Showing posts with label Jamestown NC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jamestown NC. Show all posts

Monday, January 31, 2011

Wanna Pretend to be a Model?


Seems like I'm always getting some new idea that I want to try. Sometimes it's because I got inspired by a seminar or magazine article, or maybe I bought a new prop or backdrop, or sometimes it's just because I got some out-of-the-blue-hair-brained idea that I want to try. Or maybe I'm working on an idea for a painting or fine art photograph.

Now, I'm a portrait photographer all the way down into my heart. If I'm going to play with a new idea, it almost always involves having someone in the photograph.

So what do I do? Often I pull up my "Little Black Book" of people who are interested in being my models and call someone to offer a free session and a copy of my favorite image when we're done. Kinda like planning a play date. (By the way, that's also where I look first when a commercial client needs someone included in their shot with their product.)

Well--here's the problem. It's been two years since I updated my "Little Black Book" for models, and that's waaaay too long. I've got several ideas percolating, and it's just plain time to update things.

If you're interested, here's the plan. Tuesday, February 8th, 2011 from 10am to 5pm we're having an open casting call. No appointments, just pop in whenever you can. There will be a couple of forms to fill out and an model release to sign (must be 18 or signed by parent or legal guardian) and we'll do a quickie head shot for our book. That's all there is to it.

No need to dress up, no pressure. After you get called for a full-fledged session that's when we'll get all gussied up and stuff. Of course, there's no guarantee that you'll get a call to come, but if you don't get into the book it's a pretty sure bet you wont. If you REALLY want to be part of this, but you have to be outta town that day, call us and we'll fit you in some other time.

FYI: I might submit a favorite image to a background or prop manufacturer, and they could end up using it in their next catalogue or on their website. That would be super cool!

Models Needed for Projects I'm Working on Now:

Newborns 1-10 days old for new crochet snuggies, slings. (Expectant mom's can register their babies for our book with just a due date and a model release)

Babies 1-3 months old for new crochet baby hats and toboggans I'm making.

One through seven year old girls to show off our NEW COLLECTION of the cutest tutu's from Peach Tea Couture. They're adorable, and I have the entire collection, so I need a bunch of adorable girlies to come play dress up with me.

Families to pose for sample shots for marketing materials for our new division that offers Church Directory photography.

Princesses, fairies, or little boys who love frogs to be photographed in our castle arch outside. Our fab faux painter has painted us a wall to go behind the arch, and the vines are finally starting to grow up it a little, so it's ready!!!

High School Juniors from all the Triad High Schools: Trinity, Wheatmore, Randleman, Central High Point, East Davidson, Southwest Guilford etc. We're looking for Senior Spokesmodels for next years senior portraits. If you're part of the Class of 2012 and wanna earn some cash--we need to talk!

Teens with hip urban style, or toddlers with farm themed outfits for a new set we're getting ready to install. It's made of aged tin from an old barn roof. Rhonda risked life, limb, and husband to get that stuff, it's gonna be a really cool backdrop.

Expectant mom's with a sense of adventure. I wanna play with some ideas for maternity portraits that are different. ;-)

Pets of all kinds, housebroken, well loved. Working on a display and updating website photos.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Fallin' in Love: Wedding Photos from the Mountains






This was a new twist on wedding day photography for me, and a LOT of fun! David and Kacey had a small chapel wedding in Blowing Rock, NC. Most of the time I'm hired to start photographing before the ceremony starts. This time was different, their chapel provided a photographer for the ceremony.


But this family ought to win a "Fan of the Year Award" because they wanted something more creative and fun to celebrate the day. I arrived at the end of their reception, and I'll admit that felt kinda odd, you know, like I was late. I had a bad dream one night kinda like that, but that's another story. Then we headed out for a real adventure as we spent a few hours be-bopping around and taking photos of them.


We found a beautiful abandoned barn, a little covered bridge, and lots of surrounding areas where the trees were just awesome. Beautiful people, beautiful place, beautiful day--can't ask for more than that. Well....a little warmer weather would have been lovely, but we managed.




Saturday, February 20, 2010

February 19, 2010 - Photo of the Day - Ready for Work


I see them every day. Sometimes I even trip over them. Today I saw the rugged beauty in them. My husband's work boots.

February 18, 2010 - Photo of the Day - Measuring Up




I used to sew a lot, and as I went in search of my photo of the day, I found my tape measure. Texture, color, shape-everything was there. I never know what is going to inspire my photo each day-that's part of the adventure. It's photographed on my dining room table, an antique I inherited from my mother.

February 17, 2010 - Photo of the Day - Guitar


My husband Randy has a guitar collection. Don't bother asking me how many, I have no idea. I can't play them, but I can admire the craftsmanship. I can tell you they take up a lot more space than a thimble collection, or even a camera collection. ;-D They're also a lot prettier than thimbles or cameras. I'd say the odds are strong that you'll see more guitar photos as Photo's of the Day throughout the rest of this year.
This one was custom made for Don Ivey, our friend who used to own Ivey Music. It features abalone inlay and a quilted maple top.

February 16, 2010 - Photo of the Day - Spring IS coming!



I was just about to give up hope of Spring returning to my world. Seems like I've been cold for years. Then I spotted these daffodil sprouts, and my heart rejoiced! I always think of daffodils as the most cheerful flower I've ever seen, and I'm fascinated by the shape and intricate construction of them. Let the warming trend commence!

Monday, February 15, 2010

Video - Photos from a class I taught for PPNC.

I just have to share this little video. A few weeks ago I taught a class for the Professional Photographers of North Carolina about the use of fabrics in portraiture. These two beautiful young ladies, Brittany and Rachel, were our models for a little part of the day, and they were awesome! I photographed Brittany, the blonde, a while back for her senior portraits. With beautiful faces like these, how can you go wrong? My students were half from around Charlotte, and half from Virginia, and we had such a good time.I made some great new friends, and can't wait to see them at convention in a couple of weeks.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Adventures in Flowers

Some of you know that my Mom was a florist. So....having helped out during busy seasons (I will refrain from talking about Mother's Day at a flower shop) I have a heartfelt appreciation for florists and the talent, hard work, and mess it takes to make something beautiful come to life out of a tangle of plants in five gallon buckets.

Thus, when John Herron of Herron House commissioned me to create a new image of him to be used in his ad for Triad Weddings magazine, I was excited. John's an amazing wedding floral designer. His resumee reads like a "Who's Who" in the floral and design industry. He has both a creative mind and an awareness of what photographs well, which makes me happy. I've always admired his work, and love his outgoing, spunky attitude. If you ever need a smile, John Herron has one ready for ya!

I'll admit, it was bittersweet to enter his place. It's been three years since I've set foot in my Mom's shop, and the scent was unmistakable. I had time to wander around and reminisce before we took off on our adventure.

What adventure? Well, if you want flowers in December, what do you do? You go to a floral wholesalers warehouse, of course. Now I've been around little shops, but this place was amazing! With coolers the size of my house, and live greenery and flowers of every shape, size, color and texture, I was in sensory overload. The owner was gracious and gave us the run of the place, and I could have stayed all day-if it had been warmer, burrr!

We spent a couple of hours, and created a number of images to be used both now and later. The one selected for his ad was taken in "the big cooler" with shelves full of buckets of greenery for our background. to make him and the pink flowers stand out.

The Triad Wedding magazine will be out in January, and yours truly will have an ad in there as well. If you know anyone planning a wedding in the Triad area, let me know and I'll send them a copy of the magazine. And if they haven't found a photographer yet, I'd love to talk to them. ;-)