I was taught (by myself and things I read/listened to) that the portrait (and a person in it) always "look better" when the photograph is taken vertically. The subject IS vertical and if their face doesn't need visual widening, then their necks look longer, their cheeks look smaller and what not...
Of course it all can be defined by lighting too, but here I wanted to make just a small point of choosing a vertical head shot over horizontal and the other way around.
Last week I spoke to a film producer Mark Gasper who owns Yankee Oriole company and is by the way very sweet and supporting, and asked him what he looks at when he sees a head shot being sent in by an actor to get a job. And he touched on the whole vertical/horizontal thing for me with a perspective that left no further questions: film producer may actually prefer the horizontal, because that's how the actor will look on their film, and motion pictures are never vertical!
So, that's that. I was all "duh!" of course, but then decided to look into it with all seriousness and take everything into consideration. Just in case if I'm missing another strong point like that. Vertical versus Horizontal will alter the message/mood/feeling of a photograph, and composition rules apply, but do you know of any other situation where the viewer prefers vertical shot over horizontal and vice versa?
Monday, January 4, 2010
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Merry Xmas and Happy Holidays!
In the interest of spreading joy upon you readers of this page - some of our family snapshots past two days, including the... SNOW MONSTER!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving!
What are you thankful for today?
I still cannot believe how lucky I got this year. I'm definitely very thankful for the circumstances that lead me to transition into a full time photography business. And for all the people that made it happen for me. Even if they don't realize it, heheh.
When I think more of it, the only thing I can be thankful for is really the PEOPLE in my life. Yes, I'm grateful for my family, yes - the roof over my head and the meal in my family's stomach, but that we're all thankful for. I'm talking about all these amazing people who have been my friends for years, and those I've met these past months. Who have supported and inspired, became new friends and/or new clients, new partners in business, all of you who are reading this - you mean so much in my life, and none of this would have happened without you.
So, I'm thanking you, every single day of my life, for being you, for living your dream, and by that, making my dreams come true.
Big hugs, best wishes, and I hope you're lavished by the love and attention of those close to you, as much as I am today :).
Monday, November 16, 2009
Afraid of the camera?
I hear this a lot :). A lot "a lot"!
- "I definitely need a new head shot, but I know I won't look good on the picture"
- "My publisher says I need a photo of me in my office space for the article, but who's going to do it and what do I do on the picture?"
- "I was working on the promos for my company and I looked so fake on all my pictures"
- "My clients are big companies and I can't look that stupid on the first picture they see of me!"
- "I don't take good pictures"
- etc. etc. etc.
Sounds familiar? I'd bet...
What surprised me a lot in the beginning of my photo career was that most of the people who get in front of my lens actually think it's up to them to come out well in my photograph. And recently I was reminded of that as well, and it brought me to mention it here on the blog:
Subject can't know what the light is setup like, can't see what photographer sees through the lens, color or black and white, in studio or on location...
Subject also (most likely) doesn't have even a basic understanding of the composition, and certainly not the effect that the equipment is set to create.
In other words, when you come in to take a photograph, the only thing a photographer should expect of you is to give them a clear explanation what the picture is going to be used for, what mood/energy you need to create in it, possibly poses that you like or dislike, and may be a variety of other useful little details about yourself and what you'd like to achieve.
But when everything is setup and you get in there, you can relax and have a photographer guide you completely. The more relaxed you are the better, so the faster you get into that state - the sooner we'll start taking good pictures :).
That said.. it usually takes about an hour for a subject to wind down from the anxiety (and probably meeting a new person for the first time - me). That's why you should expect your session to be at least an hour long. Most likely much longer, especially if you're going for different looks and/or setups.
And even longer if there's more people involved - hair/make up/stylist.
It definitely helps to have a friend with you to get into the "working mode" faster. It also helps to talk to a photographer over the phone (at least) at least once before the shoot. The best is actually meeting face-to-face.
Everything that leads to feeling COMFORTABLE with the photographer will make your photo session much more enjoyable and easy.
And here are some photos from almost a whole day of shooting with a very talented singer - Natalie, it's been an honor to work with her on these concepts! We had a vintage store collaborating on this shoot (http://www.amtvintage.com) - thank you guys for fantastic clothes! Lauren Tyler-fuller (you can find her on my facebook page) was helping out with make up, hair and styling:
- "I definitely need a new head shot, but I know I won't look good on the picture"
- "My publisher says I need a photo of me in my office space for the article, but who's going to do it and what do I do on the picture?"
