How I helped an artist land two residencies


Audra Lynn Clayton Ceramics

Artist Branding Session Case Study


It’s one thing to create beautiful work.  

It’s another to show it off in a way that helps you grow.

 

A pottery wheel spins as hands shape clay into a bowl form during a ceramic making demonstration.

Why She Needed Brand Photography


Audra Clayton spent years uplifting other artists through her work as Studio Art Manager/Ceramic Coordinator at Pittsburgh Arts and Media. In 2025, she realized her own online presence wasn’t really reflecting the depth and quality of her ceramics practice and decided to make a change.


She BOOKED THE SESSION SO SHE COULD:

  • Show herself in her artistic element
  • Capture her newly revamped and organized basement studio
  • Make her look as legit of an artist as she is
  • Have a curated  library of bright visuals  that help her stand out when applying for opportunities
Close-up of a pottery maker carving initials into the bottom of an unfired clay ceramic bowl.

"I have applied for multiple residencies and was able to get two of them.

Having a professional photo was very helpful!"


Audra Clayton



The Experience

Behind the Scenes
A person in a blue dress shapes clay on a pottery wheel during a ceramics class.

The Space

Like many potters, her space is in the basement because, well, dust travels downward. That meant I was shooting in a dark, dusty space, but with purple walls and lots of fun secondhand furniture.


The Lighting Setup

The studio space itself was about the width of a sedan so the lighting setup for this shoot was minimal. I used one off-camera flash with a modifier that was shuffled around the space as needed to capture the bright look Audra requested.


The Session

As with all my Artist Branding Sessions, the session started with capturing headshots and some "traditional"  branding images.


Audra and I had only met in-person once before, so kicking off the session this way allows for:

  • A Vibe Check - I find out if Audra would rather I be a quiet fly-on-the-wall with a camera or a chatty friend hanging out.
  • Getting Comfortable -  Audra has time to subconsciously get used to a new person in her space which makes her more relax and  hopefully less self-conscious about the camera.
  • Clean Shots - It's always good to have "clean" photos of any potter before the wheel begins spinning and clay starts flying .
  • Finding The Best Angles - I can dial in my settings and lighting based on her space noting any interesting angles or composition  ahead of the documentary portion of the session.


Once the "traditional" images are done we move on to the fun part of the session - the documentary session.


This is what makes my sessions special. Because unlike a "normal" branding session, for my Artist Branding session Audra doesn't have to think about the camera. She gets to relax, focus and make her art.


For this particular shoot, Audra's wanted to capture the start of her process for three different pieces:  a bowl, a mug, and one of her little "Beans," the pieces she’s best known for.

 

THE GALLERY

 

A collection of handcrafted ceramic jewelry pieces including earrings and pendants displayed on a dark background.
Hands working with blocks of clay on a counter surface while wearing orange gloves.
Hands holding a freshly baked cinnamon roll with swirled layers of dough and spices visible from different angles.
A potter's hands shape wet clay on a spinning pottery wheel while creating a handmade ceramic vessel.
Hands kneading and shaping raw dough on a floured wooden surface in a sequence of preparation steps.
Artist works on pottery wheel in studio while shaping clay with hands and tools.
A potter works at a pottery wheel shaping clay bowls in a dimly lit studio with blue walls and hanging lights.
A sequence of photos showing someone playfully looking through the hole of a bagel against a yellow background.
Close-up of hands kneading and shaping dough on a floured wooden surface.
Hands preparing dough by kneading and folding it on a floured wooden surface.
Close-up of hands rolling dough on wooden surface with flour and rolling pin.
Close-up of hands shaping clay on a spinning pottery wheel with wet clay visible.
A sequence of pottery making steps showing hands working with clay on a pottery wheel to shape a ceramic bowl.
A close-up view of white cream cheese being spread smoothly across a surface with a metal spreading tool.
Hands shape wet clay on a pottery wheel to create a vessel with careful precision and skill.
Close-up view of hands working on a pottery wheel shaping a clay bowl with blue fabric visible in background.
Hands work with clay on a pottery wheel, forming the rim of a ceramic piece in progress.
Woman in blue floral overalls smiling and holding a round wooden frame in a colorful craft studio.

"Just knowing I have them in my back pocket when someone asks for a photo takes pressure off of applying to things."



Audra Clayton

What Happened Afterwards?

Eight months after our branding session, Audra quit her job because she was accepted into two residencies!


In April 2026, Audra resigned from her job at a local arts organization and started a 3-month PAID Artist-In-Residence at the Oglebay Institute in West Virginia. Right after that, she began a 1-month artist residency in New York City, one that usually takes multiple attempts just to be considered. She only applied once.

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