About Tom Foley Photography

As an experienced Minneapolis portrait photographer, I have seen portraiture styles and trends change and evolve from color, to black and white, from formal portraiture, to a more relaxed and natural look, only to have the trend reverse itself, and then reverse itself again.

But no matter. Regardless of the particular motifs and style trends of Minneapolis portrait photographers, the skills needed by the portrait artist remain the same: a sharp eye, a careful ear that actively listens to the client’s needs, an instinctive ability that knows when to leave the subject alone to be “natural,” and when to deliberately “pose” the subject. As often as not, something in between is needed, and the portrait artist must know when to allow the sitter to be natural for awhile, and then later in the shoot, offering a few suggestions. And of course, a keen knowledge of cameras, lighting, computers, and other related equipment, is necessary.

The work I do including headshots, accounts for perhaps half of my photography business. Most often, I shoot individuals. But in recent years, I’ve increasingly begun photographing more familes, animal and more stylized and individualized artistic work.

As the types of photographs people conceive grows, so too do the surroundings. Typically, a portrait is quite simple to shoot, as my studio is fully designed and equipped for headshots and similar work. However, on occasion I also shooting in a wide variety of locations throughout the Twin Cities. Indeed, I am fortunate to work in the rich, four-season climate Minnesota provides in terms of settings and locations.

Regardless of the location, this is a very satisfying type of photography for me, primarily because of my unique ability to find a client’s best features and bring those features to life. How do I achieve this? Through a careful eye, listening to the desired outcome a client expresses and the state of the art cameras, lighting and backgrounds that merely enhance the qualities my clients already possess.

I’ve also carved out a special niche for taking family photos. My objective in these shoots is to produce a piece that accentuates desirable attributes my clients often don’t even realize they have, while creating a family portrait that, like all of my portraiture work, will capture the essence of my clients while weaving a wonderful story surrounding the time of the image along the way.