Rasor Rants | Headshots for Author, Crystals of Ulstra

Photos with Bradley Bowen, author of Crystals of Ulstra

There’s something extra special about photographing an author in a space that already feels like a story waiting to be told. For this professional headshot session, we teamed up with an upcoming local fantasy author and headed into one of Fort Collins’ most character-filled spots: Wolverine Farm Publick House. (Go check them out if you’ve never heard of Wolverine before. They are a lovely Fort Collins gem!! https://www.wolverinefarm.org/ )

Bradley reached out to me, looking to get professional headshots for the release of his self-published Fantasy trilogy, Crystals of Ulstra. He wanted something “Bright and warm. And serious but approachable vibes.” He chose the perfect location for his vision!

Surrounded by shelves of well-loved books, warm wood tones, and that cozy, creative energy only a bookstore can have, the goal was to create headshots that felt authentic, confident, and a little bit magical…without leaning into anything overly staged or stiff. Think approachable author meets imaginative world-builder.

We focused on clean, professional portraits that still carried personality…natural expressions, relaxed body language, and subtle storytelling elements pulled from the environment itself. The textures of the books, soft ambient light, and intimate layout of the space gave the images depth and mood while keeping the author front and center. These are the kinds of headshots that work everywhere: book jackets, author bios, publisher submissions, social media, websites, and future speaking events.

One of my favorite parts of sessions like this is helping creatives feel comfortable in front of the camera, especially writers, who are often more at home behind the scenes.

It’s always an honor to support local creatives at pivotal moments in their journey, and photographing an author on the cusp of sharing their work with the world is something I don’t take lightly. I can’t wait to see where their stories go next…and I’m so grateful to have played a small part in helping them step into this next chapter.

If you’re an author, artist, or creative professional looking for headshots that feel like you—especially in a meaningful or story-driven location—I’d love to dream something up together.

If you are curious about Bradley’s Book and his journey as an author, please follow and support him here: https://bradleybowenbooks.com/