NBA All-Star Weekend
Stacy aka Bratz visiting Los Angeles Art District
Over the course of NBA All Star weekend, people are swarming to Los Angeles (LA). Celebrities, models and everyday people ordinary people. In those group of ordinarty people are people who are looking to hit it big with a ball player or celeb. I knew models would be arriving soon, so I was kind of wondering about on Instagram and stumble across a post that an insta-model was looking to shoot while in town. So, I threww a "bone in the dark" and waited. Low and behold she responded. I was shocked!!!
We messaged each other with me giving details, and trying to find a location that would best suit both of us. We settled on the art district area. Of course, like majoity of my shoots they always take place after work. As soon as I got off, I showered made sure everything was packed and charged. Called an Uber early because I know how LA tracffic can be. I arrived at Urth Caffe extra early to scout and get a bite to eat. The session was agreed for four in the afternoon, but she was 45 minutes late. I was going to give her until five to cancel the session. She finally arrived purple hair and all.
So, we met chatted for a bit then started shooting. Her first outfit was an all black tube topand skirt with sparkle style heels. With this look, we shot around the graffiti in the area then over to the parking garage one blick away. While walking there, I asked if she had another outfit in which she replied yes. A few more shots in the first outfit then we switched to the second look.
Eyes
If looks could kill
Now, this outfit is what we should have started with. This fit the lifestyle look I was going for originally. It was more of a fun lifestyle shoot now. The outfit was something she would wear on a regular day. We stayed at the parking garage. Utiziling the area. Alot of the shots turned out like a fashion magizine. No flash was used but natural and available light.
I enjoyed this shoot then when I visit MIami again, I'll definitly connect with Stacy in her neck of the woods.
Productive Week
** All images are SOOC (Straight Out of Camera) and selected at random. Final images are placed in galleries when finalized.**
As most know, I moved to Los Angeles for a full time position at my company. In the first few weeks of being here living in different hotels and flying back and forth to Detroit every week with my two off days. I began to feel my creative side dampen, and I was not myself. Not one bit at all.
Like any photographer feeling in a rut would do, I put out an "ad" on Model Mayhem to get my juices flow again. After about a few days, I began to get a few hits from people who were interested then it began to snowball. I had a lot of people contact me that some of the ones who I responded to have not responded back to me at all. With all these different possibilities I asked my bro Tristan if could help with some of them, and he was more than to happy to assist whenever he was able.
The first person I photographed was Andrea. Andrea contacted me on Instagram as we set something up within that week. The location that was chosen was the art district Downtown Los Angeles. When meeting Andrea it was never chill and relax, as an experienced model I did not have to give a lot of direction to the poses she knew exactly what to do. We went to pretty much all over the area. Also, with my first shot comes the first confrontation with a resident in the area. We pushed passed that mess and kept shooting. In the end for my first shoot, I over shot like crazy.
My next shoot was with Oyenoya who I was communicating with over email. We set up a fitness/swimwear session but had to cut the swimwear because of time and she had a open audition to record. We met in Santa Monica near the entrance of the pier. Again this was another chill relaxed person. We start the session with some basic yoga poses and then we move to more active positions, jogging, running, step-ups, and high knees. At times while I'm readjusting I catch he posing naturally waiting on me. To me those are the best moments to capture. The last spot was a walk way over the Pacific Coast Highway where we did our last poses and because we had to get back and it was getting dark as well. As I walked her to her car, I told her I really didn't have to a car yet, so she offered me a ride at least half way. With it being LA that took longer that expect. About half way I just had her drop me off at Home Depot so she can make her taping. In the end she did make it.
Next was my coworker Ronnie. She was starting to push her hair business and needed a few head shots and I still take models to expand my portfolio. We schedule a day after she came back from her trip. Again day was suppose to have been done Thursday but her flight came in late and it was pushed back to Saturday after I got off from work. Because I don't know LA traffic like at all, I just know it gets extremely heavy at random times. I had to quickly shower, change clothes and call an uber to take me to Beverly Hills. I finally got there and met Ronnie and we drove down Melrose til we found a parking lot that had a lot of dope street art. Just like all the street art in the area there are a lot people "tourist" taking pictures as well. We start moving along different pieces and incorporating different shades of lipstick. All the pieces there was so dope I wanted to stay there longer but I had other plans for the night.
So my original second shoot was suppose to be with Miss Black Los Angeles herself Jasmine. Due to the weather being a little cold and wet due to the rain the day before it was pushed back to next week Wednesday then moved forward to Monday (MLK day). This shoot I was able to have Tristan with me I was making sure the shoot was going to be one for the books. Just how I planned it -- not really though but let me have my moment -- It was a complete success. We met at the Route 66 sign that signified the end/beginning of Route 66. The first look was in the edge of the water where the waves just hit our toes. It was semi-perfect as the sun was setting, I just wanted it a little lower to really bring out the hues. In the middle of our session she was recognized by someone who follows her in the pageant world (I'm guessing). From there we moved to under the pier to do some dopeness and get even more cold from the water. Brief intermission, clean sand from feet and wardrobe change. She came back with the dope sequin skirt and yellow jacket, oh I forgot to mention her mom was there who is also her manager. With this look she wanted to shoot within the arcade but that was short lived as we aren't allowed to shoot in there we did get a few shots before we were kicked out. So we moved to the park entrance, and it was perfect as the colors matched perfectly with her outfit. Because we were using a speedlight we kind of drew a crowd. It was as if she was a celebrity. With momanger and Tristan on the look out they began to notice we caught the attention of the park security. With a few more shots we quickly broke down and moved inside. While inside we used all ambient light and the Ferris wheel as a rim/background light. Because I limited, I had to push myself and my camera. In the end, the shoots became something that I loved. After the shoot, Jasmine's mom invited us to her video premiere party on Valentine's Day. She told us a lot of names will be in the building so it will be a perfect networking opportunity for us. Noted also future collaborations between us.
Stay tune for more shoots!
“There are things which nobody would see unless I photographed them.”
“I see little of more importance to the future of our country and of civilization than full recognition of the place of the artist. If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him.”