Private Editorial Portrait Commission — NYC
Private portrait commissions in New York City. Half-day, full-day, or weekend sessions anywhere in New York City. Editorial-register portraits, delivered as a printed folio and a private digital archive. By Lethe Studio.
A private editorial portrait commission is a quiet, slow, one-on-one session shot in the editorial register — long lenses, slow shutters, very few people in the room. Sessions take place in a chosen location across New York City. Half-day from $1,200; full-day $1,800–$2,500; weekend two-day commissions $2,800–$3,500. Output is a printed folio of selected frames plus the full high-resolution gallery — delivered within 3–4 weeks.
What a Lethe private commission is
The studio portrait session you've sat for before — bright key light, fast rotation, smiling at a number — is not what this is. A Lethe Studio private commission is a single editorial portrait session, intentionally slow, shot in a chosen location with available and shaped light, with very few people in the room. The pace is closer to a magazine editorial than a studio sitting: there is time to settle in, time to talk, time for the camera to be ready when the subject forgets it.
Commissions exist for a specific need: a record of a particular moment in someone's life — a milestone, a season, a relationship, a body of work — made carefully enough that the prints sit on a shelf rather than in a hard drive. The output is intended for the subject's own keeping. It is not commercial work; the imagery isn't licensed for brand use unless that is explicitly agreed.
What's included
- Pre-session call. 30–45 minute conversation about references, what the subject wants from the session, location, light, wardrobe. The session itself runs better when these are settled in advance.
- The session. Half-day (~3 hours), full-day (~6 hours), or weekend (two ~5-hour days). All include time for the room to settle and for the light to find its window.
- Editorial color grade. A full edit pass in the same register as Lethe's editorial event work — considered tone, restrained contrast, the kind of finish that prints well.
- Printed folio. A small, hand-bound folio of 8–15 selected images, archivally printed on photo-rag paper. Delivered to the subject directly.
- Private digital archive. The full edited gallery (60–120 frames depending on session length) at high resolution, in a private link that doesn't expire.
Available add-ons: medium-format film portraits on the Mamiya 7 as a small parallel set within the session (an additional 6–10 film frames, scanned and printed alongside the digital), extra prints beyond the included folio, and larger archival prints for framing.
Where commissions happen
Anywhere in New York City that fits the subject's intent: a home (the most common — the room someone lives in often makes the strongest editorial portrait), a chosen neighborhood at a specific time of day, a rooftop, a borrowed studio space, a restaurant, a workspace, an artist's studio. The location matters less than the time spent in it; commissions are rarely shot in more than two places.
For subjects without a strong location instinct, the planning call usually surfaces one. The studio scouts in advance if the location is unfamiliar.
Equipment + technique for commissions
Commissions run on the same primary kit as the booth and event work: a Sony A7 IV body, the Sigma 35mm f/1.2 DG DN Art for environmental frames, the Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM for tighter portrait length. Light is usually available — natural light through a window, ambient indoor light, magic-hour exterior — supplemented with the Profoto A2 only where the room genuinely needs it. The Mamiya 7 medium-format film body is often present at commissions: a small parallel set of film frames shot inside the session, scanned and printed alongside the digital folio if the subject opts in.
How to commission a session
- Inquiry. A few paragraphs about what the session is for, who it's for, rough timing, and any location instinct you already have. Inquiry form or hello@lethestudio.org. The studio responds personally within 48 hours.
- Long planning call. 30–45 minutes. References, light, location, what the subject hopes the pictures will be.
- Contract and deposit. 50% deposit confirms the date. Balance on session day.
- Session. Half-day, full-day, or weekend per the booking. Loose pace.
- Delivery. Edit and folio within 3–4 weeks. Folio shipped, digital archive linked.
Lead time is typically 3–6 weeks; weekend commissions and season-tied sessions (foliage, magic-hour timing, holiday weekends) fill earlier. Lead time stretches during NYFW seasons in early February and early September because the studio prioritizes event bookings then.
Private editorial portrait commission — FAQ
What is a private editorial portrait commission?
A private editorial portrait commission is a one-on-one portrait session shot in an editorial register — considered light, slow pace, long lenses, very few people in the room. The output is a small printed folio of selected images and a private digital archive of the high-resolution scans, made for the subject's own keeping rather than commercial use.
How much does a private portrait commission cost in NYC?
Private editorial commissions in New York City run $1,200–$3,500 with Lethe Studio. Half-day commissions start at $1,200 (≈3 hours, one location, printed folio plus digital gallery). Full-day sessions $1,800–$2,500. Weekend two-day commissions $2,800–$3,500.
Where do private commissions get shot?
Anywhere in New York City the subject prefers — a home, an apartment, a borrowed studio space, a chosen neighborhood, a specific time-of-day location. Lethe is mobile, so the session travels to the location rather than to a fixed studio.
What's delivered after the session?
A small printed folio (typically 8–15 selected images, archivally printed and hand-bound) and a private digital archive of the full edited gallery in high resolution. The full edit is usually 60–120 frames depending on session length. Delivery within 3–4 weeks of the shoot.
Can the session include a partner, family, or group?
Yes. Couples, families, and small groups (up to 6 people) are welcome. The session register stays the same — editorial, slow, considered — so the group should be one that can sit with that pace rather than expecting a fast studio rotation.
How far in advance should I book a commission?
3 to 6 weeks is typical. Weekend commissions and sessions tied to specific seasons fill earliest. Lead time stretches during NYFW seasons (February and September) because the studio prioritizes event bookings then.