Why I work with the models I work with

My take on models and photography is that each model's image has a unique feature, that helps me do a specific project. So when I get in touch with a model, I insist on meeting first. I need to get a feeling about the person, the ideas, the way they move, talk. After that, I start thinking on what theme to develop. I always ask models what ideas they have, but so far I haven't been lucky: All I get is usually "I don't know, edgy, something cool and different"
So I base the whole shoot on my own ideas. I try to come up with something unique for each model. It helps when they have lots of wardrobe, so I can play with that as well. As in everything, some models have an amazing amount of clothes, accessories and shoes. Some, not so much.
The other thing that I've observed is chemistry. I'm talking about chemistry at a personal level. I had models where we barely spoke more than a couple words, and I had models that wouldn't stop making me laugh. Those are the models I go back to. Granted, the model is an image, so the final effect doesn't depend on if he/she talks or not. however, my work flow is all about improvising. When we're having good rapport, a laugh or an interesting chat, my creative juices just start flowing and there's never enough time to do all the things I'm imagining. If the model sits there and doesn't even say moo, well, I take a couple pictures I had already in my mind and call it a day.

I've worked with Tiffany a couple times already. Something I love about it is that she's as crazy as I am. She will climb, go up, down, and do whatever takes to get the picture right.
It's been so interesting to see how she keeps growing as a model. But something that hasn't changed, is that she models because she loves it. Not for the money, not because she believes she's so cool, or because she needs images for her portfolio to get discovered by an agency and become next America's top model. She just loves it.
I love photography too, so I guess that's why we click.

Down at the Arboretum

Last week we went to the Overland Park Arboretum. Out in the middle of nowhere, this amazing garden, with lots of different ecosystems and feelings to it. Lots of bugs as well!
This session had to be split in two, since they close quite early (7:30) and there's just too many things to do here.
Jessica and Kyle did great and were so patient.
Jessica and Kyle's Wedding is on August at Town pavilion, another beautiful venue we work with quite often, so we're getting all the engagement pictures ready.
Here's a little teaser,
Enjoy!

Fashionably early....

About six and a half hours to be exact. that's what this professionals, models, make up artists, hair designers, wardrobe and attire people, photographers (well, some photographers) and other support staff invested in time before the event. Gee, I knew it was hard (I've seen the devil wears Prada!) but I didn't know models had to spend 6-7 hours previous to the event!
it's hard work, no doubt.
It's a whole different world too. People are just so different. interactions are different, attitudes, the way we all behave. we have a job and we got to get it done. plain and simple. So, I was supposed to do candid pictures. and I did. but of course, I also did more. I'' be posting more as I get my computer to cooperate.





I was talking to Jim, He's a photographer friend. I decided him and I have a very different take on things. Jim set a mini-studio set in the same event and did portraits of the models. He had the models come to HIM and ask HIM to take their pictures. I, on the other hand, was chasing models, putting up with their crankiness and had to actually carry a bunch of lenses, batteries, flashes and other stuff for hours, change my settings every time, and move light stands move, got stuck in stairs, under the clothing racks and so on... why? I don't know. Jim asked me, "so, would you be able to take portraits against a backdrop to 500 models?" I immediately said heck no! That's it. Jim plans his set, takes his time and gets pretty consistent results. I'm not like that. I play with the light. I play with the angles, I chase people. and I'm not that charming...therefore, models would never come to me.



This is was I'm talking about. without the strobe in the back, this would've been a plain point and shoot image. Now it has volume, texture, a certain halo that makes it work. well, just to get that light in the back, I had to haul my clamp, remote control, flash, and climb to the stage, clamp it to a pipe, then come running back and pray Gabriel wasn't done applying hairspray to the model. Luckily, he wasn't.

Double flash umbrella swivel

I wanted a double flash swivel. They seemed too expensive to me and at the end, they still didn't have all the features I wanted. (a place for my pocket wizard, and to be able to align my flashes on the same axis of the umbrella. I looked into some options, but none convinced me.
So, I digged out an old flash bracket, and got to analyze it a bit.

