Cold Sunday Morning

40 degrees is what is was outside this morning. I wasn't sure if I was in Houston or if I got transported someplace further north.  Mark was a good sport though.  We froze, but we got some good photos.  When I get back to LA, I'm going to have lots to upload and show off.  I hope you are as excited about it as I am. =) 

This has been a good end to 2012.  And i have ideas for 2013 that i can't wait to get started on.

G Flat

I was sitting in my car with the heater on, starting to burn up, when my phone rangs.  The model says, I see the heads, where do I park?  Is that Obama she asked?  Yes, right by Bush Sr.  It was interesting to see someone else's reaction to this place.  We treked up the stairs to the third floor.  This time there weren't workers around looking at us like we're insects to disect. 

She told her friend that I was a cool photographer because I get my ideas from songs.  Not always.  But this one, yes.  Inspiration: G# by Kitten.   http://vimeo.com/49001489

I've decided I'm going to do that more often.  Use my songs of the moment for inspiration.

Small surprises

Have you ever seen 40 president busts that are 2 stories high?  That was my yesterday.  I drive into this art space, and there are just heads and heads everywhere.  I couldn't figure out if it was really cool or really creepy.  I think we're going to go with cool. 

I get out of the car.  Look around.  President heads behind me.  A three story building with workers replacing the windows in front of me.  No sign of a blonde model.  I'm told to go to the third floor.  So I walk past the workers, all men, and climb the metal stairs to the third floor. I get to this huge open space, and there in the opposite corner, sitting down where I can barely see her, is the model.  I walk across the floor, wave tentatively, introduce myself.   Let the games begin. =)

I had 30 mins to shoot yesterday.  30 minutes!  I was like Regina, you're killing me here!  But we made magic.  Apparently when we are crunched for time, we all give our best from the beginning.  It was beautiful.  The lighting, the styling, the model, the location. 

Hoping for more magic while I'm here in Houston.  I still have 2 or 3 more shoots to do next week.  And I'm more than ready. 

2012-Thanks for everything. 

Scipio and Robin

I think I was barely conscious during this shoot.  I remember texting my friend that I was going to die.  Basically I had been running w/o much sleep at all.  Granted, that's how the last few months have been going. I have another long week ahead of me.  I'm hoping though since it's full of holiday parties and giving kids presents, that the lack of sleep and the feeling of being over worked will be smothered in all the good cheer.  Maybe?  =)  So this is Scipio and Robin.  They look pretty tough in that first photo don't they?  Don't let the image fool you.  They are both really nice. 

 

Holiday Memories Contest Winner

Drum roll please....


And the winner of my Holiday Memories Contest is Michelle! 

Personally, I think she cheated. ;)

Holiday Memories Contest

Thanksgiving is over.  Black Friday has come and gone.  The Holiday season has officially started.  To help myself get into the mood, I thought I would put on a little contest.  With all the stresses of the holiday season, I thought I would focus on the positive.  Anyone is invited to participate.  I would like to hear your favorite holiday memory.  Post it on this blog or on my photography facebook.  Everyone who participates will be entered in a drawing. 
The prize:  I will shop for a holiday present just for you!

The contest ends Saturday Dec 1st at Midnight Pacific Time. 


My memory:  It's not one specific memory.  Just being a kid at my grandma's house.  Christmas Eve.  That's when we open our presents.  I just remember me and my cousins, eating the food, and being so excited for it to be 8 o'clock so that we could open our presents.  That night always felt good and there was so much excitement. 

Robyn Part 2

Robyn

For this shoot, I ventured out to the hills of Tarzana to visit Robyn at "the mansion" as it's fondly called.  I told her I wanted to play with light.  And we did.  The photos in the chapel were taken in almost complete darkness.  It was wild.  It was a very cloudy kind of day that day. But I got to spend time with really wonderful people, and I was thankful for that.  I'm trying to be really thankful for all of my experiences lately.  Life has been a bit wild and definitly beautiful.   There's always badness, but there's no point in dwelling in that stuff.  So here's what I've done of Robyn so far.

Anastasia

Try to enjoy every day and every moment.  Moments of pure beauty happen all the time, but you  have to remember to see them.

BJ

Emily Part 2

Two shoot yesterday.  That made for a long, long day. But the good kind of day. It was hazy, drizzly morning. But beautiful in a way.  Driving through the mountains to the ocean.  I am every day thankful to be living here.  Living the dream right? 
Drive back to the valley. Did my first shoot with flash.  Suprised myself. Realized that all of that avoiding due to feeling I couldn't get it right was for nothing.  Of course, I need to practice more. But it's nice to know that I have that choice if I need that choice in the future.  Being in a pitch dark chapel and using just one off camera flash, and getting decent photos.  I was like cool.
So here's more of Emily.  Enjoy!

