UpC • Selectd Portraiture – (2013-2017)
Upbound Content is the most streamlined of my service offerings, designed for quick yet high-quality content capture. Whether in dynamic environments or structured settings, I provide crisp, clean media production that retains fidelity to your vision—even on the fly. This service is ideal for clients launching new projects, refreshing their media presence, or needing precise content to support ongoing campaigns. Below are selected portraiture and event projects completed under the Upbound Content banner.
Date
July 2014
Upbound Turkey
Upbound Content
Project
Portraiture • Lighting • Session
Location
Manhattan, NY
Aim
Produce bespoke portraiture requests with advanced lighting setups
Audit
Revise standards with continued self-education work experience
Act
Engaged in extended portraiture sessions across three occasions
Project Backstory | Starlyte and I met over a decade ago during an intercollegiate model congress tournament she helped organize at her undergraduate alma mater. Though she majored in the sciences, her passion for public speaking overlapped with my own. I believe she led her school’s organization by graduation, and while we attended different colleges, our paths crossed often thanks to shared interests. Starlyte and I have reconnected a few times over the past decade. This entry highlights images from our first session, captured in Riverside Park’s woods and along the riverside, as well as other sessions at Central Park’s Bethesda Terrace. Our focus was to capture her essence—a blend of beauty and spirit—which I hope shines through in these selections.
What We Did | On this day, Starlyte wore a pastel powder-blue blouse paired with a softly faded, deep-orange skirt. Gold-tinged earrings and a cross pendant completed the look, blending elegance with subtle symbolism. The evening’s golden hour offered a perfect backdrop, resulting in some of my most striking portraits to date, including the header image—a personal favorite among my headshots.
The Framework | Aim • Audit • Act
Upbound Content is available for social media event coverage starting at $699. Contact content@upbound.media for more information. Discounts for retained clients and those opting for upfront payment.
Date
March 2017
Upbound Turkey
Upbound Content
Project
Portraiture • Social Project
Location
Brooklyn, NY
Aim
Produce bespoke portraiture requests with advanced lighting setups
Audit
Revise standards with continued self-education work experience
Act
Implemented three point light setup for creative request
Project Backstory | In June 2017, Charleena Lyles, a 30-year-old Black mother of four, was shot and killed by Seattle police in her own home after she called to report a burglary. Police claimed she was holding a knife, yet despite her known history of mental health struggles, they responded with lethal force. Her death prompted public outrage and protests, igniting urgent conversations about police responses to mental health crises and the disproportionate impact of police violence on Black communities.
What We Did | Kristen and her boyfriend, Isaac, visited me in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, for a session in a friend’s apartment. Motivated by the climate of racial injustice following yet another case of police brutality that summer, Kristen wanted images that went beyond studio portraits—images that expressed her personal protest and met the moment. Together, we captured visuals reflecting both strength and resolve, with a Black Applejack Kangol hat—borrowed from a previous shoot—making a symbolic return.
The Framework | Aim • Audit • Act
Kirsten chose bold, circular Black Lives Matter earrings crafted from wood—their organic texture lending a raw, grounded quality to her look. Paired with a kente cloth skirt, her ensemble carried layered symbolism: each element was a statement connecting her heritage with her commitment to justice. The earrings stood as fierce, unapologetic declarations, anchoring her personal protest in something tactile and intentional.
Date
August 2013
Upbound Turkey
Upbound Content
Project
Portraiture • Muse Session
Location
Hartford, CT
Aim
Produce bespoke portraiture requests with advanced lighting setups
Audit
Revise standards with continued self-education work experience
Act
Engage in 8 hour photography session in three segments
Project Backstory | Miriam and I go back to our days with the Trinity College Gospel Choir. I remember a song we rehearsed, its refrain urging a strong finish and steadfast faith. I humorously misheard it as “strong fish, strong faith,” which became an inside joke among a few of us. Miriam’s warm demeanor and sharp wit made it a joy to sing alongside her and the rest of TCGC.
What We Did | One afternoon, we embarked on an impromptu photo journey lasting over five hours and featuring four distinct looks. Here, I’ve selected one frame from each style—a visual homage to our friendship and shared history. Whether transitioning between soft obsidian tones or patterned blouses, Miriam radiated both regality and brilliance. These sets were captured over a decade ago.
The Framework | Aim • Audit • Act
Upbound Content is available for social media event coverage starting at $699. Contact content@upbound.media for more information. Discounts for retained clients and those opting for upfront payment.
Date
October 2017
Upbound Turkey
Upbound Content
Project
Portraiture • Lighting • Session
Location
Brooklyn, NY
Aim
Produce bespoke portraiture requests with advanced lighting setups
Audit
Revise standards with continued self-education work experience
Act
Book, schedule, and photograph photo session with Sasha
Project Backstory | Sasha and I connected through a referral from Kristen, another model I had worked with. For Sasha’s session, we kept it simple—no studio, no elaborate logistics—just two looks, natural inspiration, and the inviting setting of a friend’s apartment.
What We Did | Her first look featured warm leg warmers, a cup of tea, and soft window light, occasionally accented with flash. The second focused on a striking bronze necklace, its black, red, white, and gold hues adding editorial elegance. Using my Polaroid Land Camera 220 and Fujifilm 100c peel-apart film, I captured instant photos that remain among my favorites. This two-hour session combined intimacy with creativity, producing images I’m proud to share. Sasha, a member of the United States Army, occasionally models and is a devoted mother. Upbound Content coordinated all session logistics.
The Framework | Aim • Audit • Act
Upbound Content is available for social media event coverage starting at $699. Contact content@upbound.media for more information. Discounts for retained clients and those opting for upfront payment.
Date
October 2016
Upbound Turkey
Upbound Content
Project
Location
Manhattan, NY
Aim
Produce bespoke portraiture requests with advanced lighting setups
Audit
Revise standards with continued self-education work experience
Act
Project Backstory | At Achievement First Brooklyn High School, Simone brought vivacity and warmth to the breakfast and lunch lines. Each day, she greeted students with laughter, positivity, and reflection—extending her role beyond that of theater teacher and summer programs coordinator. I first met Simone while capturing the first 10 minutes of her breakfast line routine. She later asked me to create a custom in-studio session to explore the interplay of light and shadow on a fade-accented backdrop, wearing contrasting dancewear. In fall 2017, we brought her vision to life using three wireless strobe flashes and precise light sculpting.
What We Did | We joked about using baby oil to enhance how her skin caught the strobe light—a detail she was eager to try. But after reviewing the shots, we agreed the natural look was perfect. Simone’s body sculpting expertise gave us captivating images, though we both wished for more time before returning to school duties.
The Framework | Aim • Audit • Act
Upbound Content is available for social media event coverage starting at $699. Contact content@upbound.media for more information. Discounts for retained clients and those opting for upfront payment.
Get in Touch by 📨 or ☎️
Let me support your creative ends, or join in mine. Reach out by email (donald@upbund.media) or text (+1-347-762-9075), and phone/virtual conferences can be scheduled thereafter 🗓️ (please leave a voice message for all unscheduled cold calls).
