It starts off as an idea. An itch. A need to be creative. I study my magazines in awe and wonder. The result? The brain wheels start to turn, and my finger gets click happy. It’s time for another fashion shoot. This time, I’ll let you in on my process.
First the model. I needed someone with unique features, gobs of hair, and confidence in front of the camera. It just so happened that I ran into a beautiful little minx at kick boxing that morning. Brittany Martinez, an experienced young model. Perfect. Next, I called my friend Michael Gabriel with Lunatic Fringe and tried to inspire the itch. He was game. And finally, Makeup Artist extraordinaire, Savannah Colbert. Let the synergy begin.
The three of us met before to talk about ideas. As Gabe did hair, we set up shop. Soft boxes, beauty dishes, reflectors, tripods, backdrops, and of course, the camera. But it’s not as easy as just clicking a button. White Balance, perfect exposure, sharpness, correct positioning of lights, and most certainly, how to position the model, etc. As Savannah did makeup, I tested lighting.
Hair? Check. Makeup? Check. Light test? Check. Now, a test shot. Lovely. Flawless.
Now pose…..BAM! She’s ready.
To the studio. The beginning of the shoot usually consists of the model getting out the gitters, relaxing the nerves. It doesn’t matter how well the model poses, her emotion and feeling are displayed through the eyes. Never do I want a manufactured look, I want authentic, bona fide, raw sentiment. I usually ask the model to close her eyes for a few seconds. The moment she opens, I snap it. ….
…which usually ends up with the shot I want. Like this….
….and this one. Whoa….hot mama!
Back to hair and makeup for round two. Bigger hair, and more dramatic eyes. While the magicians magically transform Brittany, I’m back out in the studio to create more dramatic lighting.
Gabe and Savanah, you amaze me.
Oh how I looooooove this one below…..my fav. Total fav.
And this one….holy begeezers…
I then spend a few days sorting, culling, and narrowing down my favorites. The effort and amount of work that goes into one shoot is incredible. Each of us were nothing without the other. The camera needs the model. The hair needs the Stylist. The face needs the Makeup Artistry.
And they all need the camera.
Model: Brittany Martinez
Hair: Michael Gabriel Lyons
MUA: Savanah Colbert
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