North Carolina Shoot (March 10, 2011)

2 Weeks ago, I was sent to North Carolina for a Temporary Duty pertaining to my full time military Job. As soon as I found out I would be traveling to North Carolina I contacted a photographer friend that I knew in England when I was stationed there during 2004-2007. Before I knew it Martinez, 1 of the 2-Man Team of Making Shots Photography (http://www.modelmayhem.com/1339959), had worked 2 photo sessions with models from the area that I could work with at night after I got off work. One of the sessions fell through, but the one that did happen, I am so glad that he put it together for me! I met his Partner Travis Dunson, who owns a MEAN Nikon! Between him and Martinez I don't think I stopped laughing, that was seriously the hardest thing about the shoot, trying to focus and take a picture without laughing. The shoot was completely out of my element. I recently purchased my New BABY! Canon 5D Mark ii! And I didn't have a chance to mess around with it before I made the trip, so I told Martinez I wasn't going to bring it and just stick with my Canon Rebel. He insisted that I bring it anyway and I did, and I am very GLAD that I did!!!! When we started the shoot, I stuck with my Rebel because I was comfortable and knew the controls but when he seen what I was doing Martinez was not going for it! ;0) Martinez uses the Canon 5D so he was familiar with the controls and settings. He showed me how to make a few adjustments on my new Canon, let me borrow his AMAZING L-Glass, 24-70mm and let me go to WORK! Like I said before, everything about the shoot was out of my comfort zone and I loved every moment of it. For the first time I used my Canon 5D, with 2-professional photographers as my assistants, I shot outside with strobes, at night! with the beautiful and amazing model Brazyl (http://www.modelmayhem.com/847602). I hope and can't wait to work with her again! It's hard to find Models that are beautiful and have an amazing personality like she does. It makes it easier to work with and the results show that! It was at night and cold when we did  this shoot and we shot for about an hour or so and there she was, in just a pair of fatigue pants and a sports bra, and NOT ONCE did she complain about being cold. She is a TROOPER! This session was strictly a result of networking. My first time actually experiencing that and it certainly proved to me how important and beneficial it is to network. NETWORK NETWORK NETWORK! Martinez, Travis, Brazyl, THANK YOU.

First Photoshoot of 2011

I am very excited about this photo shoot that I just did on Friday, Jan 7th, with the Beautiful Shani from Sturgis, South Dakota. I met this young lady on Model Mayhem. Actually, the second model that I have been fortunate enough to work with from the online network. I was also assisted by the best person I could ask for, Morna! I can't even begin to speak on how blessed I am to have her in my life. I don't know what i would do without her. I coordinated this shoot while I was in Iraq over the past few months, ordering outfits and props. Thank goodness for the worldwide web and I was extremely nervous because it had been so long, over a year, since i had done my last shoot. I was definitely rusty, but working with Shani and Morna, the lovely ladies that they are, there was no pressure and the images came out GREAT! This was also the first shoot where I did behind the scenes footage. I'll be working on that video for the next few weeks as well, I know it's going to be a mess, being that it is my first time but I'm still excited about that! This photo session consisted of 3-4 different looks.  We first did a very basic Jean and tank top look then a  Rockstar/Ring Master Look as well as my favorite, the Bedroom scene for my Room 214 package, and a PINUP LOOK! Pinup was the biggest concern out of all the looks for me b/c I just found this new interest in Pinup, and I wanted to see if I could pull it off. from the looks of the RAW images I think we did very well... Again I couldn't have done it without Lady Morna, the MUA and Hair Stylist. We all met at Sally's at 9 a.m. that morning and from the moment that I met Shani in person I KNEW it was going to be a GREAT Session! She's beautiful, down to earth with a GREAT Personality! And her body is chiseled like A GODDESS! We wrapped the photo session up at about 4 p.m. so we worked on this project for about 7 hours all together, and it was absolutely exhausting but it was so worth it and anytime I am with Morna it's a GREAT TIME Anyway. 2011 has a lot in store. I've been dragging my feet on a lot of personal projects but with me being away from everything and everyone for the past 6 months in Iraq, I've had a lot of time to think and reflect on what it is that I want... so with the support of really good friends and my family I plan to take this photography thing to the next level. Thank you so much Morna and Shani! I can't wait to work with you BOTH again! I inserted one of many of the images that were taken during the session.

Days are on A Count Down in Iraq

2010 has came and is nearly gone. I have been in Iraq for the past 5-6 months and shall be returning to the States here shortly. It has certainly been an experience and I am glad that I had the opportunity to come over and see it for what it is. I was a little worried in the beginning but as we arrived, I realized that we were in a pretty safe area. It's been over a year since I have done an official shoot, but thanks to the world wide web I have been able to communicate with models on ModelMayhem.com and I already have something in the works, only a week after I set foot back in the states. I'm going to purchase a NEW Toy! I can't wait to shoot with the new equipment. I'm really excited about 2011. I have learned so much from being over here and most importantly that life is short, and that I have to be a "Go Getter". Nothing is going to fall in my lap, if photography is what I want to do, then I'll have to make it happen. No one is going to do it for me and I am the only person that is holding me back from making it happen. I can't wait for 2011. I have so much in store.