Decompressing

After four days of shoot after shoot after shoot, I'm back from Dallas, where I dropped off the models for their respective flights. This has probably been the most intense period in my photography career. Three strong models, three different models, lots of ideas, one photographer. And I like the end results. But there's a LOT of end results! lol Lots of pics to sort through, edit, and disseminate. Stay tuned...

Back in the Port City

After five hours at In Focus, me and the gang are back in Shreveport. Simaria did a kick-ass job with the makeup and the concepts. She had carte blanche on the makeup look because I know nothing about it.

That's why you pay a quality MUA - they can take the simplest of items, such as a piece of fruit, and make magic with it. Take the pic, for instance. From left to right, the peach, blueberry, strawberry, and kiwi were the basis for the makeup look for each respective model. LaDiva just happened upon the blue wig and rocked it for this pic because she's just crazy like that.

I think some good pics will come out of this, for the models, for me, and for Simaria. Stay tuned for more as we begin shooting in Shreveport.

Houston Multishoot - Day 1

Two of the three Mayhemmers are here: MelissaLynnette LaDiva and N i c o l e. Did some quick test shooting to get ready for the studio shoot today. BFly Makeup is here and will have a profile on Model Mayhem soon. TXPhotog gave some tips to shooting editorial and commercial, so perhaps I can put some of it to good use today. LaDiva and Nicole are just a hoot!

Got a chance to shoot with the Nikon D3 on Day 1. Wow, what a piece of equipment. I felt like that kid who wanted to be an astronaut that got to go to Space Camp. Never held a $5,000 camera before. Probably won't for a while! lol But Day 1 was a learning experience for me in terms of using another set of lights (Speedotrons), another camera, and shooting strong models. The studio shoot should be interesting, to say the least! More to follow after the shoot...

SunArcher Now in High-Definition!

SunArcher Photography is now offering images in 16:9 high-definition format!

Understanding that some people use their TV sets and DVD players to view pics (I do so as well), I figured that perhaps I should offer a format that will cater to that clientele and fill that screen up. May as well make use of the available pixels, right?

Of course, not all pics can be cropped this way (especially those that are vertically oriented), so if you wish to have your pics in this format, let me know and I'll accommodate such a request as I shoot. Holla!

Getting Ready for Houston

I'm so amped for the SunArcher Multishoot in a couple of weeks. With some guidance from glamour and fashion photographer Ransom Rockwood, it's time to put the things that I learned into practice. And what better time to do it than in a couple of weeks when three Model Mayhem models head to the Dirty South.

I've nicknamed this shoot the Em-n-em shoot, seeing the names of the models are Melissa, Nicole, and Melinda. I have some concepts that I think will work great for the models and for my multiple books: SunArcher, Ninth House, and SunArcher Signature (in fact, my first SunArcher Signature shoot will happen with one of these three models).

In addition, I'll be picking the brain of yet another notable photographer on Model Mayhem: Roger (TXPhotog) Talley). There's so much to learn about this game, and there's multiple ways to attack it. After seeing the glamour side with Ransom, it's time to learn the agency game with Roger.

In addition, once this shoot is complete, my new print portfolio will be unveiled. No longer will it be just rinky-dink 8x10s. Time to step up to professional standard in everything that I do. Stay tuned to the blog for more on the SunArcher Multishoot.

Las Vegas Recap

I'm on the Continental flight back debriefing myself on what I think have been the best three days in my photography career.

Yesterday, I shot out in the desert with model Judy Anderson and photographer Ransom “The Cheese” Rockwood (who also modeled quite well). If ever there was a learning process about shooting outside with strobes, I was exposed to it then. We shot around high noon, which I usually do not do, but I think it turned out very well. Judy was very professional and easy to work with, even to the point of utterly (and unintentionally) intimidating me. In fact, I'll venture to say that the only other shoot with which I have worked that strong, professional, and enjoyable a model was the one with London Andrews in February. But I needed a shoot like that where the model knows what to do, how to flow, and when to interact with the photographer. Doesn't hurt that she's a photographer, too. :-) So it really taught me to realize when (and how) to take control of a set.

Ransom J is not your typical 30-year-old. He didn't come off as an ass, in spite of his persona on Model Mayhem. He kept it real. You come correct with him and he returned the favor. I like people like that. When I met him he had an orange...uh...(pause)...his aura or whatever, I, I seen it! lol (go watch Chappelle's Show again if you have no idea what I'm talking about). He mentored me on photography, retouching, and above all, human relations, which I think was the biggest thing I learned on this trip. Don't be afraid to think that you're good when you are, and be in control at all times. I'll work on it.

Ransom introduced me to Brandy and Sienna from FAB Artistry, who do a great job with Ransom and his shoots and deserve their own mention here. Even shot Brandy for a little while, though the darkness threw me for a loop.

All in all, I think the pics from the shoots in Las Vegas are no doubt the best shots that will be in the portfolio. But this trip will be for nothing if I don't apply it to shoots back in Shreveport. So now, it on to strong models, mastery of lighting, solidifying themes and concepts, and making it all come together.

So in closing, madd ups and thanks to Rho Photos, FAB Artistry, Judy Anderson, and Bloom Berg Photography for making the trip enjoyable, productive, and worthwhile. Also a thanks to the staff and personnel of Nellis Air Force Base for some great sights and for the lodging, and a thanks to all who supported me on this trip with both material support and words of encouragement.

Viva Las Vegas...

My adventure began at Shreveport Regional Airport. My flight was delayed, so I yakked it up a little with the Centenary College women's softball team, who were on the same flight and headed to a game. The flight was booked solid. 150 seats on the MD-82 and 148 of those suckers were full. Felt like a Greyhound bus! But after a three-hour flight on Allegiant Air, I landed at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, around 9 pm local time. Grabbed the rental car and headed to Nellis Air Force Base for some much-needed shuteye.

The next day, it was off to meet my mentor: Ransom J. After about ten seconds of intros, it was off to work. My first assignment was to shoot him. Yeah, no pressure there. Never mind I've only shot three males (though not through lack of trying), and then somehow I had to find a way to shoot Ransom without making him look like a total idiot. But after a little egging along and some tips, I think some pretty good shots came out of it. Stay tuned...

Day 2 was about makeup. I met Brandy and Sienna from FAB Artistry and watched them do their thing with a fellow Mayhemmer, Judy Anderson. I got to shoot her as well, and let me tell you, I am in awe of how FAB comes up with concepts and works with Ransom to get the shoot's goals accomplished. Definitely learned a lot there.

Now it's Day 3. It was a long day, so I'm a little behind schedule right now, but we're headed off to the desert to shoot again. This is final exam time, time to show Ransom that this wasn't some kind of vacation for me. Also time to show myself that I indeed learned something and can actually apply it to a shoot. Wish me luck!

More to follow tonight...