The week that is to come, and the day that was

This week and next will be very full. Come to think of it, I don't have an opening until....November 3rd.

I will be at the Hookstown Fair Mon/Tues. Check out the gallery and this blog for some of those pictures. Soccer and football/cheer practices are several times a week and games are soon to be upon us. I think Friday nights are my only free time and I wouldn't have it any other way.

But in the non-photo, non-sports calendar....I have a floor to lay, door to put in, tile to put down and possibly a bathroom to finish. Painting is in there too, but I don't know where to fit it in.

For today, we took a little jaunt over to the dog park. A few shots below from that trip. More will be in the photo gallery. I also did a portrait session of a cheerleader this evening as the sun set.

This first picture isn't a typical "cheer" picture, but I like the attitude. It works for me.

Attitude


Sky's the limit



A few shots from the Dog Park.

Protected


Same Genus, different family


Dog on the run

First model shoot

I got the opportunity to shoot pictures for a model yesterday. Now, "model" is being used loosely here. Liz wants to model. She sure seems to have a natural talent for graceful posing but until she gets to talk to a talent agency, we don't know what her future will hold.

The day went like this:
10:45 left house to drop off rental movies
11:00 left to go to Liz's house (shooting in her basement)
11:15 stopped to get a couple Arby's sammiches.....
11:35 driving Rt. 19 thinking "I wonder if I will see Becca on my way?"
11:36 pulled into a Sheets gas station to buy water....Becca walks in.
11:45 drive up to the house
12:15 after the introductions Becca is setting up her makeup table setup and I am getting the equipment moved in....I already want an assistant
1:00 Becca has put a simple foundation on Liz and I have the equip moved into the basement
1:15 I shoot some basic head, 3/4 and full shots of Liz in a bikini, no makeup, smile/no smile. These are what the agency's like to see so they know what the pure/raw models are like. MUA's and Hair Stylists can make the magic later.
1:20 I begin setting up the black and white backgrounds and Becca gets Liz ready for the shoot
2:15 Backgrounds are up, I shoot some behind the scenes shots of Becca, the equipments and Liz getting ready. Liz is almost done.
2:30 Everyone is ready and Liz turns it on and we shoot.
7:30 Everyone is pretty much worn down. What was going to be a 2-4 hour occasion turns into a full 8 hours after the equipment is taken down and files are loaded into the laptop.

We didn't shoot a solid 5 hours. It's a bit of a coordinated effort. I set up equip and makeup is being put on. After makeup I go into action and Becca sits and waits, always checking for hair and makeup malfunctions. Then we do a wardrobe change (I sit and wait) Becca re-applies makeup then I shoot more. The model is the only one actually moving all the time. I can see the energy wear off over time. She was pretty beat in the end.

I still remember that after just a few minutes of shooting, I looked at the images and the first thing that came to mind was "this is what I want to do for the rest of my life". I don't know if I have ever said that to myself.....and I don't know if I will get to realize that, but it's what motivates me right now.

Here is Liz: