic actor Erin Farrington reached out to update her publicity headshots for an upcoming Netflix special, her agent’s brief was wide open: just make them look "current and fresh."

To anchor that vague direction, I built a mood board inspired by Saturday Night Live’s iconic commercial-break celebrity portraits. Originally pioneered by photographers like Mary Ellen Matthews, those brilliant, graphic images rely on hard, high-contrast light designed to absolutely pop off the screen. It was the perfect way to position Erin in the visual context of established comedy royalty. To mix it up, we also planned a high-energy, paparazzi-style look, drawing from raw, flash-on-camera trends in fashion photography.

Erin loved the direction — and loved the final results even more. They capture her vibrant, energetic personality perfectly. There is nothing quite like the joy of collaborating with incredible talent and executing a vision exactly as planned.

See Erin’s comments here.

Formal celebrity portrait of actor Frankie Shaw with dark hair styled in a messy updo, wearing a silk slip dress and a luxurious dark fur coat draped over her shoulders. She gazes directly at the camera with a confident expression, standing against a

5X Emmy winner, WHDH 7NEWS anchor Jadiann Thompson with blond, wavy hair and blue eyes, wearing red lipstick and a black, glittery top, touches her face with her hand.

Emmy award-winner, WHDH 7NEWS anchor Jadiann Thompson with long, wavy blonde hair, wearing makeup, earrings, and a black leather jacket, smiling at the camera.

Actor Frankie Shaw with her dark hair pinned up, emotes with expressive body-language dressed in a dark blue jumper with a white and pink dot pattern, shot against a warm, neutral background.

Actor Frankie Shaw wears a white, fuzzy hooded garment, looking at the camera with a relaxed expression. Photographed for The Improper Bostonian.

Woman in a red bikini standing on the beach near the ocean with her body turned sideways and looking into the distance.

Female model with long brown hair, backlit on a beach, looking over her shoulder with head tilted backward.

Closeup of young Black fashion model in summer daylight, wearing stylish sunglasses.

A woman with curly hair sitting on a bench outdoors, wearing a matching marble-pattern athletic set.

A woman sitting on a lounge chair outdoors near a pool or beach area, wearing a striped bikini and sunglasses, with cabanas in the background.

Young woman with black, curly hair relaxing at the edge of a swimming pool on a sunny day, smiling.

Stylish woman sitting on black leather couch in a modern room, wearing a black blazer, checkered pants, and black high heels.

Model seated cross-legged on a floor against a bluish-gray fabric backdrop, with her chin rested against her hand. She has voluminous black, curly hair with tan skin and well-defined facial structure and wears a low-cut black top with black and white

A woman with curly hair wearing a black leather jacket, black high heels, and a black skirt, posing on the floor against a white background.

A woman standing outdoors near water, leaning on a metal railing, wearing a blue and gray athletic outfit and gray running shoes, looking over her shoulder.

Woman in athletic wear leaning on a railing near water with city buildings in the background.

Closeup portrait of young woman with pulled-back light brown hair, wearing fitness wear. Photographed outdoors in natural light, the background is blown-out white haze.

Intimate portrait of model Olivia in tall grass, late autumn New England light, wearing high-fashion aviator glasses.

Female model in late autumn New England light, strolling in stylish black crop-top with dark red trousers and gray Bolero jacket.

Close-up of a young woman with blonde hair and blue eyes wearing a black leather jacket, looking over her shoulder at the camera.

Portrait of a young ethnic woman with black, tightly-curled hair and heavy-rimmed glasses posing in front of a dark fabric studio backdrop. She wears a white knit, homemade crop-top with bell sleeves over a snug, gray mini dress over a long plaid ski

A woman with long blonde hair, blue eyes, and a slight smile, wearing a black top and a silver necklace with a pendant, posing against a light background.

Actor Tracey Chimo with medium-length brown hair, sitting at a red theater or auditorium, resting her chin on her hand, looking at the camera.

Young model with long, blonde hair seen in a screen test sitting on a sofa, her face lit with short, golden light turns to the camera in a dramatic scene.

Woman with medium-length hair wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat with black band, earrings, and a sleeveless striped dress, standing outdoors on a balcony, backlit with the background out of focus.

