It’s been so busy that it’s been hard to keep up with the blog. I just returned from New Orleans where I shot with a couple of other photographers and good friends of mine and a couple of girls. The model I worked with is Mallory and I swear I could have sworn she is Alessandra Ambrosio’s long lost twin sister. Take a look for yourself…
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And our setting — the gorgeous New Orleans. The buildings are so unique and such a great resource as backdrops! Fellow photographers Reny Ramos, Dave Contreras and ArthurAlikhanian (from left to right) and Mallory.
A relatively quick but very productive shoot inside. Model is the lovely Brynn. I knew I wanted to use the 125 mm lens, which in simple terms means the lens is a telephoto and a prime ( no zoom). I literally had backed up all the way into the house plants lining the room in order to get my model in the frame. Used a warming gel for the nice sun kissed healthy tan (Brynn’s complexion is actually quite fair)– very happy with the result!
Ren, carefully watching over us to the side, was on “claw hands” patrol. Make up and styling is also courtesy of her direction.
Behind the scenes shots seem to be a favorite, by popular demand here’s a few from a recent shoot we did with beautiful Brynn. Catching some of the last days of Indian Summer we went outside for a commercial/stock shoot we’d been planning for a while.
Here’s Ren doing some final touch ups on Brynn. Main make up was done inside, however we’ve found that it’s always good to make final adjustments when the model is actually in the environment in terms of lighting.
Aaaand our model is ready…btw, black and white is a killer combination ( meaning it really will drive you nuts to get right). Anyway, a word of wisdom –avoid the black/white combo when you are working on something that will be carefully scrutinized for technical quality. Whites get blown or blacks get clipped quite easily in these situations. Stick to neutral colors when you can.
Here’s an example and a few words of the evergreen topic of retouching.
The photo is from a shoot we recently completed with model/singer/songwriter Ineabell Diaz. We were fortunate to work with a great Make Up artist that day so Ineabell’s face and body needed very few corrections in post production or post processing.
Note that the main lighting in the image is a pronounced side lighting and the front has large areas of shadow — this produces interesting and creative lighting effects, however side lighting also brings out all flaws to the surface and often even exaggerates them. Yes, there always is a trade off. Oh well, that’s what retouching’s for!
Let’s zero in on Ineabell’s feet — surprisingly (or not) this is where most of the work was done. Skinny, fit girls usually have veins popping out on the top area of their feet( a.k.a “instep” — I have been corrected by a reader. Thank you, Helpful Blog Reader! ) — it’s just the way it is. Don’t believe me — even if you are of average weight, look at your own feet….now imagine that in a 4-inch heel! Those veins will get some pressure and will become more pronounced. Add to that the side lighting we already talked about — well, we have an issue. Skin smoothing to the rescue –enter endless minutes of detailing to make the lines smoother, yet retain detail so it doesn’t look “fake” or “plastic.”
Other retouching work on this image was obviously smoothing out the background as you’d need that for the typical commercial shot and a few stray strings of hair were removed. Also some minor skin smoothing on the body and face ( a big thank you to the make up artist, Greg Campillo at http://www.gregoriocampillo.com/, again!). Oh yes, and I needed to remove that plastic bra strap ( clear bras straps are better than the regular kind, but if it needs to be retouched later and can be avoided during the shoot, just take it from me — the bra had better go for better overall results).
Lastly — shoe label’s gone. Labels are sooo sneaky!
Behind the scenes among a few favorite shoots this summer. Behind the scene shots can really show the environment of the set which often remains unseen in the final product and can be a real testament to the group effort and discipline that goes into making it all come together.
Michelle and Buyana making do with make up touch ups at a literally uneven plane on the edge of the pool.
Brynn on the beach at 5 a.m. fending off a playful Golder Retriever — the hardships of modeling.
Sometimes stylists get playful too and try to “steal the spotlight”…
Working on catalog is no joke. Every wrinkle needs to be smoothed, every fold in the clothing needs to fall on the body just right. A lot of pinning and tucking is going on in the picture below for that one perfect catalog shot.
More tucking and pinning…
Make up, make up, make up. We are so grateful to all the talented Make up Artists that work so hard alongside us.
We just completed a quick impromptu shoot for Eirik after we were done shooting our commercial construction stock. Eirik will be entering a casting call for Abercrombie & Fitch with the pictures. Ren, having spent years working for the company, helped immensely with the look and direction of the quick set. Wishing Eirik all the best and keeping our fingers crossed for him.
Make up and styling is also courtesy of her direction.
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