NolaPhoto Studio

Kandice

2010-10-16T20:34:00.000-07:00

Adding contest list to this blog

2009-01-04T10:45:00.000-08:00

There a quite a few aspiring artists/photographers out there. One way to get your work noticed both internationally and locally is through contests. The key to contests is finding the right contest for your work. Entering nudes in a mostly documentary contest will never get you first place or even considered. Look a the judges work, look at the past winners. this should give you a theme or a tone that the judges are looking for. Contests typically have an entrance fee, anywhere from nothing to a hundred dollars if you enter multiple images.

So I want to add an unbiased blog entry that just lists contests that I can update at will. It will be your responsibility to cull through the contest entries to see if there is an appropriate one that fits your style. Best of Luck to everyone in 2009.

Here are some images that I have been working on. Our shoot was based on Theda Bara "the Original Hollywood Vamp" My model and I recreated her calling card(also done by Marilyn Monroe)

A quote from Marilyn: " If I'd observed all the rules, I'd never have got anywhere."

Snowed IN

2008-12-11T14:51:00.000-08:00

Dear PhotoNOMA Participants,

Do to power outage and bad weather The New Orleans Museum of Art is closed today and has canceled all programs.

We have not made a decision on rescheduling of this event yet, but as soon as we reach a decision, I will contact you all.

Darnit, the snow killed my debut at the New Orleans Museum of Art.

Pinup and Location

2008-12-02T21:17:00.000-08:00

I worked with my pinup team and again we pulled off a fantastic shoot. Here is the clear favorite from a shoot with Ayaka an Asian model. I didn't think we could pull it off but she really did an amazing job in this shot.

8 hour shoot

2008-08-16T20:49:00.000-07:00

Whew last week I had an eight hour shoot. My whole team was worn out. I really don't want to do that again. Here is the break down:

1:00 Pm start initial hair/makeup and wardrobe.
3:53 pm First image get into the camera. Sheesh too long for hair, makeup and wardrobe. But we nailed the image perfectly. Red Jumper Radio and Robe Set.
4:13 PM hair, makeup and wardrobe.
4:41 PM Next set started. Bring in the animal wrangler. Can Can Dress.
5:10 PM hair, makeup and wardrobe next set.
5:49 PM Next set. Bullet bra and Garter pinup set.
6:48 PM Back to hair, makeup and wardrobe.
7:07 PM Next set. Hair ribbons and pink jumper. Nailed it again.
7:18 PM Back to hair, makeup and wardrobe.
7:57 Pm Clara bow Set. Man this one was perfection.
8:40 PM Last image in the can.
9:30 PM Britt and I finish cleaning up studio and we end the day.

Just writing about this wears me out again. 8 hours or so in post to finalize the images and clean dust from the images.

Critques, Karma and Learning

2008-08-07T22:33:00.000-07:00

I never thought that I would learn from giving a constructive critique to others. On one of the modeling web sites I decided to give out "cookies" and Critiques of the first 8 images in a portfolio. I have garnered a rather large following and a modest fan base just from Critiques.

First of all I don't lie if I think something is wrong with and image I tell the model/ photographer/stylist asking for the Critique.
Second I find something positive about an image they did and encourage that pose, connection or expression.
Third I give them a cookie. All different types but a cookie nonetheless.
Fourth I try to tell them what the next level is for them. Some need a better photographer, some need posing, some need help with crops, some really don't need help at all but I find something to keep them going.
Fifth I find an image that is over and above the rest and I post it in the Forum so everyone can see what I do.

I have learned quite a bit from this. some take criticism well some don't. I don't back off of my decisions and I can justify everything I said. I have also learned where my images need to take me. Where my next level is and that is priceless. Karma at work here.

The Pinup Train is Rolling

2008-08-07T22:18:00.000-07:00

As is the nature of things, the better you become at something the more people want to shoot with you. This is both good and bad as it can bring out the crazies. (as per the previous post) More often than not it brings you a wonderful group of models that want to collaborate and create great art.

I was contacted by another model yesterday referred by the beautiful Bella Blue, I read her bio on MM. She has a note that says she requires a contract to work with and works with an escort. I send off a professional missive that basically outlines how we work and our process. I also nicely tell her she can bring her friend Bella to the shoot(we all loved her). I have also updated my portfolio so that she knows what our expectations are and how my team works.

Yea! I get a really nice message back explaining that she understands and that was in her profile to ward off bad photographers and GWC's (Guy With Camera) She is fully on board and can't wait to work with our team. I am so glad to hear the voice of reason and not only that but trust, the other incident just left me with such a bad taste in my mouth.

