Your Journey to a Masterpiece: The KGS Commission Process
The Discovery Consultation
Every great portrait begins not with a camera, but with a conversation. Your journey with us starts with a personal consultation, offered at no cost or obligation. Whether in our San Antonio studio or over the phone, this is a dedicated time to explore your vision and for us to understand the story you want to tell. This is not a sales pitch. It is the foundational discovery session where we demystify the process, answer your questions, and determine together if our approach is the right fit for your legacy.
The Pre-Session Immersion
Your portrait session begins long before you stand in front of the camera. We start with a relaxed conversation, walking through the studio and discussing the artwork. This is a crucial part of the process. While many photographers begin shooting immediately, hoping a subject will “warm up,” I use this time to understand you—your angles, your personality, the dynamics of your relationships. It is here that we work together to dispel any preconceived notions from past photographic experiences and establish a foundation of trust. This approach is grounded in a specific philosophy of observation. Read more in “The Art of Seeing: How to Look at a Fine Art Portrait“.
The tools we use are a reflection of this deliberate approach. We do not use standard DSLRs, whose clunky mirrors, slow autofocus, and distracting viewfinders can create a barrier between artist and subject. Instead, I work with a specialized view camera and a collection of rare, world-class portrait lenses—a set that took over a decade to acquire. This system is chosen for one reason: it allows me to focus 100% on you.
Read the full case study in “A Master’s Journey from Karsh’s Light to the Modern ‘Madame Tex’“
The Collaborative Creation
Our process is fundamentally different from a typical photography session. I do not hide behind the camera; I stand next to it, maintaining a direct connection with you from 25 feet away. This allows me to observe, guide, and wait for the right moment in a way that is less intimidating and far more human.
We operate like a bespoke restaurant with a visible kitchen. We create one image at a time, then review it together on a 50-inch tethered monitor to collaboratively decide what we like and how we are telling your story. This iterative process builds a unique kinesthetic awareness—a connection between “this is what it feels like, and this is what it looks like.”
The view camera’s mechanical shutter is instantaneous. There is no lag. This allows my intuitive timing to seize the “decisive moment” when it feels right—the instant that reveals your true essence. This allows my intuitive timing to seize the “decisive moment” when it feels right—the instant that reveals your true essence. Once the camera is focused and the lens is set, I am essentially using a $100,000 point-and-shoot, free to focus entirely on the art of the moment.
The Projection & Sizing Session
After we have selected the winning images, the next stage is the unveiling. In our private projection room, we will project your portraits at life-size, from an intimate 8×10 to a breathtaking 96×60. This is a powerful and essential experience that allows you to truly understand the scale and presence of the final work, deciding on your final portrait dimensions with confidence and excitement.
The Master’s Artistry & Framing
The selected image then enters the final stage of digital artistry. Here, I work not as a photographer, but as a painter, meticulously refining every detail to create the final masterpiece. While the artistry is an intensive, private process, the commitment to quality extends to the physical construction of your heirloom. Every portrait is mounted on a durable panel and framed in a museum-grade, closed-corner frame. The back of each piece is beautifully hand-finished and sealed, because every part of your heirloom, seen or unseen, is part of your legacy.
The White-Glove Installation
The final step of our journey together is the placement of your masterpiece. To ensure a perfect conclusion, we offer a complimentary white-glove delivery and installation service for all commissions 24×30 inches and larger within the San Antonio area, and for commissions 50 inches and larger throughout Texas. For all other commissions, your heirloom is entrusted to fine art specialists for secure, insured shipping worldwide. This final, seamless step transforms your space and completes the vision we started in our very first conversation.
The Lasting Impact: Beyond the Wall
The KGS Process culminates in a museum-grade work of art, but its true impact begins the day it is installed. Clients often report a desire to ‘live up to the portrait,’ finding it serves as a permanent anchor for their values and a benchmark for their future endeavors.
Ready to Begin Your Own Journey?
The Legacy Design & Consultation is the first step in this process. It is a 90-minute strategic session designed to build the blueprint for your masterpiece.
The KGS Commission Process: Optimized FAQ
Every great portrait begins not with a camera, but with a conversation. The journey starts with a complimentary, no-obligation Discovery Consultation. This is a personal, dedicated time, either in our San Antonio studio or over the phone, to explore your vision and for us to understand the story you want to tell. It is a foundational session to demystify the process and determine if our approach is the right fit for your legacy.
The portrait session begins long before you stand in front of the camera. We start with a Pre-Session Immersion, a relaxed conversation to establish a foundation of trust. Unlike photographers who start shooting immediately, I use this time to understand you—your personality, your best angles, and the dynamics of your relationships. This entire approach is grounded in a specific philosophy of observation, allowing us to capture your true essence.
Our process is a Collaborative Creation, fundamentally different from a typical photo shoot. I do not hide behind the camera; I stand next to it, maintaining a direct, human connection. We create one image at a time and then review it together on a 50-inch monitor. This iterative process allows us to collaboratively shape the portrait in real-time, seizing the “decisive moment” that reveals your character. This method is explored in detail in our case study, “A Master’s Journey from Karsh’s Light to the Modern ‘Madame Tex’”.
No. We do not use standard DSLRs, which can create a barrier between artist and subject. Instead, I work exclusively with a specialized view camera and a collection of rare, world-class portrait lenses—a system that took over a decade to acquire. This deliberate choice of tools allows me to focus 100% on the art of capturing your portrait.
The decision on size is made with confidence during our Projection & Sizing Session. In our altelier’s projection room, we will unveil your portraits by projecting them at life-size, from an intimate 8 x 10 to a breathtaking, wall-spanning 60 x 120 inches. Seeing the work at scale is a powerful and essential experience that removes all guesswork from choosing the perfect dimensions for your home.
The selected image enters the final and most crucial stage: Master’s Artistry. This is where the work is transformed from a masterful capture into a permanent, physical heirloom, with every detail optimized for its final destination on your wall.
The process begins with digital artistry, where I work not as a photographer, but as a painter. Just as Michelangelo deliberately elongated figures on the Sistine Chapel ceiling so they would appear perfect to a viewer on the floor 60 feet below, I meticulously refine and optimize the proportions and details of your portrait for its intended viewing distance. The goal is to ensure that whether viewed from across the room or up close, the portrait commands its space with perfect presence and character.
Once the artistry is complete, the physical creation begins, guided by an uncompromising commitment to archival permanence:
For commissions 24×30 and larger: Your portrait is mounted on a museum-grade aluminum composite panel known for its supreme rigidity and longevity.
For smaller prints: We use archival hardboard to ensure stability and a lifetime of quality.
Every portrait is then set in a museum-grade, closed-corner frame, meticulously hand-finished on both the front and back—because every part of your heirloom, seen or unseen, is part of your legacy.
This entire process—the artistry, the printing, and the framing—is performed either by me personally or under my direct, hands-on supervision. As a final touch, for commissions 24×30 and larger, artist Toni Saunders offers optional, complimentary brushstroke embellishment to add a unique, painterly texture to your masterpiece. We also provide museum-grade nameplates and custom-calibrated portrait lights to complete the presentation.
The final step is our complimentary White-Glove Installation. To ensure a perfect conclusion to our journey, we provide this service for all commissions 24×30 and larger within the San Antonio area, and for commissions 50 inches and larger throughout Texas. For all other commissions, we entrust your heirloom to fine art specialists for secure, insured shipping worldwide.
The process culminates in a museum-grade work of art, but its actual impact begins the day it is installed on your wall. Clients often report a desire to “live up to the portrait,” finding it serves as a permanent anchor for their family’s values and a benchmark for their future endeavors.
