I got nothing to say, but wanted to share a few shots from my shoot with Harmony Romano today.

Title: Daydreamer  Model: Harmony Romano MUA: Noel Dalton

I’m planning my shoot for tomorrow with Harmony and thinking of all the different directions I can take this shoot.  That’s the amazing thing about photography the endless worlds that you can create.  I love creating a world that I wish I lived in or didn’t live in.  I guess that is part of what makes us human, our ability to imagine.

I will be submitting some work to some local shows.  I have to say I’m a tab bit nervous, I don’t want to be laughed out by the judges.   But I feel this is the next step for me.  I haven’t had anything judged on since high school and that was for a painting.  I did win that though (brag).  This isn’t high school anymore.

Here is the last photo I will be posting from my Ambre shoot.  Titled: Possibilities Model: Ambre Rose MUA: Mack Weaver

I have been working hard lately on posing.  Why? Because I have been a victim of generically posing my models.  This is a trap that I have seen quite a bit of photographers fall into.  Posing has got to be one of the hardest things to learn as a photographer.  The next hardest thing is communicating the poses you want out of the model.  This is where hands down a experienced model makes a huge difference.  Since here in Albuquerque we have a very limited pool of experienced models to work with, we as photographers need to learn to communicate if we ever plan on getting those rock’n images.

But here is a tip to get you started.  If you are having a hard time communicating what you want and your model is stiff.  Get your subject moving, moving, moving.  Have them do spins, swinging the arms whatever to loosen them up. You maybe surprised on what you get during those movements.  Then after having some fun you may find it easier to flow into the poses that you want. I personally love the look of movement in photographs, it makes the image come to life.

Here are some pics straight from camera that I took of Ambre while I had her doing lots of movement.

Today I watched What Remains for the 100th time.  I love Sally Mann, she inspires me more than any other photographer.  Her passion and heart is so incredible and moving.  If you do not know who this photographer is then I suggest a little goggle action. I think what inspires me the most about her is that she is a photographer for herself.  She shoots what is meaningful to her no matter if the public “gets it” or not.  If you are lacking inspiration then just take a look around you.  There is art surrounding all of us and it’s just waiting to be tapped into.  This evening i will be starting on my nightmare theme.  I’m excited and nervous to see where it goes.

Here is a pic inspired by Sally Mann Titled: Ambre Model: Ambre Rose  MUA: Mack Weaver

Today I had a perfect Women of the Que shoot. The new girl Devin is awesome and I’m sure everyone will love her.  I will be posting a link in a few days to the Women of the Que blog.

I have been trying to clean up and organize my files lately.  As I was doing this I ran across some old images and decided to processes them.  Here is one of the images.  The model is Mary Catey and this pic was taken last year.

Not to much to say today but wanted to get an image posted.  Oh,  Walmart has great curtain scarfs for $14 and some change.  They are over 200 inchs long and look amazing flowing in the wind.

Title: Something Deep Down Model: Jaclyn Archuleta, MUA: Noel Dalton

Today has been a slow one.  I guess it is good, because I have so much to catch up on since being out sick for nearly a month.   Photos to edit, upload, and email out, a never ending circle.  Sometimes I wish I could just live out in the country like Sally Mann and take pictures of grass, trees, horses, people, whatever I want.  Just me and my 100 yr old camera.  Ah, but is the grass always greener on the other side, it never really is.  I would miss the friendships I build working with other photographers, MUA’s and models.  I love the collaboration of everyone’s talents.  So in the end the many hours behind the computer is worth it to me.

I wish things here in Albuquerque was easier though.  I have been looking for designers or brands to work with in order to have submissions for certain mags.  This is turning into a feat to overcome, not many designers running around NM.  So I’m thinking I’m going to have to look outside of state on this one.

For those of you looking into getting into fashion photography you have taken one of the hardest roads to follow.  The comp is high and you need a really good team behind you.  But if you want it enough I believe we can accomplish anything we set on minds to.  So I’m gonna keep shooting, learning and growing to become the photographer I envision myself to be.

Quick tip photographers, title your work!  It makes it more personal and helps it take a life of it’s own.

Title: These Arms of Mine,  Model: Jaclyn Archuleta,  MUA: Noel Dalton

I’m sitting here going through the shots I took tonight and listening to Amy Winehouse.  What a beautiful soul she had, and it is a shame her flame was blown out so soon.  I dedicate this shot to her.

Title: For you I was a flame, Model: Jaclyn Archuleta, MUA: Noel Dalton

I love it when I have a photo shoot that several worlds can emerge.  It’s exciting for me to see all the possibilities despite my main intentions for the shoot.  Ambre’s shoot was very much like that, going from something serene, to dark and creepy.  I named this shot tiny feet, because she looks so small in this giant world of undergrowth and trees.  Life can definitely feel that way to me.

Today I have been looking at some amazing photographers out there, and I can’t help but feel small in comparison.  But I quickly remind myself that this is only the beginning and I’m just now starting to understand who I am as a artist/photographer.  Why do photographers always feel weird calling themselves artists?  Anyways, back to what I was saying.  It’s easy to get discouraged and think that things are never going to move for you.  But we always have to remember even the greats feel that way too and we all start somewhere.

I’m sitting in my darken living room, the only light is coming from a lamp to my right.  My house is howling, it does that when all the doors are closed and the cooler is going.  It’s fitting tonight though, for I’m in a somber state of mind.  I had decided to emailed another photographer that managed to make it in fashion photography about giving me some pointers.  I sent that email off today and he was gracious enough to reply.   He’s response was sobering to say the least.  He gave me his opinion on my work, which none of it really surprised me.  But what was hard to take was his opinion that there is no future for me in Albuquerque.  In order to be taken seriously in fashion, I would need to be on a coast, shooting professional models.  If that can’t happen then a massive amount of luck.  Moving to the coast is not an option for me.  So what it comes down to for me is luck.  I need luck on my side.

He is right there is no fashion industry here and no money.  So what does one do?  I guess that is something I’m going to have to figure out.  I wish I could just make photography a hobby and be perfectly happy working a regular job.  I have no problem working to pay the bills and that is something I going to have to do, yes I’m currently looking for a job.  At some point though I want to have a successful career in photography.

So come on luck, I’m waiting for you.

This pic I titled Nowhere, model: Ambre Rose and MUA: Mack Weaver