Here are the photos we  recently did with Sarah Hartshorne in a vintage 30s-40s style and a dramatic red lip. I knew that if anybody could pull that look to my satisfaction, that would be Sarah. Sarah is just such a gem and a true inspiration to any photographer. Her facial features are truly stunning and I find it hard to find a bad angle of her any time I go through her frames. Not one! Now that’s impressive. Her shots go from good to better, to best, really.

What is even more amazing about Sarah, though, is her intelligence and personality. There’s an aura of unapologetic confidence about her that any photographer can find motivating.  Sarah models intelligently; I can literally see her drawing on references from movies,music and history in her head. Where I usually have to push a model to get into character and try to channel a certain famous figure or style, Sarah does so all by herself without me ever having to start painting pictures for her.  Simply put, working with her on set is energizing.

A word on the hairdo, courtesy of the one and only Holly Corsano – I started emailing Holly images of the hairstyle I wanted a week or so before the photo shoot. I think she took a quick look at them and just picked the hardest one and that was the look she did. What a showoff! But in all seriousness, this exquisite creation took a total of 3 hours to do, including the ever-so-perfect makeup. Sometimes, when I am not off planning my shots and setting up my lights, I like to sit with Holly and our model and watch her work – Holly is a perfectionist just like me, which is probably why we get along so well. Watching her fiddle with a strand of hair until  it does exactly what she wants it do, curls exactly as she wants it to, and shines exactly as she wants it to, is mesmerizing.

And the rest is pictures. I am starting with my absolutely favorite in a bunch of great photos. Please click on the smaller images to enlarge.

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge