Author & Illustrator Portrait Photography for Jay "Kaokuk" Wieler
Quick Info
Role: Photographer
Project Type: Portrait & Personal Branding Photography
Client: Jay “Kaokuk” Wieler / Purple Tree Co.
Tools: DSLR Camera, Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop
Timeline: 2014
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Deliverables: Professional portrait photography, promotional imagery, social media assets
Responsibilities: Portrait photography, lighting, composition, image retouching, post-processing
Overview
Jay “Kaokuk” Wieler is a Toronto-based children’s book author and illustrator whose work spans publishing, illustration, and creative storytelling. I was commissioned to create portrait photography that would support his personal brand and provide professional imagery for books, promotional materials, social media, and digital publishing.
The objective was to create a portrait that reflected Jay’s approachable personality while reinforcing his identity as a creative professional. Although the final deliverable centered on a single hero portrait, the image was designed to be versatile enough for use across multiple platforms and marketing materials.
Project Objectives
The photography session focused on creating imagery that would:
- Support the promotion of Jay’s books and creative work
- Establish a professional and approachable personal brand
- Create imagery suitable for print and digital publishing
- Produce a portrait adaptable for websites, social media, book covers, and promotional materials
The Challenge
Portrait photography for creative professionals requires balancing personality with professionalism.
Key considerations included:
- Communicating warmth, creativity, and authenticity
- Creating a timeless portrait suitable for long-term promotional use
- Ensuring the image remained effective across multiple formats and aspect ratios
- Producing a photograph that complemented the client’s existing visual identity
Photography Approach
Planning
Before the session, we discussed how the portrait would be used across publishing, marketing, and online platforms. Understanding these requirements helped guide decisions around composition, lighting, and framing.
Composition & Lighting
The portrait was created using clean, natural composition and carefully controlled lighting to place the focus on Jay while conveying a friendly and approachable personality.
Attention was given to:
- Natural facial expression
- Balanced lighting
- Professional presentation
- Simple composition that would remain versatile across different applications
Post-Processing
The final image was edited to maintain accurate colour, natural skin tones, and a polished appearance while preserving authenticity. Multiple crops were prepared to accommodate different digital and print formats.
Deliverables
The completed project included:
- Professional portrait photography
- Colour correction and image retouching
- High-resolution files for print and digital use
- Cropped versions for websites, social media, and promotional materials
Outcome
The final portrait provided Jay with a professional image that supported his work as an author and illustrator across multiple platforms. The photograph contributed to a cohesive personal brand and could be used consistently for marketing, publishing, and online communications.
Reflection
This project demonstrated how a single portrait can become an important part of a creative professional’s visual identity. Rather than documenting an event or location, the focus was on communicating personality, professionalism, and authenticity through thoughtful composition and lighting.
It reinforced the importance of creating portraits that are not only visually engaging but also flexible enough to support branding, publishing, and promotional needs across a variety of media.