Finding the Light at Browsers: A Session with Leia Stretz
I recently met with Leia Stretz to work on portraits for her voice acting portfolio. November in the Pacific Northwest isn’t typically a month where you want to rely on the outdoors, so I needed a location with character. I reached out to Andrea Y. Griffith at Browsers Bookshop in downtown Olympia.
Captured with a Canon 1Ds Mk III and a vintage Super-Takumar 50mm. The lens’s natural radioactive yellowing emphasizes the warm, amber glow of the shop against the cold street.
I explained my current community initiative—offering complimentary, high-quality branding photos to individuals in Olympia's BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities—and asked if we could use her space. Andrea was incredibly supportive and welcomed us in.
Browsers is a gem. The upstairs area has that distinct charm found only in old buildings filled with thousands of books. It’s comfy, warm, and smells like old paper and wood—perfect for a moody aesthetic.
Technically, however, I made a few miscalculations. I packed light, bringing only one strobe: an Alien Bees B1600. As soon as I set up, I realized it was essentially a spotlight in a dark room—way too powerful. I ran to the car for my B800, but even that was aggressive for the subtle vibe we wanted.
Despite the lighting drama, Leia was calm and professional. She flowed with the session, allowing me to reframe and problem-solve on the fly. We eventually found our rhythm, resulting in some deeply moody shots with the warm bookstore lights melting into the background.
Leia patiently waits for me to sort out my lighting. This was a test shot, but became one of my favorites while I was editing.
Funny enough, my favorite images weren't the "properly lit" ones. They were the shots I took at the very beginning, using mostly ambient light before I committed to the strobe. They are artistic, "floating head" style portraits. They might not be standard corporate headshots, but they are beautiful, and they are the ones I’m proud to display in my portfolio.
Another photo of Leia while I tested out my lighting. I was using an Alien Bee’s B800 Strobe along with a Canon 5D MKIII with a Sigma 85mm f/1.4.
Finally, a huge thank you to Andrea for opening her doors to us. Spaces like this are the heartbeat of downtown Olympia. If you’re looking for your next great read (or just a break from the rain), please stop by Browsers, grab a book, and support this incredible local business.