Trust, Trust, Trust

I cannot tell you how important it is to have a model who trusts your team and you as a photographer to take great pictures. If you do not have that connection, the images are just not going to be at the next level.

Model C and TF*

2008-08-03T19:49:00.000-07:00

I received four of emails from a particular model over the period of a few weeks. Lets just call her Model C (Crazy). Model C wants to work on our pinup project and tells me how good she would be and how much experience that she has. Great, I said and introduce her to my wardrobe and hair stylist via email and she sets up an appointment for a fitting.

Then I get this email:

Dear Michael, I'm not sure what the offer was, but I'm asking you now. Is it trade for CD? I need to build my new port and that's great for me, but I have to ask you if you would have a problem signing a contract between you and I for OUR own protection stating that you will provide me the CD or Prints and not exploit me in anyway objectionable to the model and vice versa. I'd appreciate it if you signed it , it makes me feel better of the situation because I am a *** and I really need to be aware of where my work goes. You can use my photos to promote yourself as I will use them to promote myself , but not to sell without my permission. Since I am my own agent, I have to protect myself and because of previous photographers I've worked with that have verbally promised me photos or used my photo to make money without including me. I have to do this.. I hope this is of no problem to you. Thank you, Model C

WTF? Our protection. WTF? So in deciphering this email (and subsequent others) I take it that she wants a contract with me:

To get all of the pictures processed or not.
That she wants final approval of all images so we don't "exploit" her.
She also wants 50% of any and all profits that are made on the images.
She does not trust me to give her the images. (because she didn't check references of any of the GWC photographers that she worked with).

My first impression is to kick her to the curb. I forward this email to my team and their first impression is to launch her too, My wardrobe stylist says she won't touch her with a ten foot pole. I try to be professional so I reply and address her concerns. Explain the terms, tell her the situation regarding profits, copyright and getting her approval is not acceptable to me. I also tell her that the bottom line is that she has a trust issue and that worries me more than anything else.

Next email Model C tells me she won't do nudes and Playboy and Maxim already tried to get her to do nudes. She goes on about how good she is and how we won't be able to use her on the cover.

WTF? I never said anything about nudes, I said vintage lingerie, which reveals less than her current bikini pics. I send her reply(and mine) to my team and now they are seething. I get a text that says NEXT. I get on the phone and tell my team we all agree we done with her and we move on to find another willing model without reservations.

Needless to say, we won't be shooting with this young lady. So the moral of this story is to not demand too much from a shoot when there is obviously a high degree of professionalism and a team of people willing to make you beautiful and dress you in vintage clothing to take some really great vintage pinup pictures that would improve all of our portfolios, plus you might even be in a book. Significant opportunity blown on her part.

More Pinups

2008-08-03T19:13:00.000-07:00

Again my team rocked the pinup look! Our model this time was Marielle NolaChick. Marielle is a relatively new model but she knew the genre and what we were trying to accomplish with our images. I really like the pinup work that we are doing, it is a huge favorite with the models. My styling team and I are working on some book ideas. We shall see how that works out.

We are contacting Burlesque Dancers in the area to help us with our pinup project.

pinpup anyone?

2008-07-02T18:44:00.000-07:00

Great news, my team and I were able to pull off a great pinup pose. I know the hair is Flapper or 20s style and our pose/look is from the 40's and 50's . I still feel that we were able to pull off a great look and ultimately I was very happy with the results and so was my models.

Enjoy!

Models, Models and more models

2008-06-28T08:33:00.000-07:00

Nolaphoto studios is now in full swing and I have been shooting models weekly. From fitness to fashion, from art to extreme, from location to white seamless. Shooting with models is a fun and frustrating experience. Frustrating only because when you are ready to shoot and the model cancels one hour(via text message) before they are supposed to arrive.

Flake is the Internet modeling term for this. For every amazing on time wonderful talented model there is one out there that decides something is more important than meeting a commitment to getting to the shoot. Grandmothers in this area have been having quite a few problems along with vehicles and alarm clocks. I vent then move on. I won't book another appointment for a model that doesn't show up Period. They are dead to me. I have assistants, stylists, makeup artists and myself all waiting for a model who doesn't show. These younger models have no idea how many people they are affecting and upsetting when they don't show. It is always a "what's in it for me attitude." Now I charge $$ or overbook because someone will not show for a shoot.

*puts away soapbox*

Yikes! Going to press.

2007-09-29T20:39:00.000-07:00

Rgb to Cmyk Conversion Tips: if you don't know what I am talking about that's ok. Until you have an image for an ad go to press you probably never will experience this.