- "I was working on the promos for my company and I looked so fake on all my pictures"
- "My clients are big companies and I can't look that stupid on the first picture they see of me!"
- "I don't take good pictures"
- etc. etc. etc.
Sounds familiar? I'd bet...
What surprised me a lot in the beginning of my photo career was that most of the people who get in front of my lens actually think it's up to them to come out well in my photograph. And recently I was reminded of that as well, and it brought me to mention it here on the blog:
Subject can't know what the light is setup like, can't see what photographer sees through the lens, color or black and white, in studio or on location...
Subject also (most likely) doesn't have even a basic understanding of the composition, and certainly not the effect that the equipment is set to create.
In other words, when you come in to take a photograph, the only thing a photographer should expect of you is to give them a clear explanation what the picture is going to be used for, what mood/energy you need to create in it, possibly poses that you like or dislike, and may be a variety of other useful little details about yourself and what you'd like to achieve.
But when everything is setup and you get in there, you can relax and have a photographer guide you completely. The more relaxed you are the better, so the faster you get into that state - the sooner we'll start taking good pictures :).
That said.. it usually takes about an hour for a subject to wind down from the anxiety (and probably meeting a new person for the first time - me). That's why you should expect your session to be at least an hour long. Most likely much longer, especially if you're going for different looks and/or setups.
And even longer if there's more people involved - hair/make up/stylist.
It definitely helps to have a friend with you to get into the "working mode" faster. It also helps to talk to a photographer over the phone (at least) at least once before the shoot. The best is actually meeting face-to-face.
Everything that leads to feeling COMFORTABLE with the photographer will make your photo session much more enjoyable and easy.
And here are some photos from almost a whole day of shooting with a very talented singer - Natalie, it's been an honor to work with her on these concepts! We had a vintage store collaborating on this shoot (http://www.amtvintage.com) - thank you guys for fantastic clothes! Lauren Tyler-fuller (you can find her on my facebook page) was helping out with make up, hair and styling:
Monday, October 26, 2009
STAR sessions... (or how photography session changes you)
Being very interested in various aspects of personal development, I'm constantly on a look out for little things that can help see things "differently" - new angle/perspective in photography, new approach or point of view in life - the variety of things you can do to remain in balance and peace may stun you.
What I'm discovering through my clients is something that's become obvious to me only so many sittings and sessions later...
When you live your every day life, you're bound to get used to certain behavior around you, you set your expectations of people and you think you begin to know what others experience you as.
All this crashes into pieces when you get surrounded by a completely different story, new people, put on something you (almost) never wear, get that hair/make up done by professionals, create a fantasy around your self, let your imagination carry you away for a few hours...
This is not an ordinary experience anymore! This is not a headshot you need for your website, where you present your good looking self in a best way, from best angle and light, but... in a very familiar - "everyday" - way.
This isn't a portrait for the wall either. This is now a trip!
You probably hear a lot about how travel can affect your life - how it creates a more perfect, defined and deliberate YOU.
The Creative Photo Shoot is an opportunity to re-discover something very meaningful to you. Nobody can tell what it'll turn out to be - only you. This work as always unique, unusual and revealing. And the planning is the most important part of it.
It typically starts with choosing a story:
- What will it be like?
- What's the main character like?
- What are the tear sheets that could be used to illustrate the images we want to achieve?
It develops into finding:
- A location;
- Wardrobe with accessories (some can do it pretty well themselves, but a stylist is highly recommended - to let go of anything you do every day, to let someone else help you create a completely new story);
- Type of a look - hair and make up (both performed by professional artists);
The story almost always changes during planing, but what is going on behind the scenes is this: after meeting the client photographer knows their body type, eye color, hair length and all other unchangeable factors that support the whole story. It is very useful to get to know a person too - I will know what type of energy will most likely fill the frame. It's all an inspiration that we build around. There are many sources that may inspire photographer to pitch an idea or two, based on these factors. The story grows not only in your heart, but also in mine. With time it all gets surrounded by the theme, clothes and locations, photographer creates a perfect light to complete the picture. You can probably see by now that during the planning phase - that's when the story really gets created.
Nothing is any more or less important here in this type of session. Badly implemented element can spoil the entire thing, so the photographer is making sure everything is taken care of.
