For this first shot, I was going for something other than a typical close crop fashion portrait in vertical format. I really wanted to focus on the building architecture and textures, adding myself a human element in the composition.

OK, after Facebook feedback, I’m adding another pose from this location

I’m also interested in irregular light patterns. I’ve seen some portraits where the subject is placed in intentionally mottled light to great effect. I started out taking some shots with just natural lighting … and they were OK. But I added some fill light, and came up with the shadow on the wall, which I really like. Shooting self portraits using a manual focus tilt shift lens is quite challenging! But I like the way that it draws a visual tie from me to the tree in the foreground.

Another concept that I’m exploring is adding movement into posed shots to make them less posed. I tried getting some pictures of me walking, but I didn’t really like how they came out, except for this next shot. I was having trouble getting my remote trigger to fire properly. It was firing at all sorts of random times and generally giving me the technical difficulties that seem to be normal for me. But then came this happy accident, when it fired before I entered the frame. I love this shot, of just the shadow on the wall. The Mystery Man!

I was drawn to the colored peeling paint on this wall. This shot took me a long time, because cars kept coming out of the lot next to where I’m standing, and I had to continually move my tripod. I had a small audience across the street who was very interested in what I was doing. They probably thought I was some kind of wierdo. Or famous person … same thing. Anyway, this is my over the top GQ grimace. For this shot, the tilt function of the perspective control lens was used to create infinite depth along the wall of the building.

Thanks for stopping by … tomorrow we head into the bayou!

OK so I did another modeling photo shoot. I’ve been working on improving my lighting and I’ve been interested in combine mountain scenery nature shots with a fashion style of lighting. I was able to get Arianna to model for me at the last minute one morning when I awoke to great clouds (again). She did such a great job; I think she’s super photogenic. I used an assistant and 1 softbox for all these shots. I don’t have too much else to say so just enjoy the gallery!

More images after the page break!!!!

A funny thing about being a photographer is that when you go on vacation it’s easy to just keep on working. New scenery is inspiring, and leads to more and more shooting. Usually there is not enough time to edit all the photos that you take while traveling, so when you get home you have even more work than when you left! But when you have the opportunity to take pictures like the one above … a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do!

I am doing a beach engagement shoot while I’m here for a very big wedding that I booked at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach Florida in December 2008. Being from Colorado, I’ve never actually shot on the beach before, so I wanted to do a practice run before this important client. So I found Eugenia to help me out with some modeling. She’s never actually done any modeling before, so she should be happy with the way these came out!

Eugenia brought a friend along with her to the shoot at Honeymoon Island Beach. As it turns out, her friend Amber is in need of some engagement pictures, but her fiance is in the military and was only going to be in town for 2 more days. Luckily I was free, and was able to shoot them the next day for some extra vacation spending money! Sweet!

More images posted after the page break …

]]> http://www.steve-z.com/fashion-photography-poise-october-meetup-at-space-gallery-in-denver/feed/ 0 http://www.steve-z.com/fashion-shoot-in-the-rain-never-give-up/ http://www.steve-z.com/fashion-shoot-in-the-rain-never-give-up/#comments Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:33:49 +0000 stevez http://www.steve-z.com/2007/10/16/fashion-shoot-in-the-rain-never-give-up/

I had been planning a portfolio shoot with Crystal for over a week. By Saturday it was pretty clear that Sunday was going to be a washout. But Crystal has a busy schedule, and we weren’t sure when we were going to be able to shoot again. So we persevered, and despite almost running out of daylight, intrusions on our desired locations, and other setbacks, we made it happen. Lingerie photos in the 40 degree rain! Despite that it was getting dark and she has the tendency to ‘get cold easily’, we came out with some fun stuff.

And yes, I actually do think it is perfectly realistic for a woman to be walking along the railroad tracks, in an industrial area, in the rain, wearing pink lingerie and white high heeled boots, thank you very much. It happens all the time when I’m sleeping!

This is Tnisha and TJ, they are engaged for real, not just model-pretend engaged. They are fun to shoot with. I hope to shoot their wedding in 2009. I told them I’ll still give them the hookup on pricing, since I’ll probably be out of their price range by then. ;>) I’m kidding. Sortof. Does that count as manifesting my future?

It makes me laugh that my job is taking pictures of people making out.

. . . and here are some more of Kimberly.

Whoa. Those eyes.

I’ve had a really good time shooting with the 85mm 1.8 lens. I had to go out an buy one. I’m such a gear weenie.

I’ve been getting back into the studio after a few months off. In one week I shot three paying gigs there. This is Meliana from Brazil. She is building her modeling portfolio, so look for more shots of her in the near future.