PortraitsGallery
Character first. Unpolished, expressive portraits with edge and atmosphere.
HERETIC PHOTOGRAPHY // JESSE ELSER // EST. 2019
Alternative photography / Jesse Elser
For the tattooed, pierced & unapologetically different.
Alternative PortraitureIntimate BoudoirUrban ExplorationTattoo CultureBody ModificationInk + SteelMetalGothPunkArtists + PerformersNightlifeAbandoned PlacesUnconventional Stories
her·e·tic
/ˈherəˌtik/ noun
The reason for the name
A person holding an opinion at odds with what is generally accepted.
Heretic Photography was built for the people, places and stories that never needed the mainstream's permission to be worth looking at.
The archive
Choose your obsession.
A cleaner portfolio-first presentation inspired by the reference layout, rebuilt around Heretic’s own black, bone, and ritual-gold visual system. Each collection is treated like a cinematic cover rather than a generic thumbnail.
BoudoirGallery
Dark, intimate imagery built around confidence, comfort, trust, and personal style.
UrbexGallery
Forgotten rooms, beautiful decay, and the visual evidence of places left behind.
TattoosGallery
Tattoo culture, body modification, artists, healed work, fresh work, and the people who wear it.
FetishErotica
Adult-oriented alternative imagery built collaboratively, intentionally, and without apology.
CreativeProjects
Conceptual work, strange ideas, color, mood, and images that refuse the safe route.
BehindThe lens
The process, scouting, gear, experiments, and the controlled chaos behind the frame.
How it works
Simple process. No formula.
The planning stays straightforward so the shoot can stay flexible. Enough structure to build something intentional, enough room for the unexpected.
Bring the idea.
Start with a concept, a mood, an outfit, a location, or nothing more than the feeling you want the photographs to have.
Build the world.
We shape the details together — setting, light, wardrobe, references, timing, and whatever else the story actually needs.
Make the work.
The session stays collaborative and adaptable. The goal is not a checklist of poses; it is images that feel specific to you.
Before we make something
Questions, answered.
The questions I hear most often before a session — pricing, privacy, comfort, posing, and turning an idea into something worth photographing.
What does a photography session cost?+
Sessions start at $350 for a minimum of one hour. That covers the photography session itself; prints, canvases, albums, and other physical products are purchased separately. Product packages start at $200. Full package details and current options will be available on the dedicated pricing page.
I have no modeling experience. Is that a problem?+
Not at all. Most of the people you see in my portfolio did not come in as experienced models. I will guide you through posing, movement, expression, and the small adjustments that make a photograph work. You do not need to arrive knowing what to do in front of the camera.
Could my images be published online?+
For paid sessions, only with your explicit permission. Your privacy and comfort matter before, during, and after the shoot, and I will not publish your photographs on my website or social media without your consent. TFP / collaborative sessions are different: image usage is governed by the agreed TFP terms for that shoot. Read the TFP terms
Can I bring a friend with me to the session?+
Absolutely. If having someone you trust there helps you feel more comfortable, you are welcome to bring them. Anyone attending the session must be 18 or older, and they should be respectful of the set, the creative process, and the boundaries of everyone involved.
You are a male photographer. How do boudoir sessions work?+
Professionalism, communication, and clear boundaries come first. We discuss the concept and your comfort level before the session, and you remain in control of what you are comfortable wearing, posing, and creating. I will direct the photography without pressuring you beyond those boundaries, and you are welcome to bring a trusted adult with you if that makes the experience more comfortable. My job is to create a respectful environment and photographs that feel intentional, confident, and true to you.
Can you help me come up with a concept?+
Absolutely. You can arrive with a fully developed idea, a loose mood, an outfit, a location, a reference image, or almost nothing at all. We can build the concept together — wardrobe, posing, lighting, location, visual references, and the details that give the session its own identity. Your input is part of the process, not an afterthought.
Commission / Collaborate
Make somethingworth remembering.
Bring the idea, the outfit, the location, or just yourself. Heretic will shape the rest into something personal, cinematic, and unapologetically yours.