One Practice, Not Two: Why I’m Photographing 200 Strangers for People of Ipswich

For years, I tried to draw a hard line between my fine art practice and my professional portrait work.

I thought they required different mindsets. I thought one was for the gallery – quiet, slow, experimental – and the other was for the boardroom – fast, polished, functional. I kept them in separate boxes, believing that to be taken seriously as an artist, I had to distance myself from the “commercial” side of things and to be taken seriously as a headshot photographer, I had to distance myself from the “murky experimentation” of art.

I was wrong.

Experience teaches you what theory cannot. Over hundreds of sessions, photographing everyone from CEOs to community elders, I realised I wasn’t serving anyone by splitting myself in two. I wasn’t protecting my art; I was diluting my presence. It’s taken years of showing up, failing, refining, and finally standing firm in what I value – authenticity over aesthetics, connection over perfection – to see that the divide was an illusion.

The truth is, the moment the shutter clicks feels exactly the same, whether I’m shooting for a personal collection or a LinkedIn profile. The work isn’t about where the image ends up; it’s about what happens in the room.

And so, after a decade of mulling it over, three grant applications, and a lot of sticktoittiveness, I am thrilled to announce that these two worlds are colliding in my biggest project yet: People of Ipswich.

The Idea: A Love Letter in 200 Portraits

The seed was planted years ago when I discovered Humans of New York. I loved how Brandon Stanton changed the perception of a city from a map to a collection of individual stories. I wanted to do something similar for Ipswich, but instead of street portraits, I wanted to offer the focus of the studio.

I wanted to invite people into a quiet space, away from the noise of construction and traffic, and ask them to simply be. I wanted to remove the context – their shop, their office, their garden – so that the focus lies completely on them. When you strip away the background, you strip away the stereotypes. You create an opportunity to gaze for longer than is socially acceptable. In that quiet space, you’re left with just the human being.

The Method: A “Reverse Exhibition”

Supported by the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF), this project transforms the Ipswich Community Gallery into a living studio from 26 August to 6 September 2026.

It’s not a traditional exhibition. I call it a “Reverse Exhibition.”

The gallery starts empty.
Over 10 days, I will photograph up to 200 Ipswich residents.
Each portrait is edited and printed on-site, then immediately added to the walls.
The exhibition grows daily, creating a massive mosaic of our community.
And here’s the twist: At the end, participants take their archival print home. The art doesn’t stay on the wall; it returns to the community, embedding itself in living rooms across the city.

Why This Matters for My Business (And You)

You might be wondering: What does a massive community art project have to do with my professional headshot?

Everything.

My artistic projects are the laboratory where I refine the skills you benefit from in every session.

Sculpting Light: My study of Baroque lighting for The Common Thread ensures your headshot has dimension and soul, avoiding that flat, sterile corporate look.
Instant Connection: Preparing to photograph 200 diverse residents has honed my ability to make anyone feel safe and seen within minutes, regardless of camera anxiety.
Reading Presence: Years of studying body language allow me to notice the subtle shifts – a relaxed shoulder, an engaged eye – that turn a stiff pose into an authentic portrait.

When you book a session at Waschevski Portraits, you aren’t getting a “business version” of me. You are getting the full depth of my artistic observation, applied to your image. You are seen clearly, not just presentably.

How to Get Involved

This project is a gift to the community, but it relies on community kindness.

Who: Current Ipswich residents (proof of address required).
Cost: Free.
Sessions: Daily from 26 Aug – 4 Sept 2026.
Booking: [Here]

Note: Spots are limited to 200. If you book and can’t make it, please cancel immediately. A no-show denies a neighbour the chance to be part of this historic record. Let’s be kind to each other.

A Decade in the Making

This project has been mulling around in the back of my mind for over ten years. It’s been a journey of rejection, refinement, and finally, realisation. It’s proof that if you keep showing up, keep refining your vision, and keep trusting your instincts, the work will find its way into the world.

I can’t wait to meet you, look you in the eye, and capture the person behind the role.