Your next portrait needs to be nothing short of magazine worthy. I’m not just talking about a headshot that “gets the job done.” No, no, no. We’re going for something that looks like it just got pulled from the pages of Vogue or GQ. Why? Because you deserve to see yourself as the absolute star that you are.

As a Milwaukee photographer, I’ve shot portraits in every setting imaginable—bright, airy studios, golden-hour fields, grungy alleyways. But nothing, and I mean nothing, compares to the sheer impact of a low key portrait session on a black background. Let’s break down why you should ditch the ordinary and go for something that looks like it belongs in a magazine cover—or better yet, a movie poster.