Photo of the Day: FWP016

Category: Fashion Photograph: “FWP016 by UK Photo Art First, I love the title. FWP016 is mysterious or is it an abbreviation?  I love the photography because the pose isn’t conventional. The model’s face is framed by a Betty Page hair style. Her black dress, the front fastened at her neck by a circle of silver, shows […]

Using your Children as Models

I often use my children as subjects before I have a big shoot scheduled. I will bring my children to the location, and have them help scout, pick angles and model for me. This provides valuable feedback on how the light and environment responds to my gear and settings and gives me the opportunity to […]

Cucoloris for Shadowed Texture

So often someone will take the time to light the talent to look great but forget to light the background and give the image some depth: One method is to use a Cucoloris. Some will refer to it a s a cookie cutter:The Cucoloris will create a shadowed texture onto your background depending on the […]

Photo of the Day: Tuxedo

Category: Fashion Photograph: “Tuxedo” by Vincent Milum, Jr. Photographer Vincent Milum, Jr. offers the dinner jacket that started in the upstate New York countryside enclave Tuxedo Park a delightful re-imagining. A faux dress shirt complete with black bow tie pulls the model’s jacket together–literally! She peers at the camera while tipping her top hat for the […]

C-Stands 101

One of the most used tools on a Hollywood set, oh heck on any set, is the C-Stand. C in Roman numerals representing the numeral 100 is how the C-Stand got its name, 100’s of uses. When closed it’s 53″ high, it can be extended to 10’6″, it usually is ordered with a 40″ arm […]

No Sippy Cups here, just Baby Plates

Some of the most used tools on a Hollywood set are C-Stands and Apple Boxes. Then there are these little babies, Baby Plates. What is a Baby Plate you ask? It’s a 5/8 stud, about 3″ tall, welded onto a 3.5″ x 6″ metal plate. It has many uses. Allow me to share a few […]

Scrim for Lighting Detail

It’s a beautiful sunny day, you’re shooting indoors looking out to a sliding glass door or window and it’s brighter outside than on your set. Your talent is moving so HDR is not an option. You really don’t want a silhouette, if you expose for the talent then your sliding glass door or window blows […]

Offbeat with Joel Grimes

Joel Grimes’ work is instantly recognizable. From powerful, dynamic posing, to a rich, yet desaturated, HDR look, to masterful compositing which is both surreal and firmly grounded in reality, his photography is iconic. His work has such intensity that, when I met Joel a few years back, expected him to be equally intense and, perhaps, […]

Shooting Personal Projects

A great way to challenge yourself and enhance your skills is to shoot some personal projects. Here is an opportunity to stretch your imagination. Building sets, buying props, coordinating wardrobe, scouting locations and casting talent are all part of the process of shooting your personal projects. When you apply all these things, your ideas will […]