A woman jumping mid-air outdoors against a corrugated metal wall, wearing athletic clothing and white running shoes.

Olympic gold medalist Hilary Knight for The Improper Bostonian magazine cover wearing a USA hockey jersey and gloves, holding a hockey stick, smiling for the camera.

A woman with curly hair in a blue, white, and pink athletic outfit standing outdoors against a blue sky with clouds and a distant green landscape.

A male boxer stands in a fighting stance with fists raised, wearing green hand wraps and black shorts, looking intensely at the camera.

Close-up portrait of a young man with dark hair, intense eyes, and a serious expression, shirtless against a white background.

A shirtless male mixed martial artist with long dark hair, bruises and blood on his face, holding a glove near his face, appearing confident and fierce.

A shirtless man with long curly hair, visible injuries and blood on his face and chest, standing against a plain background.

Young, smiling Black man in a black hoodie displaying Poetic Justice movie graphics in white and red across his chest.

A young man with light brown hair and green eyes, wearing a beige long-sleeve shirt and a silver watch, standing outdoors near a body of water with a railing in the background.

A young man in a bomber jacket and black t0shirt wears a silver neckchain while standing at the waterfront in the South Boston Seaport district.

Portrait of a bald man wearing a dark henley with jeans, seated against a dark brown studio fabric background, leaning on an apple box and resting a forearm on his leg, photographed with window light.

Man practicing yoga on rooftop deck, standing in warrior pose with arms extended, wearing yellow tank top and black athletic pants, with city buildings in the background.

A man with tattoos on his arm and chest, leaning on the edge of a swimming pool, smiling at the camera.

A young man is standing shirtless outdoors, pouring water over his head with a garden hose on a sunny day.

Young South Asian man in a black polo shirt with white trim, seen in high-contrast daylight in an urban environment.

A middle-aged man on a tennis court, poised to receive a serve from an opponent player. A black fence and residential houses are in the background; he's dress in white shorts, a dark blue athletic jacket and a salmon-colored shirt.

Man sitting on the floor with a tennis racket, wearing a brown t-shirt, white sneakers, and white socks, leaning against a wall in a room with textured wallpaper.

Portrait of a young male athlete, posing with arms raised in dramatic directional light.

A young man with short brown hair wearing a white T-shirt and dark pants, standing against a plain white background with shadows cast to the left.

Portrait of a young male athlete, posing in a black muscle-T with arms crossed in dramatic directional light.

Young man posing with basketball, outdoors in natural light.

A shirtless young man is hanging from a basketball hoop after making a dunk, with a basketball falling behind him, outdoors with trees in the background.

A young woman in athletic wear holding a jump rope, standing against a white background.

A woman with long hair wearing a white jacket, black crop top, shiny black leather pants, and high heels, posing with one leg raised and smiling.

A woman dressed in winter skiing gear holding a snowboard, smiling, with a white background.

A woman in pink and black workout attire performs a boat pose on a pink yoga mat, with a white background and reflected reflection of the pose below.

A woman in athletic clothing practicing yoga in a lunge pose on a pink yoga mat with reflection on the surface.

A woman in athletic clothing, including a gray jacket, purple leggings, colorful running shoes, and a beanie, appears to be jogging or running.

Young woman with brown hair, wearing a navy Seattle Seahawks football jersey with the number 3, and distressed jeans, standing barefoot next to a canister-style vacuum cleaner on a white background.

Woman with shopping bags smiling and walking, wearing a beige turtleneck sweater, blue vest, dark jeans, and black high heels.

A smiling man and woman wearing sunglasses sitting on a wooden railing at the beach during sunset.

Woman sitting on a wooden bench at the beach, smiling with ocean and sky in the background.

Location portrait of a smiling professional woman in a teal-colored leather jacket with a white shirt and torn blue jeans. Subject has a blonde bob hairstyle and wears red lipstick and dark aviator sunglasses. She sits straddled on a wooden fence wit

A woman with short brown hair, wearing glasses, a black top, a gray cardigan, and a necklace, making a funny face with one eye squinted and tongue out.

A portrait of a woman with shoulder-length dark hair, wearing a black blazer and white shirt, with her hands clasped in front of her, set against a black background.

Portrait of a woman with dark hair in a ponytail, wearing a white tank top, smiling softly against a greenish background.

