Tiffany and Amanda Basement Fashion

I had the pleasure of working with Tiffany and Amanda this week. We did a short 1 hour concept development session. I had an idea of tutu's a long time ago...as time goes on, I added to it and made a few changes in my mind. This is just a small iteration of what's in my brain.

Phase 1 of a concept is usually brainstorming and the idea.
Phase 2 is the gathering and maybe execution of that idea and critique.
Phase 3 comes changes.
Phase 4 maybe the everything coming together and the final shot.

I would say that in nearly all cases, this is all done in a one day photo session. Because of my limited time during this shoot, we are breaking it down to several shooting sessions. Next will come the critique of these images. Adding and taking away elements, modifying poses and expressions. Figuring out the necessary makeup and lighting style. Then we will add props and then do the final shoot.

For this shoot....I forgot to get a set up picture...AGAIN...UGH! I used two Vivitar 285 manual flashes on light stands (left light is about 45 degrees to camera left and 6-7 feet up, right light is mostly frontal but slightly off to the right of the camera, 6 feet up). Both are bare at 1/16th power. The space is pretty small and eliminating shadows was near impossible. I might add my diffusion wall the next time and possibly use an umbrella to help soften those shadows. I do like the hard light look, but not too sure on the shadows in this series.

Boats to brides

My father in law was at the boat show, so I thought I would stick my head over in the bridal show that's going on at the same time. I saw Don Merz of Ovation-Images.com so I stopped to say hi and chat a bit. I also wandered around scoping out the other photographers. I made a few notes then walked by Katie of BEKcosmetics. We chatted a bit and I talked to her about a project that I want do for career day for the middle school next year. Yes, it's a long way off, but it would take six months to put this fashion show together. Hopefully we will be able to work together at some point in the future...especially since she can airbrush. Yaaayyyy!!

Pt. II Valentines Day session

Here are two pictures from the final session this week. We shot in the basement for about 25 minutes and did only two wardrobe changes with a couple of prop changes. Last Wednesday, we had more time so we (I mean "me") kind of strayed from the initial goal of an advertisement shot. Well, today I already had something sketched out so it allowed me to focus purely on getting that specific shot. We would pick a pose, then do several slight modifications to change it. Modifications to the pose would be a head turn, smile, no smile, hands on hip, rotate hips, etc. Lather, rinse, repeat.

I was shooting in the basement of the studio. I have to give big kudos to my model. She was standing nearly naked in a very cold room, on concrete covered with in dirt, rocks and various nuts bolts or other items.

I have a meeting scheduled with another model tomorrow and a follow up shoot next Wednesday. I also contacted two others for a session yet to be determined. I should know about all three by tomorrow evening.

It's really nice to be behind the camera again. Gives me purpose.

Valentines Day Shoot

I had a photo session Wednesday with a Valentines Day theme. I didn't do the feather boas or hearts or even candy. Just more on the beautiful, sexy side. The goal of the shoot was to get some images for a newspaper advertisement. I did get some good shots, but I don't know if the paper would allow any of them in an advertisement. The model and I are finishing up the shoot this afternoon and only have one more scene/wardrobe to shoot with. It's should take less than 30 minutes to do. Hopefully, I can get the image I need out of it for the advertisement. If not, then I can do flyers for some businesses and friends.

This image was taken with a single light (high and camera right), black background and one of the various chairs I have. I might have had a reflector at camera left, but I don't know if it was angled properly for fill.

The model was putting her head down and flinging it back to toss her hair. It took several tries to get the timing and the hair right. I was pretty happy with this one.

Missed opportunity

Well, the weather didn't cooperate last week to get my concept shoot completed. I have all the props though and just need to do a little rework on the lighting setup for the models to be able to shoot in different weather. I wanted snow, but that just doesn't happen here in Pittsburgh. It snows, but doesn't stick. I have my theories.....

I also came up with another concept idea for the family of my son's friend. They are talking it over, at least I hope they are. If we shoot that concept with them, it will probably be in January/February. The location we want to use is busy this month so we have to wait until the schedule clears up.

I am enjoying putting idea down on paper and working to complete them. I like the "production" of images. It's the direction I want to go in anyway, I am just starting small.