Musician Headshots – François Minaux, flutist

François was such a wonderful subject to work with. Headshots can sometimes be very predictable (and I believe it is always good to have some nice solid traditional headshots) but I love it when my clients want to share some of their creative thoughts for the session. It is fun to be able to do something unique as well!

And for a little background on my subject:

François Minaux has performed as a soloist in the USA with the University Orchestra at the University of Texas at Austin Butler School of Music, the UT at Austin Wind Ensemble and the Balcones Community Orchestra and with Ensemble Vibrations in France. François Minaux is currently enrolled in the Doctorate in Musical Arts program under the direction of Professor Marianne Gedigian at the UT at Austin Butler School of Music. He earned his Master of Music at the Yale University School of Music, New Haven, CT in the class of Professor Ransom Wilson in May 2006. He previously studied at the Municipal Conservatory of the 12th arrondissement of Paris, France. Minaux privately teaches flute in Austin, TX and gives masterclasses and lectures throughout the country including Yale University and North Carolina School for the Arts. Minaux is also Artistic Advisor of Parmenon Flutes Company based in Orléans, France. Future performances include appearance as a guest soloist with the Dallas Wind Symphony in March 2010, as guest chamber musician at Voila by Choice concert series in Austin, TX. He will also record a new piece written by UT at Austin composition faculty Professor Pennycook this Spring and will also be premiering Yoshiaki Onishi’s new work for solo flute “Mes vers avec de l’air…” at the Butler School of Music in spring 2010.

François Minaux, headshots

François Minaux, headshots

François Minaux, headshots

François Minaux, headshots

François Minaux, headshots

François Minaux, headshots

Here is what François had to say about our session together:

“When I first saw my friend’s portrait online made by Raychel, I was impressed by the strong character and natural style of it. So I decided to contact Raychel to get my headshot in Austin.
I really enjoyed my hour long outdoor session with Raychel. We had time to use 5 different backgrounds within the same location. After making almost 200 shots, I could select 14 of them. I didn’t know that I was going to get so many good ones. It was hard to choose but I got exactly what I wanted: something authentic, natural and fresh. During the session, she made me feel relax and she was then able to capture a lot of different emotions from me. I actually saw expressions on my face that I wasn’t aware of before. After that she asked me what style of headshot I wanted, she was improvising on the spot and I could see her burning with ideas. Whenever a musician gets excited on stage during a concert for example, it’s usually contagious. I felt exactly that this was happening during my session and I hope that people will see it when looking at my photos. I could compare her style to something between a live performance and an interview. It was really exciting! Now, I am hoping to make some live concert photos with Raychel in Dallas next year and maybe some in her studio too.”
–François Minaux, flutist