Clearly, bad at blogging

It’s been forever since I blogged here! The past few months have been such a whirlwind. Portrait bookings, wedding bookings… the year definitely kicked off to an amazing start!

Here are some shots I took of the beautiful and talented Blair Hansen. I have worked with her before and every time we come together it seems like I get some of my proudest shots. Working with entertainers is my absolute favorite as they are performing for you as you shoot them. You are capturing their music. Their style. Their soul in the photograph.
Many thanks to Blair’s girlfriend, Tara for assisting with lighting in this shoot. You helped make such amazing images!

Taken at her parent’s home in Castro Valley, California.

Be sure to check out her music via myspace at www.myspace.com/blairhansen

Thank you so much Blair for giving me the oppurtunity to capture you in pictures.

 

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary to Nichole and Chris Middlemass! And my deepest congratulations to them expecting a beautiful baby boy!

<3~

 

Pin-up girl contest

Been workin workin workin. Here is a recent shot of Madison for the Tracy Motorsports Pin-up Contest.

I have two more girls most likely to shoot for the competition then it’s all editing and setting up the painful details of the show and voting system. The official contest is on September 27th at Tracy Motorsports’ Kawasaki Extravaganza. I will be having my own booth there to promote my work at the show as well as shooting that day.

Shooting in that showroom has been one of the most difficult lighting situations. That blaring light from behind totally overcasting the model. I think eventually I got it down the the results were quite nice : but before that I was having issues. I still got lucky shots, including this one of Lizz (the first model to come in!)

And now we go from hot chicks to a beautiful mother and her baby ~

Jennifer and her son were such a joy to work with. Although we worked her son so much that he went strait to sleep after the shoot. He was a total sweetheart to photograph.

Until next time~

 

Ryan K.

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of shooting promotional photos for upcoming singer Ryan K. Make sure to check out his myspace page (that I also designed!) at

http://www.myspace.com/iheartryank

This turned out to be my favourite photo from the shoot. Captured so much depth and detail in his face along with the moody lighting. He was amazing to work with – followed every direction and put his own input in so that he got exactly what he wanted.

Today I have a shoot with a woman named Jennifer and her son.  Right now I’m just taking a few minute break from cleaning up the studio a bit and setting up the set I have in mind for the first set of shots. I have missed doing children/family fine art photography so I’m pretty happy to be doing it again =)

I have two art shows coming up this month : A booth at the TMS Kawasaki Expo going on in Tracy…. as well as a showing at the Self Clothing Boutique in San Francisco. I just purchased about 30 prints for both shows… and I still feel I am a bit short.

Until next time~

 

Marlena + opening business

Taken of Marlena a month or so ago. It’s been so long since i posted here!

Many changes in my life have happened in the past month.. allowing me to pursue my photography full time. I am finally taking the plunge into making a business for myself in doing something that I love and am truly passionate about. I have the skills I just need to get my name out there a bit more and I think that the future could look quite bright for me =)

I am really looking into doing more of my creative, conceptual work. It’s something that I absolutely love doing but with client work… I never quite have the chance to put it together. Hopefully this week I will have time to do such things.

Look for my updates coming soon. I told myself I will use this thing more often!

 

Photo update

Been so long since I had an update. Been busy busy busy with photoshoot after photoshoot!~

First off I went up to the Jackson Rancheria last week. Since California has been having so many fires.. it made for a perfect shot with the added smoke.

And I also met this kitty outside my grandmother’s home in Ione.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3255/2607945610_7ea7b1b799.jpg
This here kitty… lives by no one else’s rules.. but his own. 😉 He just laid there and posed for me on the no parking space. What a little ham =)

A few days ago I did a model call in Tracy via myspace because I had this horrible urge to shoot. I got a response from Brooke and Dawn and showed up at Brooke’s old Victorian apartment to set up. The feel of the house gave a nice background for the photos. I think they turned out rather nicely.

Some candids from shooting Brooke…

And here is my favorite from her set :

And my favorite of Dawn ❤

Dawn had never modeled before and was a personal friend of mine. She was so nervous – but I love this shot of her.  For lighting I brought over 3 of my lights : 2 soft boxes and my barn yard doors.

Last night I had a client shoot with Lizz. I gotta say she is by far one of my favorite models I have ever worked with. Her photos are definitely some of my proudest work =) All shot in my home studio!

Jewelery is by Dragon Designs.

For a more complete collection of my most recent photography – make sure to keep up with my Flickr page!

 

Leah is made of stars

I met up with Leah the other day – a beginning model. Her only other photographer had been my friend here in Tracy so she was quite nervous…. but I think I captured some beautiful studio shots of her once she loosened up.

Not gonna lie – putting the rhinestones on was very time consuming.   Thank goodness Krystal was there to help me out a bit =) She did Leah’s make up and hair. She gave me exactly what I was looking for.

More to come soon – So many beautiful shots from this shoot.

 

Don’t ask me

Don’t ask me if I’m ok.

We’ve all had that moment. When it’s completely and utterly clear we are not ok… and we hear that amusing question…

“are you ok?”

“Oh.. yes…. Just fucking peachy.”

So I had to fake smoke 2 cigarettes for these shots. And… my throat is killing me. Tried not to inhale but sometimes it just happened. But I think the shot was totally worth it – at least I’m amused by it.

Shoot tomorrow. Time for sleep. ~

 

Sweet Virginia

Client shoot – Virginia

She was SO very nervous. She’s a dancer – not a model… so she wasn’t used to being in front of the camera. We only took about 80 shots before she was tired and felt like she got the shots.. and I think we did in fact get them =)

This so far has been my favorite ~

 

Engulf

Self Portrait. Added grunge textures. Turned black and white. Dootee doot.

I went to do my daily check of Digital Camera Magazine Online and I found my older piece, Adversion on the main page!  I know it’s not a publication or anything… but it’s nice for anyone to recognize me.  I just wish it was one of my newer images!

I end up taking the fact that my work isn’t popular on a place like DeviantART as that my work isn’t good. It’s been really killing my confidence lately. I see my work.. am proud.. post around and it feels like no one takes notice. It might be due to the fact I don’t post until 1am 😛

Client shoot tonight for a go go dancer. I’m excited!