Monday, January 23, 2012 at 9:51am Posted in Photos
I seem to go in spurts, sometimes I detest natural light, other times, it’s all I shoot.
As it works out, I’ve been shooting a ton of natural light stuff over the past few weeks and have found a really FUN way to do it! It’s using a large picture window (or sliding glass door) and getting the maximum amount of light I can and shaping it from there. I use one silver reflector and sometimes a soft gold reflector to bounce light back into the face. Simple, yet effective.
Here’s a few photos from the past weeks of Jacqui:
High iso’s (200) and fast shutter speeds (30) using hand held techniques is where it’s at! I plan to incorporate more natural light in my usual shooting!
There’s a pretty funny video that’s gone virile it’s name is “That doesn’t make you a model”. This video is funny because the author combed Myspace for quite some time finding images that goes great with the song. The video has been posted to Facebook and everyone gets a great laugh out of it. That being said, it brings up a good point; Are you a model? or more importantly, what is a model?
Before we go any further, let’s watch the video:
Now that we’re done with that, catchy and funny right? Right! But lets get back to the question of it all; What makes you a model?
For me, there isn’t a hard and steadfast answer to that. When we visit Dictionary.com, we find the definition of model is:
serving as an example or model: a model home open to prospective buyers.
worthy to serve as a model; exemplary: a model student.
being a small or miniature version of something: He enjoyed building model ships.
Naturally, the above has been cropped to get to the heart of the meaning. As I said earlier, this video has gone virile and many people are saying “To all the girls this is for you” or something along those lines. It’s followed by dozens of likes and comments. The question I ask is this; “Who gives a rats butt if someone else is a model?” The term model relates to many different things and just because one is a model, doesn’t have to mean they’re a model by your standards. Lots of people define models as Adriana Lima as a model, no crap! Yes, she is a model but before she was Adriana Lima, she was a girl trying to do her own thing. Others say unless you’re signed with an agency, you’re not a “real” model. Living in Colorado, I’m surrounded by more FAKE agencies than legit people wanting to be a model.
To say someone isn’t something, is more of a reflection on you. At my model consultations, I always say “Jealousy is the realization of your own failures”. What does that mean? When people go around putting labels and saying nasty things, it’s because they realize they don’t have the heart, determination, dedication and love that you have to do and get to where you are. You can spend your life doing what they think you should, or what you should be doing. The same can be said for photographers; Just because you have a 5,000.00 DSLR, that doesn’t make you a photographer. It may not but that’s between the photographer and the people that go see him.
Just remember to not focus on what others are doing and focus more on what you’re doing. THAT, will make you a model.
There have been times in my professional life when a situation has hit too close to home. As any normal human being would have, I let emotion act with out the benefit of intellect. This has caused me to end relationships that shouldn’t have been or change the course of relationships in either a negative or positive way. One of the relationships was with a really good model and wonderful person named Paige. Paige is a total sweetheart and absolutely beautiful. Her and I shot once with just the two of us, then again at my 2009 End of the Year shootout. In early 2010 she had contacted me as she signed with one of the larger scam agencies here in Colorado. She got photos taken by the “photographer” (who is also the owner. Which are you? a photog or agency owner?) and didn’t like the photos. She wanted me to take photos for her to use. Having a negative experience with the photographer, I didn’t want my images helping his business out at all, nor did I want people to think I was associated with that scam agency, so I refused. After that, her and I stopped talking.
Fast forward over a year later and I contacted her because I have a magazine that’s interested in her. Now the problem with magazines today is in my experience, they’ve become lazy. Instead of paying good photogs, they take crappy filler images from guys who just want to shoot T&A. Oh, sorry, I got off track. I contacted her to see if she was still interested. She was and I used that as a way to weasel a shoot out of her. She caught on to my weasel pretty early on and we set up a shoot.
We’re past the month mark till I’m in sunny California teaching at Backdrop Outlet studios! This is going to be an awesome time and be followed with fun give aways! The class starts at 11 and ends at 4 and will feature a bit of lecture and a lot of shooting! I will have hand outs as well!
Sponsors have given:
Imagenomic Portraiture Plug in Suite
AlienSkin: Exposure 3 & Bokeh & Blow Up 2
Zenfolio has t shirts
Wacom has given one Bamboo 4×6 tablet and pen
This is awesome and one you’ll not want to miss if you’re in the area!
