Sunday, May 9, 2010

The Joy of Too Much Work


I think the critical mass point is finally in sight. When I first decided to add model photography to my skill set last summer, I knew there would be a significant amount of time spent scrounging both for models willing to let me shoot them and for money to pay the models that demanded cash compensation. In the month of April I had six different shoots, only 2 of which I paid to participate in. Of the six shoots, I was able to garner from three of them images I think are of high enough quality to begin assembling a physical portfolio book. With the remaining shoots I have lined up for the next month or so, I think by July I’ll be able to start attracting models to shoot with me on the strength of my port and name alone; by Sep/Oct I should be able to break even on shoots from either selling the images or the model paying me to shoot her.


Today’s images are both from different April shoots. The single model, Genevieve, I tracked down through her Model Mayhem page and contacted. She was a pleasure to work with: easygoing and creative. The couple, Jessica and DeSean, I also contacted off of Model Mayhem; I answered a casting call Jessica had put out looking for photographers. DeSean was a great worker, and hopefully he manages to succeed in getting signed to an agency. I hope to work with Jessica again in the near future.


I'm hoping in July to have some time to revamp the website. I also should have some thoughts ready to post then about the TV series Lost. As the series concludes, I find myself considering how the series worked as a story, and how the series was received by the audience, and what all of that says about current American culture.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Ranie Mae


Just processed an image from a January shoot. I didn't notice this image the first pass through the shots, but liked it when I found it on the second pass through. The model changed her screen name sometime after we had the photoshoot; I'm not really sure why. I'm left with the quandary of whether or not to post processed images of her with her original screen name or the adjusted one. My attempts to contact her for elucidation, or to schedule future shoots have gone unanswered.
I'm hoping to have properly learned how to improve high-key silhouettes. This was the first time I had attempted it, and while I did have interesting results, I believe it could be done better. I'm hoping to arrange a shoot with a new model within the next few weeks to try again.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Headshot of Laurel


This image is a recently processed photo from a February shoot with Laurel. Every time I shoot with her, she impresses me with her range of expressions she can throw on with just tiny alterations of movement. It may be a while before I get a chance to go up and shoot in the snow again.

Ideally, I would shoot at least one model for each project so I can use the images obtained as references for future shoots. If I can manage to do that before June, I think I'll slow down on the photoshoots for a couple months so I can finally find time to finish the Batman novel. At this stage, the outline for each chapter and scene--up to the end of the story--is already done. My time has just been filled out with other things, so I have yet to physically write the actual text. I'm hoping to find some more models to fill out some of the projects I've had on the backburner for several months now.I need to get the first novel done, because it is really the 2nd follow-up novel and the concurrent-time Superman novel that, when packaged as a whole, should provide enough proof-of-concept to allow me to secure an agent.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Photo from March Shoot


This photo is from a March shoot I had with Bertney. Bertney is relatively new to modeling as she is pursuing a full-time career in a professional school. Despite that, Bertney was a joy to work with, as she was eager and willing to take creative direction, had stamina to last the entire 4+hrs of the shoot, and did exhibit any of the new model self-consciousness that can sometimes ruin shoots. When she is done with school, I hope to work with her again.