DJ Meier

My love over the years has been outdoor scenic and travel photography, but one can hardly travel without seeing the beauty of the people as well as the land. My best photography is now of people whether in the studio shooting, or on location. I look forward to continuously grow in my skills of capturing the images of human interest. I welcome the opportunity to photograph those that enjoy modeling and working with those interested in photography.

I shoot in a number of studios including my own personal studio which is a spacious, comfortable, new, fully modern, private studio in Portland complete with a private changing area, break room (escort lounge) and full restroom for the models, makeup station, and the like. I now shoot all digital using a number of Canon's newest and best full frame DSLR's, L series lenses, a combination of Blackline flash heads, monolights, a high end, fully portable Hensel ringflash system and a large selection of light modifiers, beauty dishes, etc.

Friend requests on MM are welcome as then we can see each other's bulletins. In addition I will rely on my Friends list as those that I will likely contact first about upcoming work and shoots.

I am continuously looking to improve my own portfolio of quality model photography and art, hence I am always interested in finding sincere models that might be interested in working with me. Escorts are welcome at first shoots or meetings. I'm also always willing to meet prospective models at a Starbucks, etc. prior to a shoot. Unless otherwise arranged, I usually do not provide makeup or hair on a first shoot with a model new to me.

Whether a model is experienced or new is not a major concern of mine, as each has its advantages. I share the sentiment of many other photographers that the most important attributes of a model are their reliability, attitude and in how they honor their commitments made. Obviously looks and talent are very important as well, but whether or not a model simply even shows to a shoot and/or returns messages will greatly influence my characterization of them to others.

I am especially interested in moving my technique and work forward to the point that I have the skills necessary to eventually do meaningful keepsake portraiture of the disabled, disadvantaged and at-risk. I welcome information from fellow artists that may be a resource to this effort.

Please contact me directly regarding my rates to do your portfolio shoots. I am sometimes willing to discuss an occasional or limited Trade For Print (TFP) shoot with Model Mayhem models in which we trade each other's time for photos (digital or print) rather than paying me. I will also consider providing some models with occasional paid work for unique looks of interest so long as it isn't at a premium rate compared to their modeling in other studios. I do however give preference in providing material studio time and compensated work, whether paid or TFP, to studio models, namely those models that do their portfolio work exclusively in the one studio. For unpaid TFP shoots, I typically provide a few worked up photos from each shoot to the models, etc. Similar to some of the other commercial photographers, I do not provide a comprehensive CD of the photos as do some other, sometimes new, photographers, but rather focus on the quality of selected photos.

Thanks for stopping by and please do take a look at my portfolio by clicking on the photo in the upper left of this page.

I have had the very good fortune to work side by side with some of the very best fashion, glamour, artisitic, scenic, lifestyle and editorial photographers in the industry; photographers that truly understand the meaning that photography means painting with light, not simply capturing an image. I also feel very fortunate to now be working with some of the best models, makeup and other artists of the Pacific Northwest. Through these professionals, I have been able to bring my work to where it is today. I thank them all.