I bought some Aluminum angle rod at Home Depot, for about $5 (the website shows over $9, but at the store is around $5) and cut a little piece, made some measurements and drilled some holes. Voilá, my new bracket aligns on the umbrella axis, actually I can reposition the flashes and I could add as many as I want by drilling more holes. So I just replaced the original flash base with the piece of aluminum rod.

I also want to mention a secret of mine. I used to buy these Nikon flash adapter, because they are just so well made, and have the locking pin. well, I don't know why, but I found these, that are exactly the same, plus have a cable I now use to add a 3.5mm mono plug to use with my pocket wizards. and less than 10% of the price of the other ones! Genius!
Lastly, I added one of these, to attach my pocket wizard. Total cost of the modification: $20 ( I already had the flash bracket)

Casting call on a rainy day

I've planning a modeling casting call, where models would come and model for about 45 minutes,
before getting to the next one. I had about five different settings for outdoor pictures. they were great and I had everything ready. or did I. Rain came. in buckets. didn't stop for the whole week.
Saturday came and I had to come with a plan B. Boy it's hard to pull a photography set for indoor pictures for about 7 models, so they each had a different look.
I ended up learning origamy and making paper cranes for my set. It sure looked easier on the youtube video! Anyway, after half of my models didn't show up nor answered my emails, I worked with three. Dima, Kassi and Tiffany.

Six hours after, we had lots of different looks, and a lot of laughs.

Here's what I did last Saturday...

Guerrilla fashion or pictures on the fly...

After all, my most admired photographers created their art with whatever they had at hand. A disposable camera, old film cameras, an iPhone, polaroids, you name it.

So, on my last trip, as usual I had a long agenda, but in the back of my mind was, of course, to organize some shoot.
It always amazes me how things work, at least for me. Usually I try to hire some model, or at least place a casting call to see who's interested. This time, models were way out of my range or simply too pretentious. So I went my way, talking to some people and asking if they knew somebody and so on so forth. Well, the thing is, who doesn't know somebody who would love to have a little fashion photo session? Aha!
So with my good friend Mayra, we asked the owner of a little Cafe, if we could borrow it for some pictures. Crazy thing is she said yes! So we woke up real early, got some props, got Claudia to do the make up and Voilá! we got ourselves a photo shoot!

The whole point I'm trying to make, if there's such a thing, is that it doesn't matter all the gear you have, it can fail. what if you don't know how to use it, what if you don't get to carry ALL with you, or forgot the exact gadget you wanted?
It amazes me that still today, I see many photographers bragging about their expensive cameras (So they think, I'm yet to see any of them shooting with a Leica) or they huge telephotos, when you just can't top a simple $200 prime lens.
To me is all about creativity, adaptability and passion. if you believe in what you want, people will help you, they'll share your dream and they'll make it theirs, at least for a moment.

So I call my style guerrilla photography. almost no budget, local and mostly free talent, and ad-hoc locations. This often envolves a quick retreat. So you need to travel light, and you need to use your gear at it's best.

So, the first picture at the top is the borrowed dinner/ cafe. (Cafe Zapopan. You gotta stop there when you visit Jalisco in Mexico!)

Then, this is our brave model Itzel, before the make up.
Now, my hard-working assistant, who got an outstanding 10 minute on-the-spot training in advanced photo lighting techniques.And this is what you get to do in about 50 minutes, with bystanders and the worst light you can get coming through the windows.For that matter, we used every corner of the tinny place, the doors, the bathroom, the tables. Even the tequila bottle was improvised: it was really almond syrup of sorts.
This model had the best attitude, she just needed a crazy photographer with lots of imagination.
Then we moved right out of the joint., where a bunch of middle school boys were having a nice experience yelling at the model. Boy she's brave.
And we went for a more traditional look, just for her parents.
Finally, the make up lady wanted to give it a shot too. She had a different take on things, so we came up with this:

It's Prom!

All right. Prom pictures. So I thought, what if we do them more fashion-like?
Danielle and Tommy were cool with the idea, so this is what we did. and we did it FAST!
think 45 minutes, with three other photographers lurking around. and watching out for cops (it's a federal offense to step onto railroad tracks)
I'm sure Danielle and Tommy had a great time last night. Besides, looks like I'll be taking their wedding pictures soon...Just saying.