Run Cover

A few months back, we went on location for a cover shoot, for a special Sacramento magazine supplement. The day we chose ended up being the only day that week that was overcast and dreary, which worked in our favor. There was a bit of moisture which gave higher saturation to the surrounding plants and also made it easier for our model to function. The lighting for the shoot was Phottix Indra 500's. These lights are so ideal for location work. They offer very durable batteries as well as high-speed sync, which was crucial for a running shoot my other the lights would not have performed so well. It's so important to have a solid crew to help on these types of shoots. I've worked with all of these individuals before, and they're genuinely talented and good at what they do.

Thanks to a great crew!

Model: Arionna Morales

Makeup: Ernesto Robledo

Art Direction: John Facundo

Production: Christine Alward

Assistant: Skip Jones

20minute Portrait

I was recently assignedto photograph multiple law firms for a local magazine. 

Photographing law firms is something I've done the past few years for this magazine and I really enjoy it. A majority of them are on location, but I do shoot a few at my studio. It always a challenge to get busy people scheduled to photograph. One of the attorneys was in between appointments and called to see if I was available. I happened to have about an hour before my next shoot, so his timing worked out perfectly. By the time my lighting was set up and he arrived, I had about 20 minutes to make some images. Over the years I have worked really hard to get the images that I need, quickly and efficiently. It's taken much practice and is something I'm still working on.

Here are a few tips I have picked up over time.

WORK QUICKLY

Having a portrait taken is an intimidating process for many people and I constantly hear, "I hate having my photo taken." or "I am so nervous". When I first meet my subjects, I try to find something in common that we can chat about to help put them at ease. There is no point being a loud, “Out There” person, when the subject is shy and introverted. I take my time setting up lighting and posing them, but when it is time to shoot, I work quick, as no one likes to hold a pose. And the longer you hold a pose the stiffer it looks and feels. If it feels awkward it will look awkward. The only way to learn is to pose yourself, even in front of a mirror so you can see what works.

SUBJECT FIRST, TECHNIQUE SECOND

My approach to portrait photography is all about the person I am photographing. Too often it’s the technical trickery of the photographer that ends up showing through and speaking for the sitter. When that happens you don't really get to know the person in the picture, just the photographer. My goal is to strip all of the extraneous stuff out. Of course, a portrait can never be more than a subjective view of someone. So, even though I am trying to portray the sitter for who they are it’s inevitably my view, my interpretation.

EXPLAIN YOUR APPROACH

Most of the portraits I am making at the moment are commissioned by an editorial client or an organization. Commissioned portraits require a brief from the client including a consideration of layout, style, deadline, budget and availability of the subject. I get organized as much as possible and try to find out about the person I’m photographing. I do a Google search on the person so I have some thing to talk about and some idea of what may resonate with them. I explain a little of my approach to the subject so they know what I am hoping to achieve. Sometimes I want to create a formal structured portrait and other times a more fluid spontaneous style depending on what I want to communicate and what medium the image will be published in. Every photograph, even commissioned work, has a little of me in it in some way.

Sacramento Magazine "Cover Of The Year"

I just received word the cover I shot for Sacramento Magazine was voted the 2013 Cover of the Year. My team and I put together the photo shoot early last year for the lead story and cover of the April issue. I photographed many of our Sacramento news anchors, it was such a fun day! We had Bethany Crouch from FOX 40 (KTXL) and Lisa Gonzales from Ch 3 (KCRA) as our cover models and wow, are they amazing together! I have never seen such great chemistry! They should have there own TV show.

I am so pleased with the team I had on this shoot. That cover shot came out of a very funny situation. After the shoot was over, Lisa and Bethany were playing on an old Honda scooter that was in the studio. I started shooting them with my iPhone. After looking at the iPhone images I realized that was the energy I needed for the cover shot. We went back and reshot the cover with the same configuration and style. Although the iPhone shot was almost good enough to be the cover by itself.

And who says the iPhone is not a real camera!

Makeup: Jenifer Haupt 
Hair: Renne Alejandro
Styling: Simone Vianna 
Production: Christine Alward