Portrait of a young woman with shoulder-length brown hair, smiling, wearing a blue top, against a white background.

A family of three with a young child sitting on the mother's lap, with the father standing behind them, all smiling against a white background.

A young woman with fair skin and platinum blonde hair in two braids, wearing a hooded navy blue coat with white fur trim, large white earrings with oval shapes, smiling at the camera.

Person dressed as Pikachu with yellow top, black skirt, yellow socks, and Pikachu headband, making a playful fierce pose against a gray wall.

A woman with short, layered pink hair and light skin wearing a black face mask with chain accents, a bright pink top with black straps, and colorful necklaces against a dark background.

A woman with curly blonde hair sitting on stairs, pointing her finger at a man with short gray hair, sitting next to her. They appear to be having an intense conversation outside near a large building.

An elderly man with gray hair embraces a middle-aged woman with wavy hair, sitting on a dark leather couch in a dimly lit room. The woman's expression is serious, and warm light filters through a window behind them.

Monique-Gabriel-Curnen-Ferrari.jpg (Copy)

Man in tuxedo holding a glass of red wine, smiling, against a plain background.

A young man wearing sunglasses, a white shirt, a black vest, and jeans, smiling and pointing upward with one hand and making a fist with the other, against a plain light background.

A woman with short brown hair, glasses, and red lipstick, smiling with arms crossed, wearing a red and black plaid shirt over a white graphic T-shirt, and dark jeans, standing against a plain light-colored background.

Man with a mustache and beard wearing a straw hat, floral shirt, jeans, with a belt that says 'Alagash Brewing', and a pocket watch hanging from his belt.

A woman with long red hair, wearing black shirt with white anchor patterns over black pants, standing against a plain background, with one hand on her hip, smiling softly.

Back-lit image of five bartenders on a neutral background projecting long shadows into the foreground. From left, the first figure is male with a black and white patterned shirt, jeans, and a straw hat. next to him is a young woman dressed in black,

Fit for Life

BUILT, NOT POSED: How Strength and Posture Shape Your Portrait
The role of strength training, posture, and movement in projecting confidence—on camera and off.

Through a lifelong interest in sports and fitness—combined with my experience as a creative director for national health and fitness magazines—I’ve come to recognize something that applies directly to portrait photography: how you carry yourself in daily life is amplified on camera.

It begins with muscle mass. Strong, well-conditioned muscle supports an upright, balanced posture that naturally communicates confidence and presence. Without regular use—through resistance training or consistent physical activity—muscle tissue gradually weakens with age. The good news is that the body is highly adaptive. When challenged correctly, muscle breaks down and rebuilds stronger, improving not only posture but stability, mobility, and resilience. These changes have systemic effects: better circulation, improved metabolic health, and the release of endorphins that support mood and stress management. In other words, the way you train your body directly influences how you show up—physically and mentally.

Posture is not cosmetic; it’s communicative. The simple act of standing or walking sends immediate signals. Someone who leads with their hips, shoulders open, and a neutral, aligned spine tends to project clarity and self-assurance. Contrast that with a forward head position, rounded shoulders, and a collapsed chest—common in a screen-dominated world—which can read as fatigue, hesitation, or diminished confidence, regardless of the individual’s actual character.

Achieving correct posture is attainable, especially under the expert guidance of trainers like Fit, Boston’s premier private gym. Through awareness and consistent reinforcement, you can counter the body’s tendency to fold inward—whether driven by habit, environment, or psychology. Poor posture often reflects a protective or withdrawn state; over time, it becomes the default. Reversing that pattern requires deliberate engagement of the posterior chain and core musculature, along with mobility in the hips, thoracic spine, and shoulders. For those who already have good alignment, maintaining it depends on the same fundamentals: strength, balance, and regular movement.

This is why, in my work, I don’t treat posture as something to “fix” for a photo. An honest portrait simply reveals what’s already there. The objective is to build a physical presence that is sustainable—one that reads as natural, grounded, and assured in any setting. Invest in that, and the camera becomes an ally rather than a test. —J Heroun

Photograph by Arthur Belebeau for Shape magazine; art direction by J Heroun

Let’s start a Creative Dialogue

COMMERCIALEditorial-style portraits for models, performers, athletes & visual storytellers.