photography.

Years of design and research have taught me a lot about looking, listening, and documenting life on Earth. I'm honored to offer photography as part of my practice.

What I do:

portraits
professional headshots
band & artist shoots
documentary sessions
life milestones & end-of-life sessions
small, casual gatherings

I like working with:

outdoor settings
natural lighting
weird lighting
playful improvisation & organic interactions
creative experiments & unique effects

see & be seen

I’m here to take the photos you might not think to ask for.

When people hire photographers, it’s often to document a milestone — weddings, graduations, engagements, or just the ability to bring the entire family together in matching sweaters through sheer force of will. (Move that pumpkin a little to the left — thank you!) Photographers capture us at our most aspirational. And as they do, the images they create combine to form a glittering mosaicked mirror of all the things that society values most.

There is great beauty in these images. And there is great beauty beyond them — in the mundane, even difficult, moments of everyday life that often go undignified by the lens. So many of the things that truly give our lives texture and shape and meaning — the grief that carves us, the places that surround us, the changes in our bodies that we either lean into or resist — don’t always make it into the great social highlight reel. I have found that some of the most transformative moments of my own life have also been the moments that were the least documented. And while it would have been difficult to say yes to at the time, having someone present with a camera who could fully witness me in my struggle would have been an incredible gift. I wish I had those pictures now.

So, while I’m totally here to take any and all the celebratory photos you want (let's do it), know that I’m also here for the rest. I have documented people in moments of profound transition, in ritual and in acts of creating, in moments of uncertainty. I have documented people throughout many parts of life, and people nearing the end of life. I am here to honor you, whatever stage of whatever process you are in, when you are ready for a witness.

To get a sense of how I see people, places, and things, check out the sample images provided in the galleries below.

portraits

photography

landscapes

photography

art photography

photography

animals

photography

Some non-traditional reasons I would love to take your photo:

affirming a new expression of identity, gender, and/or sexuality (all are welcome here)
documenting a life transition (a career change, a move, new love or new life)
telling the story of an illness or injury (whatever the stage)
documenting a loss of a place or thing (after an accident or a disaster)
showing off a new creative endeavor (press photos for an artist or band or project)
relishing something small but meaningful (new hair, new clothes)
documenting you as you work (to show what you do to the world)
capturing you in an important place to you (your home, your town)
documenting end-of-life transitions (for you or a loved one)

Some traditional reasons I would love to take your photo:

you need a fresh headshot to find a job (hey, we've all been there)
you need a cute profile pic to find a date (hey, we've all been there)
you need photos for a website you’re making, or to advertise a service (creatives and small business owners especially welcome)
you want to celebrate a friendship, kinship, or other relationship (this can also be very silly, if you would like)
you want to print keepsakes or holiday cards (I won’t judge your pumpkin, don’t worry)
you want to mark a moment in time for your future self (if this resonates with you, it's important)

If you’re feeling ready to take a step forward into this work, fill out my inquiry form. I’ll be so glad to hear from you. You can also check out some more nuts-and-bolts info below.

submit an inquiry

Where and when are you available to work?

For the most part, I am available in the Davis / Sacramento area. With enough lead time, I can sometimes make arrangements to work further up in the North State or further south in the Bay Area (if you swear up and down not to make me park anywhere stressful!). If you’re farther afield, you’re still welcome to reach out to see if we can connect somewhere down the road, and you’re always welcome to come to me! Please note that I tend to have limited availability and I don’t book on short notice. I also invest time up front in making sure that what I offer will be a good match for your needs, so plan for that.

Where and how do you shoot?

For a typical session, I shoot mainly outdoors in publicly accessible areas, depending on your vision. (Think parks and nature preserves.) I don’t offer studio sessions. That said, I’m very open to location-specific work if there’s an important place to you, or if there’s particular setting that’s important to capture. I prioritize safety, so let’s talk about it.

What is a typical photo session like?

This will vary depending on your needs and desires (and I’ll want to connect with you about those in advance). In any case, I tend to work in a way that’s pretty fluid and casual. We might move around to where the light is doing interesting things, and I’ll take a lot of pictures. Expect a mixture of documentary-style candids and more posed and composed shots. I’m not at all aggressive about posing people in elaborate ways, but if you’re open to it I can certainly offer some small suggestions based on what I’m seeing. I prioritize organic interaction and what is coming through in the moment, so if you’re looking for a lot of guidance around postures you might be better served by a more conventional portrait session from a specialist.

What is it like to work with you?

It’s gentle. It’s funny. I leave plenty of slack for awkwardness and whimsy and wonder. I believe in meeting people exactly where they are and honoring the process — I reliably find that the pictures that no one expects to turn out well can become some of the strongest. I also know that it can be vulnerable and intense to be in front of the camera, so you can expect a lot of me checking in on how you’re doing and immaculate communication around consent. We try things, and see how we feel. We’ll definitely laugh.

What types of things DON’T you offer?

I'm not currently set up to help with any of the following right now:

in-studio sessions or anything with backdrops or props (unless you provide your own — then yes, please!)
large, formal events (like big weddings)
large, formal group portraits (bands okay!)
airbrushing & heavy retouching

What if I’m interested in something a little on the spicy side?

I honor spiciness and human expression across their many manifestations! There's no shame in asking for what you're curious about — you'll have to work pretty hard to get me to clutch my pearls. I don’t offer samples of all of my work publicly, but I take especially great care in offering a safe, supportive environment for NSFW expressions of self. References available upon request.

What are your rates?

I’m currently operating on a flexible sliding-scale basis. FYI, photography rates in my area range anywhere from $150 to $500 per session (which is, like, totally unhelpful), but we can be creative depending on your budget and your needs. I’ll ask about budget during the inquiry process and we can see what might be possible from there. I’m also open to trades! Keep in mind: for sessions closer to the Davis area, I’ll be more able to accommodate shorter, more affordable shoots than if I need to travel somewhere farther away.

wanna book something? have questions? cool ideas? fabulous scenery? cute pets? artistic visions? star in your own photoessay? new jeans? something satirical? something serious?wanna book something? have questions? cool ideas? fabulous scenery? cute pets? artistic visions? star in your own photoessay? new jeans? something satirical? something serious?wanna book something? have questions? cool ideas? fabulous scenery? cute pets? artistic visions? star in your own photoessay? new jeans? something satirical? something serious?

trace manuel.

I'd love to hear what you're thinking:
tm@tracemanuel.com
or send a booking inquiry