Yes, I Work Crazy Hours…

My shoot on Tuesday went well. I drove up to Austin to work with Lauren, only to later learn that while I was gone San Antonio had received over 4-inches of rain. Wednesday we also had more inches of rain, it’s been practically non-stop for almost two months now. While that’s a bit of exaggeration, it’s been super rainy this year. One good thing though, my books just came in and we’re going to be getting them out the next couple of days, weather permitting.

I’ll be getting my gear ready later today as on Friday I have to take off to Chicago were I’ll be conducting a great, glamour photography workshop this weekend—five great models! We’ll have a new make-up artist too, can’t wait. I’ll get some shooting done as I arrive early on Friday, then I’m staying till mid-week as we start filming my newest DVD on glamour photography—finally getting back on track with a new video. [Read more]

When it Rains, it Pours!

In 1914 the Morton Salt company coined the phrase, “When it rains it pours,” and used a drawing of a cute girl walking with her umbrella as the rain was coming down. That slogan and the little girl helped sell tons of salt. Perhaps that line drawing was an early glamour, commercial conception, using a young female to sell a product.

The salt company new that with time comes change, so in 1921 with the roaring twenties, Morton put a “dance” in her step. The next change to the “Umbrella Girl,” as came to be known, was in 1933 post-Depression years when “jazz was king.” One of the more noticeable differences was the ribbon in her hair and in 1941, the ribbons were taken out and ponytails were added with the Umbrella Girl taking on a bolder yellow dress and her hair became golden goldilocks. Her hemline also came up an inch or two and there became an almost low-neck-cut appearance in her short dress. Morton states, “While our boys were off to war, our little girl was serving at home.” [Read more]

Heading Out To Shoot!

Darn, I’ve been trying all morning to get out of the house to get a shoot done in Austin with one hot model. Now, as a “professional photographer” we have to be real careful when we use the word “hot” since we live in such a politically correct society–which really means we really live in a very hypocrite society.

Now many will wonder why I say that. First, just look at all the model portfolios on the net. I know many models will say they “don’t do nudes” to keep all the freaks and stalkers from contacting them, that will do nudes, that’s not a problem with me. What is the real problem when they advertise they don’t do nudes, along with “don’t ask, don’t even try, absolutely no nudes, etc.,” and then their photos in their public portfolios have nude images. Again, I know why not to advertise it in the text description, but do you really think stalkers and freaks who want to look at nekkid pictures of girls read the text? [Read more]

Oh Those Hours…

Well I’m about ready to head to the shower, then to bed. Yep, been up all night working on images, not to mention Glamour1.com and various other sites. Been a long (past) week. The main stickler was the aftermath of the last Virgin Islands trip where we did our first “one on one” type workshop with seven photographers, seven models, six assistants, a cook and one MUA. Wanted two MUA’s, but the original insisted herself only–make more money that way she figured.

When you’re down in the Caribbean paradise, it’s tropical. With tropical comes humidity, heat, and a mosquito or noseeum occasional bite. Cram 9-ladies in one house alone combined with the tropical environment, early mornings for make-up, long days of shooting, and you’ve created a conducive environment for at least one flare-up. That we had on the last day of shooting. Basically two people acting unprofessional by arguing in front of all the attendees and the neighbors. Had I’d been there, I would have ended it quickly. [Read more]

All Models are Subjects but not All Subjects are Models

Not all subjects are models, but all models are subjects when it comes to glamour photography and this statement is critical in the private glamour business, especially if you plan to succeed in this business.

Let’s look at models first. Normally beginning or even established professional agency models don’t come looking for glamour photos for their portfolios, though on occasion models have asked me to photograph them a bit more glamorous or sexy for their significant other. Some are even willing to trade glamour modeling in exchange for fashion, commercial or editorial images for their portfolios (books).

I’ve even had many models ask me to photograph them for submission to Maxim or Playboy. Usually this is no problem and easy to accomplish as most professional models have the proper height and weight proportionately and watch their diets to maintain their shapely figures, usually youthful bodies with experience in front of the camera—they know how to pose without asking. The camera lens is their best friend and no matter how you photograph them the images will be strong and the model will stand out—this is how your normal private glamour subject wants to appear on print, like a model. [Read more]

GlAMOURCON

815 Join Mark Daughn from Mystique, myself and others at this year’s GLAMOURCON, the only officially sanctioned event by Playboy, for more details for the upcoming Chicago event, click here! Thanks, rg sends!

No “I” in Team

Well the 1-day workshop is over, what a great group of people–one team, one great effort! We kept everything small on purpose as we did this one at home, normally my workshops have at least five models, but it worked even with replacing a model at the last minute that failed to show. That’s why a list of great team members, like models, assistants and stylists are important–you never know when Murphy will hit.

Claudia, Lola and Devon were wonderful models along with Wendy for make-up too! I’ve worked with many, many make-up artists over the years, and very few are as wonderful and professional as Wendy. Elise, Kelly, Travis and Stephanie are others I’ll tip my hat for too–few cut the mustard! I expect my make-up artists to be professionals, not act professional. If I want an actor I’ll go to the local drama club. Many MUA’s, as they are known in this business, often have a false-sense about their role and often forget that while an MUA can make a model look good, great post-production can make an MUA look better. [Read more]

This Weekend

Well this weekend we have our 1-day special San Antonio workshop–right here in my home! We’ve got some great models, two new ones plus our rock-hard Devon and one of my favorite MUA’s from Austin, Wendy. Wendy helped me on my last private glamour shoot and she’s awesome! I’ve had the opportunity to work with awesome MUA’s and models over my career, too many to name.

One thing that I strive to do is provide fresh talent with all the repeat business I have, but it’s a balanceing act as you have to rotate people, otherwise people can become too complacent and then they think it’s their workshop. The downside, many folks can provide valuable experience, but in the end, we all have to start somewhere so using new talent should never be something any photographer should ever be afraid to do. I’ll see all of you, new talent included, this weekend at my house and I’m looking forward to start helping new talent get published too! Wishing you the best, rg sends!

Back from the Virgin Islands

Well I’m a bit behind, meant to write in this blog while in the VI, but got side tracked and I hope we’ll be able to do better on our next VI trip in August. While all workshops are fun, educational and awesome, especially when in the Virgin Islands, this trip I had to put out a few fires, sort to speak. Nothing major and we’ll leave it at that because that’s the professional thing to do.

We had some great photographers, models and assistants, they all did what they were supposed to do and then some! While we always strive to improve, when you combine seven models, seven photographers, and six assistants along with myself and the rest of the crew, how can you go wrong? We even had our own cook, Lisa, Playboy Playmate Holley Dorrough’s mom who joined us for the hot sun, sweat and the occassional mosquito bite. The pool was always refreshing, I think everyone but one person got in the pool the entire trip–yeah, I got in there myself. [Read more]

Working With Models and Water

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It’s that time again where we all like to enjoy the water and like the seagulls we flock to the nearest and largest body of water. Whether it’s a pool, lake, or beach, water is nature’s way of cooling us off quickly, especially during the summer and the retail industry makes billions each year selling us everything from swimsuits to snorkel fins—most through ads that feature beautiful, bikini-clad models, some even wearing wicked weasels.

The photographers that take these images work under the same conditions as all photographers taking pictures of their family near or around water— battling reflected light from the sky, water, sand and even concrete from the edges of a pool. Anything on the white side of the tonal scale will reflect and amplify light like crazy. [Read more]

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