Raul (model portfolio shoot)
Raul hired me a month or so ago to get his model portfolio started. He didn’t have any images yet, so we had to plan for the maximum amount of variety. That meant a flexible location and as many wardrobe changes as we could manage. With those goals in mind, we headed down to Ventura Harbor, which had boats and docks, a retail area for manmade structures as background, and a beach across the street. We got some useful images in the marina area, but the beach images are the ones that really speak to me the most.
Raul, as you can probably tell, is a yoga buff. Lives and breathes it, from what I could tell. He was so enthusiastic about yoga, he’s planted the seed in my head…I’m thinking about looking into it! It’ll be a long time before I’m practicing it on the beach in a speedo though. Sorry, ladies.
So to torture Raul, I told him to slowly lower his torso and arm until it just blocked the sun in the above shot, and then he had to hold it. Then I made him do it about fifteen more times. Hey I wanted the best yoga-position-sunset-blocker shot I could get!
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Point Mugu (Family Portrait)
This is my third year making this family’s portraits. I like being able to work with a family over time, because I get a chance to know them, see their kids grow up, and build a relationship. Not to mention, the familiarity makes for a wonderfully relaxed session!
I’ve made all this family’s portraits on the beach (see last year’s here). The mom loves the beach, and the dad really wanted to do something different. And in these sorts of situations I’ve long since learned, mom wins. 
But to make things a little different, we decided to increase the challenge level, and make the images at a rocky beach instead. So we chose a location near Pt. Mugu, with the iconic Mugu Rock in the background. This location is tricky though, and I’ve only shot here once before (several years ago). The tide has to be low, or there’s absolutely no beach. It’s windy. And it helps if the shoot is in winter, so that Mugu Rock is side-lit at sunset rather than a stark silhouette.
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Delise’ Ana Fashion Show
Last night I attended the Delise’ Ana show at Boulevard3 club in Hollywood. A smokin’ club! I’ve never been there before, and it was really nice. The fashion show was quick, as most solo shows tend to be. I did have the good fortune to shoot the models in the dressing room before the show. I met Delise’Ana about a year ago and we’ve been in touch off and on, so I jumped at the chance when Little Designer Book asked if I could cover the show. It was a little insane going to a show that starts at MIDNIGHT…hey I’m not 23 anymore! But it was fun and worth the experience. Below are more images from the show, and some from the preparation beforehand.
As always, if you leave a non-spam comment on my blog, I’ll donate one canned food item to the local food bank.
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No Words 2
Disneyland
Some images from Disneyland at the end of October with my family.
Disneyland is such an over-photographed place, so I try and do something different when I go. The last time I went, I shot color slide film and went for abstract shapes (blog post here). This time I decided to…
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Horacio (model portfolio shoot)
Horacio contacted me awhile back and we’ve been waiting for schedules to free up. He wanted to do something ‘architectural’, and suggested the local community college. I scouted the area a couple of times, which was made easier by bringing my kids to see the big cranes at the construction site on campus. Talk about multi-tasking! I focused in on the library, which had a very modern, clean look. Horacio and I decided it would be best to shoot ‘guerilla-style’, just show up on a Sunday evening and shoot, and hope for the best. But the cops showed up…
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No Words
Dana at the Harbor (model portfolio shoot)
This was one of those shoots where you wonder and hope and pray that it’s all going to work out well! Fortunately, it worked out really well. But it was looking dire for awhile.
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