Emily Part 1

Here's some photos of Emily from our gorgeous day at the beach.

http://www.modelmayhem.com/2721953

 

Perfection

What a gorgeous day on the beach. One of those days where you are the only people around, the sun is shining, the water isn't freezing.  Perfection.

What is your perfection?

Smoking Kills

Robyn.  The girl can sing.  And she can appreciate irony. 
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Robyn-Troup/206754891557?ref=ts&fref=ts
http://www.facebook.com/Beverlykillsmusic

Jasmine

Jasmine wanted photos of herself for her 16th birthday.  She saw her cousin's photos and said, I want some too!  So, her aunt was nice enough to set up a shoot for her.  Happy Sweet 16 Jasmine!

Ready?

Me with my new camera getting ready to shoot! 

It started with a whisper

Do you ever see glimpses of different futures?  I make one decision and one possibility disappears, but another five appear.  Sometimes, glimpses of these futures pop up in my head, and I wonder if it would be a good idea to jump in or wait it out in case something better appears.

It's amazing how one decision can lead to so many differnce possibilities.  Some of the possibilities have been beautiful.  This weekend was full of the outcomes from different stories and paths. 
Yesterday, I parked.  Looked around.  Hills and houses.  Looking through a gate, see a tennis, court, a fountain behind a gate.  Text my friend while walking down the curving road.  Reading house numbers.  Stand look around.  There.  A road.  Walk down the road, no, wrong address.  Look some more, walk around the corner, read the numbers.  Finally.  Right place.  Stand at the gate, hmm, press a bottom.  Tell them who I'm there to see.  Watch the gate open.  Walk down the driveway and through an archway.  Let the shoot begin.

New adventures

I got my new camera yesterday. Excitedness.  I hope to do my first photoshoot with it soon!

Emily

Call me the editing queen b/c I did this shoot last Thursday and I'm already done editing.  The day was hot, the model was a good sport.  It was what I called a good day.

Would you be my friend?

I did this shoot after my craziness of hours and hours of shooting for my friend's church.  It's amazing I could still function at this time.  On a side note, while driving to Weho, I saw a naked girl in the fountain at the Hollywood bowl.  And when I saw naked, I mean I saw all her parts.  I saw police a few mins later, I guess they were on there way to get her. 

Make up done by Jeffrey Scott Rivera
Model is Rafael Le Ross.

You can use your imagination to tell the story of how a boy from Europe moved to LA and started to change into an Alien.  Or you can go to fb and read my version.  The choice is yours.

Ben

Vacation.  What a magical word.  All week, it's been no work. And let me tell you, I haven't had time to be bored.  Between 3 diffrent photo shoot, one that lasted like 12 hours, three different shows, the highlight seeing Go Betty Go again after 2 1/2 years, short shopping sprees, daily naps, reading two novels, and catching up with Secret Life, I'd say now that my vacation is half over, it's definitly been a success.  I may not feel rested, but I've had a good time.

I shot Ben at the legendary Venice Beach-at the actual beach.  Legendary in the sense that I love that beach. Not just for the people watching.  But it's a short walk to Abbot Kinney, and there are so many places to shoot.  It's like a photographers dream.  I've done more shoots there than I care to count.  Ben is from Vegas.  It was his first time at Venice.  I told him I wanted to do an UO inspired shoot.  He didn't disappoint.  For being only 16, he posed to his fullest.  He has a unique look, and it was cool to be able to capture him.  Enjoy his photos.

Ashley and Chalen

More.

Sisters

Photos so far of Ashley and Chalen.  Sisters visiting from the great state of Texas.  More on my FB.

We're all silhouettes

100 degree heat.  Middle of the day.  Sitting in my car, air condition running.  Reading.  The day started with a Cali boy trying to tell off the Texas woman.  Didn't go that well.  For the cali boy.  Two sisters.  Mom.  Little brother.  And me, the photographer.  My favorite store in the background, sweat dripping, parking gararge, graffiti, well, then let's get started.  Picked out the clothes, how do you want my hair?, now what?  Two hours later, clothes wet, St.Motel blasting out of the speakers, driving home, cooling down, and ready to finish my photos from last week.

Here are the photos: