Portrait Party started as a way to get studio practice without the studio. In the 4 years since it’s genesis, it’s become a multifaceted variable work space for photographers and videographers of all experience levels to develop their skills and build networks.

“Portrait Party 04 was an exploration of identity in 2025 using the styles and methods of 15th and 16th century Renaissance portraiture.

Renaissance portraiture was often filled with objects representative of status—both in religious capital and material wealth—and, due to the costliness of commissioning these paintings, portrayed only wealthy patrons, leaving out the largest population from the “fine” remnants of the time.

We kept all of the recognizable elements of these kinds of portraits (the drapery, seated positioning, representational / iconographic objects, etc.) and severed their historical connections to wealth

and societal status. In its place, we tied in the concept of identity through personal objects, and, together, created a portrait of our collective identity, made by, with, and for us, as we are now.”