Definitions First:

RGB: Red, Green, Blue, that's what you see on your monitor right now. It is also the format of most non-commercial printers. Just because your printer has cmyk cartridges does not make it a cmyk press. this is also the format of digital cameras.

CMYK: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black: This is the format of commercial printing presses.

A strange and horrible thing happens when in Photoshop (edit>convert to profile>Cmyk) This simple action seems harmless enough. You may see a slight change in colors on your monitor when this happens. Unfortunately what comes out of the press is a dull lifeless low contrast image.

In a nutshell you are converting the primary colors of RGB to CMYK. Some colors cannot be reproduced in CMYK. this is called out of gamut. they just don't convert over. Purples , greens some yellows. The dull and lifelessness of the images is because of the way that cmyk reproduces black. Theroetically C+M+Y= black. but on a press it just uses too much ink. So the black ink is added. Sounds good but a true rich black is actually: CMYK calibration values must be 50% Cyan (C), 40% Magenta (M), 40% Yellow (Y), and 100% Black (K). Notice the colors below:Well if the black in the image is now just grayish the overall contrast is reduced and the images look terrible.

Here is a partial fix for the problem: Go to curves. Pull down the black channel and bring in the curve one box to the left at the top and one box to the left at the bottom. This adjusts the contrast without changing the original color too much. Add a brightness/contrast layer and boost the brightness 10-20 on the image. lo and behold the contrast is resurrected. Check each image to make sure the final is good and get a printed proof to test the results.

Good luck and I hope this will make going to press a little easier for you and make your client happier with the end result.

Wedding Photography 100,001

2007-09-17T21:18:00.001-07:00

I admit this blog has gotten off with a very slow start. The last few weeks have me shooting two weddings. First thing, if you can get out of it. . . RUN AWAY. If you do decide to take the job, do it right, do it professional and plan everything so it goes smoothly.

If your brother's fiance calls and says by the way he did tell you that he wanted to shoot their wedding right? Yikes. Oh and did we mention it is in the forest with 100 foot tall redwood trees with either super bright spots of sunlight that managed to get through the trees or no light at all. Double yikes!

So what did I learn?

Don't bring strobes into the forest. why? it makes it look like a dark forest nightclub. Light literally stops at the edge of the image leaving the black hole sucking up any available light behind the bride and groom.
Weddings are for professionals, Leave it to them. If you are going to shoot weddings prepare and plan well.
Buy a flash bracket. there is good reason why wedding guys use these. Get that flash as far away from the lens as possible.
a Gary Fong lightsphere will not guarantee good light in a forest. There is no ceiling to bounce light off of.
If you are going to remotely trigger strobes at the reception have them in every corner of the room and group them together if possible. Front and back seemed to work well.
Don't listen to the Bride when she tells you she doesn't want any candid getting ready pictures. she actually does but she doesn't know it yet.
Details, details, details it is amazing how the little things mean a lot to the Bride and groom. shoot everything.
Get an assistant to shoot with you. Those times when you are trying desperately to get the flash card out of the camera because it is full is when they are getting the shots that you missed. Really you can't be everywhere at once.
Have a list of formal pictures that you need to take and stick with it. ex. bride and groom, BG and wedding party. BG and parents bg and grand parents. you get it. make a list and don't forget someone( grandma will never forgive you for leaving her out of the family pic)
Be careful about shooting at high iso numbers >800. Not even noise ninja can revive that photo.
Don't be afraid to shoot at high iso numbers. this works great in a forest on a tripod. Get the exposure right. With digital cameras a poor exposure at high iso is a throw away shot.
Scout the location in advance and take photos in the light to see how they will turn out!!!
If the bride is happy with the photos, and her mom is happy with the photos everyone is happy.
Don't make the mistake of undercharging for these images they are lots of work. expect 1600-2000 images plus post processing. even at 5 minutes a photo thats a lot of time.
have fun, enjoy yourself. Your kidding right. Do take a minute to get some food, you never know when you will be running down Bourbon street trying to catch up the with the second line you weren't told about.

Good luck and if you have any other questions about shooting a wedding just post a comment and I will do my best to respond.

Photography 100,001

2007-07-20T20:54:00.000-07:00

I am sure by now there are more than 100k sites on Professional photography and photography in general, how to, and improving your photography. I have been shooting photography for almost 20 years. What does that mean? Basically nothing. Every day I see and learn something new. That is the reason for this Blog. I know that I can help add creativity, fun, artistry, technical skills, lighting skills, post processing and just general information to help you improve your photography.

Welcome to NolaPhoto Studios located just outside of New Orleans. Please feel free to post questions and comments here so others can benefit.