On the day of the shoot a lot of things happen. Subject is dressed and groomed, light is set up, you might think the rest is easy, that's when the hardest work begin both for the client and photographer. They now work on creating the energy. Photographer guides the subject in poses, expressions, and the open heart/mind is very important.
When you look at your choices deciding what you should do, consider that it is a lot of work to put together something like this. A lot of people get involved:
- Photographer;
- Photo assistant;
- Hair stylist;
- Make up artist;
- Wardrobe stylist;
- You (and may be your friend), etc.
Everyone works hard, including you! So you can't be tired on the day of shooting - lots of energy, water, and sleep are an absolute MUST.
The results will speak for themselves. Start collecting those tear sheets, cut pages out of magazines, copy stuff from the internet where you see yourself in - your own unique story is about to unfold!
You can create the photo story around your engagement session, proposal, wedding, anniversary, Valentine's day, or any other occasion that you would like to remember - even if it's for a birthday!
What I'm discovering through my clients is something that's become obvious to me only so many sittings and sessions later...
When you live your every day life, you're bound to get used to certain behavior around you, you set your expectations of people and you think you begin to know what others experience you as.
All this crashes into pieces when you get surrounded by a completely different story, new people, put on something you (almost) never wear, get that hair/make up done by professionals, create a fantasy around your self, let your imagination carry you away for a few hours...
This is not an ordinary experience anymore! This is not a headshot you need for your website, where you present your good looking self in a best way, from best angle and light, but... in a very familiar - "everyday" - way.
This isn't a portrait for the wall either. This is now a trip!
You probably hear a lot about how travel can affect your life - how it creates a more perfect, defined and deliberate YOU.
The Creative Photo Shoot is an opportunity to re-discover something very meaningful to you. Nobody can tell what it'll turn out to be - only you. This work as always unique, unusual and revealing. And the planning is the most important part of it.
It typically starts with choosing a story:
- What will it be like?
- What's the main character like?
- What are the tear sheets that could be used to illustrate the images we want to achieve?
It develops into finding:
- A location;
- Wardrobe with accessories (some can do it pretty well themselves, but a stylist is highly recommended - to let go of anything you do every day, to let someone else help you create a completely new story);
- Type of a look - hair and make up (both performed by professional artists);
The story almost always changes during planing, but what is going on behind the scenes is this: after meeting the client photographer knows their body type, eye color, hair length and all other unchangeable factors that support the whole story. It is very useful to get to know a person too - I will know what type of energy will most likely fill the frame. It's all an inspiration that we build around. There are many sources that may inspire photographer to pitch an idea or two, based on these factors. The story grows not only in your heart, but also in mine. With time it all gets surrounded by the theme, clothes and locations, photographer creates a perfect light to complete the picture. You can probably see by now that during the planning phase - that's when the story really gets created.
Nothing is any more or less important here in this type of session. Badly implemented element can spoil the entire thing, so the photographer is making sure everything is taken care of.
On the day of the shoot a lot of things happen. Subject is dressed and groomed, light is set up, you might think the rest is easy, that's when the hardest work begin both for the client and photographer. They now work on creating the energy. Photographer guides the subject in poses, expressions, and the open heart/mind is very important.
When you look at your choices deciding what you should do, consider that it is a lot of work to put together something like this. A lot of people get involved:
- Photographer;
- Photo assistant;
- Hair stylist;
- Make up artist;
- Wardrobe stylist;
- You (and may be your friend), etc.
Everyone works hard, including you! So you can't be tired on the day of shooting - lots of energy, water, and sleep are an absolute MUST.
The results will speak for themselves. Start collecting those tear sheets, cut pages out of magazines, copy stuff from the internet where you see yourself in - your own unique story is about to unfold!
You can create the photo story around your engagement session, proposal, wedding, anniversary, Valentine's day, or any other occasion that you would like to remember - even if it's for a birthday!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Water.
Probably the most exciting element - Water. Soothing in many different ways - the sound of it, the taste of it, the nature of it.
Model - Teisha Coleman
MUA - Lauren Tyler
Model - Teisha Coleman
MUA - Lauren Tyler
Friday, October 2, 2009
Good Morning, mommy
While I was driving my son to school this morning - he zipped up his jacket over the seat belt and couldn't get out of the car right away. The teacher opened the door, he tried to get out and couldn't! I was unable to figure what's going on until he unzipped and I got to see a perfectly tight seat belt under *lol*
What was the moment when you woke up this morning?
What was the moment when you woke up this morning?
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