Geovanny De Leon / Photographer
The photograph begins before the pose.
I make portraits by talking, paying attention, and letting the session tell us what it is about.
The beginning
My first roll of film came back completely blank.
Photography started as a college class I had to take. I was a broke student, bought the best camera I could afford—a Canon AE-1—and got nothing from that first roll.
What held my attention was not one perfect image. It was the challenge of making one: choosing film, learning the camera, and building a development process until something appeared.
How a session works
Conversation makes room for the photograph.
I have aphantasia, so I do not arrive with a finished picture waiting in my head. We begin with a loose concept, then talk, make, and discover what the session is becoming.
I notice how the person fits the scene, then look for the light and mood. When a natural gesture appears, I ask them to hold still for a few frames. That small pause often helps people realize their relaxed body is already enough.
A wider practice
Photography is one way I make things.
I am also learning through video, 3D modeling, 3D printing, coding, music, color, and the traditions that reconnect me with my Hispanic roots. The medium may change; the curiosity stays.
Water still returns because I grew up in California. Being near it brings comfort and joy. It belongs to the story, but it does not have to carry the whole story.
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