All images by Daniel Schaefer. Used with permission.

If you’re not familiar with who photographer Daniel Schaefer is, then what you should know first and foremost is that he is probably one of the most driven, self-motivated and determined photographers under the age of 30 that I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. He’s been featured on Japan Camera Hunter and also here on the site before. Daniel has worked for Leica and so many other companies in the industry; he demonstrates the drive that it takes to survive in the creative world.

For the past couple of years, he’s been shooting, studying and honing his craft in the photography space. He’s also become significantly better at portraiture.

To book a portrait session or one on one custom tailored workshop with Daniel, visit his website.

Phoblographer: Talk to us about how you got into photography?

Daniel: I come from an artistically diverse family–musicians, writers, filmmakers and photographers alike. My father spent a good deal of his life as a working photographer, and my uncle Frank Schaefer is a professional photographer and studio lighting specialist, so luckily when my interest blossomed I had more than enough access to the equipment that I might need.

Through all of high school I was a theater student in an incredibly rigorous program, 5-6 hours a day studying musical and dramatic theater. In 11th grade my teacher asked the class if anyone could take headshots of the rest of the class for a show program, and knowing I could borrow a camera from my father, I volunteered.

The next day I came to school with a Nikon D70 and 50mm lens, shot all the headshots enjoying the experience thoroughly, and afterwards spent the day wandering around school and my neighborhood taking more and more pictures, really enjoying the newfound outlet.

The next day I left the camera at home, and every ten seconds was thinking to myself “Oh that would be a cool shot” “Oh THAT would be a cool shot!” so after that, I carried the camera around my neck every day, and I haven’t left the house without it slung at my side since.

Phoblographer: What got you into portraiture?

Daniel: I’ve always enjoyed the sense of inherent narrative that portraiture can allow a photographer. By the very nature of a person being included in the frame the viewer begins to contextualize; creating a story in their own mind of what is occurring within that frame. I always enjoy loading as many little details into the image to help steer the viewer into the intended story that the subject and I are trying to tell.

Phoblographer: Where do you typically get your creative vision from?

Daniel: For my portrait work especially, I enjoy collaborating with the subject involved in order to create images that have a narrative that they enjoy as much as I do. I have very cinematic tastes, and like to charge the images in a way where it almost feels like something in frame should be moving. For these images especially the collaboration is key to the creativity, whether or not the story we’re trying to tell is truthful, almost documentary in nature, or is more narratively fiction driven, I want the images to feel authentic to the subject.

Phoblographer: Every portrait photographer has a method of some sort. So while you’re getting ready to create a portrait, what are some of the most common things going through your head that help make a portrait really part of your photographic identity?

“By the very nature of a person being included in the frame the viewer begins to contextualize; creating a story in their own mind of what is occurring within that frame.”

Daniel: I find the most identifiable aspects of my style come in my use of light and color, I grew up an absolute addict to the noir genre, so much of my work is subtly influenced by sort of Neo-Noir styling. As far as in the moment goes, I like to keep things vocal with my subjects, talking things through almost constantly. I love little physical details, and take a lot of inspir...