Diana’s Navy Dress White Portraits in Pensacola
One of my favorite details from Diana’s session fits in the palm of a hand. She held a Navy 250 challenge coin just below the knot of her neckerchief. In the photograph you can see her ribbons, the stripes on her cuffs and the coin between her fingers. Even without her face in the frame, you know what she’s wearing and why we made the picture.
Diana is a Navy sailor and a model. I’m Austen Hunter, a Pensacola portrait photographer, Air Force veteran and civilian public affairs specialist for the Navy. The Navy’s 250th birthday gave me the idea for this session. Diana and I made these portraits as a private creative project. I wasn’t working on behalf of the Navy, and neither the Navy nor the Department of Defense endorsed the shoot.
Key Takeaways
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A Garage-Sale Flag and a Movie-Poster Idea
I’d picked up a large American flag at a garage sale. It turned out to be just what I wanted behind Diana’s dress whites. With the stars over one shoulder and the stripes stretching across the frame, I could come in close on her face and still tell you something about her in a single picture.
I also had an older self-portrait in mind. I’d photographed myself with blue light on my face and a narrow line of red at the edge, against a nearly black background. I wanted to see what that idea would look like with Diana. Her dress whites and an M1 Garand brought a sense of history to that part of the shoot. The color was my nod to the 1980s movie posters I had in mind. We verified the rifle was unloaded, and there was no ammunition on set.
Those frames feel theatrical. The portrait I keep coming back to is quieter. Diana looks straight at the camera, the white cover frames her face, and you can see the ribbon bar without it drawing your eye away from her. That’s the one I’d want someone to have years from now, when wearing those whites is a memory.
“If the blue light is what makes you stop and look, it’s done its job. I still want to send you home with a portrait where the first thing you see is yourself.” — Austen Hunter
A note on the light in these portraits: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
I used a 16-inch NEEWER beauty dish to light Diana’s face. In the clean portrait, look at the shadow below the brim of her white cover. You can still see her eyes. That’s the detail I’m watching from behind the camera.
A Serious Face and One for Mom
Before we started photographing her, Diana and I checked the uniform together. I asked about the order of her ribbons. She knew what she was wearing, but she couldn’t see it from where I was standing. That second set of eyes is part of what you get when you come into my studio.
Diana was comfortable in front of the camera. What felt unfamiliar to her was holding a serious expression. In her modeling work she was used to giving a big smile. For the military portrait, I asked her to look right at me and let her mouth relax. I demonstrated how to fold her arms so she could mirror me. You can see how capable she looks without having to put on a frown.
Later I gave her a different direction. “So let’s take one for Mom.” We took that one, too. If your family is going to put the picture on the wall, it’s worth making a frame with the expression they see when you walk in the door.
“Before we wrap, I like to ask who’s getting a copy. The face you want on your office wall and the smile your mom wants on hers can be two different pictures.” — Austen Hunter
One for Mom The Movie-Poster Look Diana With the M1 Garand
What Would You Put in Your Portrait?
The coin in Diana’s hands was something I bought for the anniversary concept. For your session, the detail that matters might already be sitting on your dresser. If there’s a coin, insignia or keepsake you’d want your family to ask you about, tell me the story when we plan. We can decide whether it belongs in the main portrait or deserves a photograph of its own.
Which Portrait Would You Want to Keep?
If You Want… | Tell Me Before We Shoot… |
|---|---|
A formal service portrait | Which uniform you want to remember. If the picture has to meet written requirements, bring those too. |
A photograph for family | Who will hang it up. We can leave time for the smile they recognize. |
A record of a milestone | Which detail tells the story. We can make a close-up of your coin or insignia as well as a portrait of you wearing the uniform. |
You can come in with a specific idea for a photograph, or simply with a uniform you want to remember wearing. Tell me who the picture is for. I’ll help with the setting, the expression and the little adjustments you can’t see from your side of the camera. My military portrait preparation guide covers what to bring on the day.
Questions About Your Session
Can I Get Both a Formal Portrait and a More Relaxed One?
Yes. Tell me where you plan to use each picture. We can give the formal portrait the attention it deserves, then make a frame that feels right for your family.
What if My Portrait Has Official Submission Requirements?
Send me the current written requirements before we plan the session. Diana’s creative portraits were made for a different purpose. Knowing the intended use gives us a place to start when we choose the background, framing and uniform.