Friday, January 6, 2012 at 3:13pm Posted in Photos
I had been aware of Jessica F for quite some time. I was actually nervous to work with her. She has a great look and I looove her body type. I had contacted her a few years back but never heard back from her. We got in touch a few months ago, but then I fell ill and lost touch with humanity lol. She came in as I was going to have her for a nude workshop, then got sick and was in the hospital. We got back in touch with each other and had a second shoot, here’s a few photos from that time:
We had another shoot a few days ago and did all natural light. Here’s a few more:
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 8:39am Posted in Models
Apparently,
When I say something (usually the truth) I am hated for it. Living here in Colorado has taught me a whole lot. I have always prided myself on my ability to connect and create with people (You can see this connection in my lighting video), however, the one area that I have problems with is connecting with people who expect me to either pad their egos or lie to them.
One of the big things I hear is people saying “I’m going to put Colorado on the fashion map”. Now understand, I applaud and will support anyone who wants to do something positive, especially if it’s something to bring together working photographers. That being said, I feel as though everyone should be realistic in their approach. Getting back to the main point of my story, I made a comment on Facebook that said something to the effect of “Sorry, but if you’re 5’5 you’re not a fashion model” Or something along those lines. I enraged a young lady who was shorter than 5″5. She proceeded to tell me she IS a fashion model. I tried to explain to her that fashion models must meet certain requirement as well as model something fashionable, she proceeded to tell me that I was wrong and always trying to bring down the little people. I tried to explain that it’s not me, but an industry that set the requirements and I’d be remiss if I were to tell a 5’6″ young lady she can do legit fashion. From there, a whole debate broke out and another 5’6″ model came to her aid.
I tried to explain that just because you dress in fashionable clothes it doesn’t make the shoot fashion. Photographers imho, need to be careful in describing what they are shooting to the model. The trick around it is saying “Lets shoot fashionable clothing” Every female wants to be a fashion model. Living in a state that is land locked and predominately a glamour state, you can’t sell a fashion dream. Models and those seeking to be models need to educate themselves as the blame doesn’t rest solidly on the shoulders of the photographers, but for the most part, models and those who are working for the title, look to photographers to educate them.
Since the launch of my Lighting and separate Photoshop video, life has been pretty crazy for me! The video sales are doing far better than I expected so thank you to everyone who has purchased it…and kept me on my toes lol. As you may have noticed, I’m not really one for holidays, if this offends you, sorry. I will say it now to get it out of the way “Happy and safe holiday to you and yours” I do mean for everyone to be safe!
I think I might go through my images of 2011 and post some of my, or what I consider my best work. What do you think? Or do a top 12 in no specific order? Or my most favorite ones? Either way, here’s a few photos of Milly. Milly came in late 2009 and we shot. Then she came in early 2011 and we shot once more. She had grown very quite over that time and finally a few weeks ago I had a chance to catch up to her and we found time to shoot. I forgot how beautiful she was as it’s been some time since I’ve looked at her photos or her. She’s so awesome because she’s shy, but not really.
I’ve been hard at work finishing off some projects that I had to put on hold.
I’ve FINALLY finished my lighting video! That’s right, it’s done! I’m excited to get it done and out there and have already started working on the updated version as well as a Glamour Nude video!
I also just finished up an indepth Photoshop tutorial video showing you how I edit my photos step by step. There are a total of six videos and PLENTY of info in each one. With step by step of some of my advanced (and not so advanced) techniques- this I do to every image!
BOTH videos are 100% complete and ready to download! I hope you enjoy the videos and get something out of it!
Sunday, December 25, 2011 at 7:51pm Posted in Photos
So today is a major holiday and as they do every year, my family has left me to go back home to MN to celebrate. I use this week to finalize everything I need to do for the following year and today is no different!
I’ve been working on an in-depth Photoshop retouching video for some time now, I’ve finally got the last two videos edited and will now start putting everything together!
One of the sample photos used is this one of Cebre. I really liked how this one turned out and wanted to share.
Here’s the RAW image. The image was taken with window light and a silver reflector on backside:
A good friend of mines Swapnil Mathur did an excellent write up on the advantages and disadvantages of Primes and Zoom lens. I wanted to share the link with all of you so you can go read and learn!
Understand, just like me, he’s not claiming to be an all authorty or know it all, but speaking from a common sense and experience point of view. This isn’t meant to teach you all and everything there is to know about zooms and primes, but to give you a good understanding. With out further ado,
by Jay
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