Listening is the most critical part of capturing a powerful portrait.
Peter Istvan
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The first time Peter Istvan photographed his parents, it wasn’t meant to be a project. They were just visiting, and he had recently set up a small studio space in his home. His mom smiled easily. His dad protested the whole walk upstairs. But Peter clicked the shutter anyway – click, click, click – much to his father’s confusion. Several weeks later, his dad passed away. That photo? It became one of the most meaningful images Peter had ever taken.
This is where our conversation begins: not with grand ambition, but with a simple moment that changed how Peter saw photography’s purpose.
Peter is a portrait and headshot photographer based in Parry Sound, Ontario, a small town wrapped in natural beauty and full of big stories. The interesting thing is that he didn’t actually set out to be a photographer in the first place.
In fact, most of his working life was in healthcare and education. But when he began picking up his camera with more intention, something shifted. It became less about images and more about people. Less about the perfect shot, and more about presence in that moment.
Now, Peter’s work centers on helping people feel seen, especially in moments that might otherwise go unnoticed. In capturing seniors in long-term care homes, creating portraits for people with facial differences, or photographing local athletes mid-stride, Peter’s approach is always gentle, curious, and about the human he is photographing.
Here’s some of what we get into:
- Why listening is the most underrated skill in photography
- What makes a truly good headshot (and why it’s not about symmetry or lighting)
- The story behind his About Face project, and what he learned from photographing people with facial differences
- How cycling, beekeeping, and slow-motion videos shaped his visual instincts
- The unexpected power of a photo to connect generations, or whole communities
- And why starting something imperfectly is often better than not starting at all
Peter’s voice is calm and candid. He’s the kind of person who doesn’t rush a conversation or a photograph, and by the end of this episode, you may find yourself wanting to do the same. Enjoy.
Q: When you’re photographing someone, do you see the role more as guiding them toward confidence or as more observing and drawing out what’s already there?
Peter: It’s probably drawing out what’s already there. Just based on the conversation that I have with each client, I’m listening and trying to understand them as best I can in a short amount of time. Then, through the interaction, I work to draw their personality out during the process.
Q: What techniques do you find work best to help your clients relax and let that guard down?
Peter: I use some humor in my own calm, dry-wit style, and I bring up things from our earlier conversation, like a pet or hobby, to create a natural moment. I never say “smile for me” because most people can’t just produce a genuine smile on command. But if I can get them to laugh naturally, the moments right after are often where I get the most authentic expressions.
Q: How do your personal interests, like beekeeping and cycling, help you evolve your photography or even just your way of seeing people or places in general?
Peter: The bees are just mesmerizing. One of my favorite ways to photograph them is with my cell phone on slow-motion video. You can really see how chaotic but organized they are flying in and out of the hive. It’s just fun. I’ve been keeping bees for over 10 years, and it actually started as a suggestion from a friend. It’s become this sort of Zen experience for me, and yes, there’s the bonus of honey, which I give as appreciation gifts to clients sometimes.
🔗 Connect with Peter Istvan
🧭 What We Talked About
🎼 Early Journey / Origins
- Peter’s path into photography began with inspiration from his father, a hobbyist photographer and physician.
- Originally trained as a neurophysiologist, Peter transitioned from a career in healthcare and education to photography as he neared retirement.
- A pivotal moment came at Shutterfest when he attended a presentation by Peter Hurley, igniting his passion for headshots.
- Early on, Peter practiced shooting in his home studio – until his wife gently insisted he find a more client-friendly setup.
📖 Philosophy / Vision / Storytelling
- Peter sees his job not as guiding people to confidence, but drawing out what’s already there through authentic connection.
- Emphasizes the power of expression, particularly through the eyes and mouth, in making a compelling headshot.
- Listens deeply during sessions to uncover personal stories he can reference during the shoot, helping subjects feel seen and relaxed.
- His creative goal: to make a positive difference in someone’s life with a click of the shutter.
📷 Tools, Gear, and Behind the Scenes
- Primarily uses strobe lighting in studio setups.
- Shoots in a simplified, portable setup to balance quality and ease of use.
- Incorporates black and white portraiture, often reducing lighting to one source to emphasize mood and simplicity.
- Has also explored slow-motion phone videography to capture mesmerizing bee behavior near his hives.
💬 Advice, Creative Strategy, or Challenges
- Biggest asset: Listening. Peter builds rapport by learning what matters to his clients before he picks up the camera.
- Uses humor and gentle conversation, not forced jokes, to elicit genuine expressions.
- Admits he still gets nervous before each shoot, a sign that he still deeply cares about the outcome.
- Encourages aspiring photographers to take imperfect action and surround themselves with mentors.
🌍 Influences, People, Brands, or Places
- Peter Hurley – pivotal influence and founder of the Headshot Crew.
- Vanessa Burns – collaborated with Peter on the AboutFace project.
- Shutterfest – photography conference that helped define Peter’s direction.
- Parry Sound Life Magazine – supporting his community storytelling initiative.
- Gear: Uses strobe lighting; interested in macro work like iris photography.
🔮 What’s Next for Peter
- Continuing The People of Parry Sound, a portrait and storytelling project aiming for a book and museum exhibition.
- Planning another round of photographing seniors at local retirement homes, a deeply personal project that began with his own parents.
- Exploring black and white portraiture more intentionally.
- Fascinated by iris photography and may experiment with it in the future.
- Still captivated by beekeeping – possibly future content in the works.
