The Well Lit Path Consulting
Working with Tobias Neal of The Well Lit Path Consulting on an atypical branding shoot filled my heart in a way I didn't know I needed, and I gained a friend and a mentor I didn't know I wanted. My client came to me saying, “I don’t want corporate looking photos, that’s not me. I’m a relational, walk next to you kind of person.” I was so excited as we delved deeper into his story during his discovery call. He explained that he was starting a business consulting, and that where his heart sang was interacting with people, teaching, and helping them find their way. He has a gift for providing guidance, talking with people, and hearing their stories. Not unlike what I do with my photos.
If a “perfect fit” client existed, he would be them. The styles matched, the goals matched, the vibes matched. He felt that the best photos were candid, out in nature, capturing authenticity, talking and laughing. He wanted something observational, unposed, and representative of who he is.
Now, I do my research on just about everything and try to get as much of a sense of a person as I can, but first I prayed. I quite literally had images in my head that I wanted to create for him before I even knew exactly what it was that he wanted to do. I bookmarked images, collected ideas in my mind, and prayed that what I would produce would blow him away. About an hour into our call, we had a plan and a shot list that truly wrote itself and touched on each thing I dreamt up before we even really had an idea of who each other was. We talked clothing and swapped inspiration. I think we nailed it. But as special as the creative alignment was, there was something else about this experience that felt different.
Sometimes a client comes along who feels less like a client and more like an answered prayer. There was a little bit of divine intervention woven into how this particular connection came together, in a way that I don't think I could have orchestrated myself if I tried. I won't share all of the details, but I will say that there were a few moments where I found myself thinking, “Okay, God. I see what You’re doing here.” And somehow, this shoot became about more than creating beautiful branding photos. It became about meeting someone whose heart and approach to his work resonated deeply with my own. Sometimes you just see a person, and we both were like that. The experience became about conversations that went far beyond a shot list. It became about realizing that sometimes the people you meet through your work are meant to become part of your life in ways you never expected. We sat down for our second casual dinner last night- and I can tell that this story is just beginning.
