05.22.07
Posted in Modeling at 8:12 am by Bryan
You may have noticed the new link in the Model section of my sidebar. I’ve been going out to her blog for a while now and finally decided to add her link there. I think my strategy is that model blogs will link from this page and the links to profiles and portfolios will link from my photography page so, eventually, most of the model links that are there now will move.
You may recognize Elyse Sewell from the first cycle of America’s Next Top Model. She was the future medical student who made it to the top three. I’ve never worked with her, never spoken to her, never written to her, and probably couldn’t afford to work with her unless I snagged a major advertising campaign. Not likely in the immediate future. So, I’ve linked to her for no other reason than I like her look and I like her writing. She seems to tell it like it is.
And I like that.
Permalink
07.17.06
Posted in Writing, Photography, Modeling at 8:00 am by Bryan
It was a weekend without a flow.
Friday was my day off, and though there were a bunch of things I wanted to get done, not much was actually accomplished. Originally, I was supposed to meet with the bride from the wedding I did a few weeks ago to pick up her enlargement order. That didn’t happen, so it also means I didn’t pick up the check for the enlargement order. Even though I did meet with her yesterday, I still didn’t get the check. Well, as it turns out, I did some shopping around. If I use my old lab to process the order I can save about 25% even after paying for postage, but I would need to prepay the costs which isn’t possible without getting paid first. This takes the brides costs from $800 to $600, so I’ll call her later today to see if she wants to send a check otherwise I’m going with the original quote.
On the good side of the tally for Friday (or at least interesting side), I was at Common Grounds just chilling out, when a young lady came in that I recognized but couldn’t place where I knew her from. I thought maybe I’d just recognized her from the coffee shop. It turns out we spent about four hours sitting next to each other playing a trivia game in a bar about six or seven months ago (I was helping her beat the competition, who were none the wiser). As it turns out, she just got a tattoo on her side (which is beautiful, by the way) and I’ve been looking to shoot a tattoo. So after it heals a bit, we’ll do some pictures of it.
Saturday I was at my day job, but I did make time to meet with SS to give her the prints from three of the seven rolls we shot together. The other four rolls were slides and my local lab doesn’t process slides in-house anymore, so they were sent off. It’ll be a few weeks before I can get those to her.
Sunday, was Starbuck’s Sunday, but it was not successful. There were a lot more distractions than usual (or at least I wasn’t able to block them out), and the bride was late arriving which threw off my day. I was really disappointed in what I was able to write Sunday. Actually, I was disappointed in just about everything Sunday. It was almost the kind of day where you would have been better off staying in bed.
And actually, that’s what I wish I could do today. My back hurts. My knees hurt. I’m unmotivated in both my day job and in writing. It’s a good thing I’m going on vacation in a month. It’ll be good to have a change of scenery.
Permalink
07.10.06
Posted in Writing, Photography, Modeling, Method, Current Projects, Second Chances at 8:00 am by Bryan
I had a really pleasant photoshoot on Saturday. SS wants to do local advertising and catalog work so we had a portfolio building shoot. We’d worked together once last year, and though she has very little experience, the difference that year has made in her confidence was amazing. She’s still a little unsure of herself, often asking after she strikes a pose or tries out an expression if that was dumb or silly or unflattering. Usually she nailed it.
At one point, she asked whether “it would be okay” to pose a certain way, and a thought struck me. I already knew that she was unsure of herself, but she had good instincts. I didn’t mind giving her the positive feedback, but I knew that in a catalog shoot the pace is usually much faster and other than “good” or “great” or “a little to the left” the photographer is not going to want to spend much time building her confidence. The thing that hit me was that she could get the feedback she was looking for while asking the question in a more confident way. Rather than “would it be okay” she could ask “how about something like this”. She’d be asserting her creative energy, asking for feedback, but not sounding as if she needed reassurance.
SS did a great job.
Then, after the shoot, even though I was sore (I always have a sore back after a six hour shoot; part of the joys of being old) I called a model in Texas. One of the first things I want to do for myself next year is work on an idea for the cover of Second Chances. I don’t want to reveal too much about why T is the model I need, but after talking to her Saturday I knew she was going to be the perfect choice to represent Amber Marie.
Once I’m closer to being a real live published author, I think I’m going to steal an idea from Shannon Stacey and put up a behind the scenes section for some of my character motivations. I never really thought about it before, but Amber Marie and T will deserve it. Aside from Gabby, who will always be my muse and collaborator, I don’t think I’ve ever created a character who meant more to me than Amber Marie.
Permalink
06.29.06
Posted in Uncategorized, Writing, Photography, Modeling, Sea of Dreams, Angel in Disguise, Current Projects, Second Chances at 8:00 am by Bryan
1. Science Fiction writer/publisher Jim Baen died yesterday.
2. This weekend will be fairly busy and I’m not sure how much blogging I will get done, much less writing. Friday, I’m helping a friend set up an above-ground pool, then Saturday a trampoline. Sunday should be a Starbuck’s day if everything works out, just me and my muse.
3. I’ve got a photoshoot with a new model the following weekend. I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit the last week or so, preparing my mind for it. She’s very inexperienced and unsure exactly what types of work she wants to get, so it is probably going to be a shoot where we talk almost as much as we actually shoot. There are so many things she needs to learn about the business, what to expect, what sorts of conduct to expect from photographers and art directors, etc. I like these shoots more than I’m letting on here. They’re actually quite relaxing because there are no time pressures and no set agenda. I’ve made some wardrobe recommendations, and I have a few things for her to try out, but nothing is written in stone. I have no idea what we will actually be doing. Fun.
4. I received an email from a model I worked with in DC about 6 years ago. She wants to shoot again when I am there at the end of August. I was planning to sneak away from family for a couple day trips here and there to do some architectural photography anyway, so we will probably try to slip in some casual and lifestyle shots on one of those days… if it ever stops raining, that is.
5. I actually found myself doing research again for Second Chances. I needed an accurate feel as to recovery periods and medical prognosis after particular injuries. It’s already been emotionally investing. I barely have any character developement done at all, and it still hurts to feel what Amber Marie has gone through. This is the story that that Gabby is responsible for.
6. I think Gabby Carruthers will be my nom de plum for those stories that I think might benefit by being written by a woman (or at least be a harder sell if written by a man). For this reason, Angel in Disguise will probably also be credited to Gabby. The other stories will remain mine for the time being, especially Sea of Dreams since Gabby is in that one.
7. Martina Hingis won her second round match at Wimbledon yesterday. She’s currently ranked at #15 in the world after starting her comeback this year. As of January 7th she was unranked, so she’s been doing well.
8. I’m not sure what’s going on with Team USA in soccer. They were ranked #5 in the world by FIFA but they can’t get out of the first round? I think we’ve been second class for so long that the team gets nervous as they step onto the pitch in the World Cup. It’s the only explanation I can think of, because we’re better than we showed in Germany this year. Oh, well. We get to try again in four more years.
9. I’m listening to Lisa Gerrard right now. Mellow.
10. Believe it or not, vanilla really is my favorite flavor.
Permalink
« Previous entries ·
