A Behind The Scenes Look on a Recent
Spring Fashion Shoot
The assignment was to shoot an editorial for Genlux Magazine for their Spring Fashion Issue and the theme was Travel. I love black and white and since I was to shoot “pieces” for this issue, I thought black and white would tell the story well. “Pieces” are just that! The skirt or the jacket or the shirt as oppose to dramatic, lavish evening gowns. Stephen loved the idea and so we went ahead and prepped the shoot. We decided that we were going to shoot this story in a studio where I could control my lighting. We used Jelly from Ford Models who I have to say is just the best model! I love the way she moves and her attitude, plus she’s just a knockout! I used my Nikon D2Xs camera with my 85mm lens on all the shots. I used two lights only. Profoto 2400 pack with one light with a beauty dish with a grid and the other light had a medium Chimera soft box on it. The light with the soft box was place to the left of the model and the beauty dish was raised high and the head was lowered to hit Jelly’s face with the perfect amount of light. I used the grid to be able to direct the light right where I wanted it.
Stephanie Pohl from Artists by Timothy Priano did the hair again. We love Stephanie! I might mention here that her agent, Jared Franco is great too! He’s the nicest guy and always has patience with my neurosis when he’s helping me find artists for other shoots. Karan Mitchell from Tracey Mattingly did make up. I can’t say enough amazing things about Karan. Aside from the huge bonus that she’s one of the best make up artists I have ever worked with, she has a fantastic personality. She makes everyone feel happy and relaxed on any shoot. Kelvin Seah from AIM Artists styled the shoot. Again, an incredibly talented person with a great personality. I would like to move Kelvin into my house and have him dress me everyday. Even just to go to Starbucks. Someday!!! But, seriously, you see that my team is AMAZING and that will culminate in amazing shots! If one member of your team doesn’t have the chops to pull off what you want to achieve, the whole shoot could flop because of it. So really take care when putting your team together!
Go ahead and watch the video. It’s shorter than the other ones and yes…..we know the sound sucks! We’re getting another camera! Also, just a side note and a heads up here: I know I don’t post my shoots that often and the only reason for that is that I cannot post pictures or videos of a shoot that hasn’t been published yet. It would seem that I don’t shoot that often because I don’t post my shoots that often. The thing is, I shoot months in advance for shoots. Editorials are sometimes shot 4 months ahead of publishing. If I were to publish the pictures from that editorial, the magazine would not only make me take down the pictures, they would probably never use me again. I know you guys want to see it all and I don’t blame you! I am just not allowed to show anything until the magazine hits the newsstands or the ad campaign is up and running.
Also, as if you can’t tell already, I am SO camera shy. I know, paradoxical. Whatever. I chose to be behind the camera instead of in front of it for a reason. And I have also noticed that when I am in the middle of shooting, my left brain goes into paralysis and I can’t speak well. It’s like I can’t articulate what I’m thinking or what I’m trying to convey. I go into a zone and concentrate on capturing that moment that’s going to get THE Shot! So sit back, be kind, (lol) and watch the Spring Fashion Editorial video!
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WOW! Your posts just keep better and better. Thank you so much for doing this. As an emerging fashion photographer, having your insite is invaluable!
Great pictures u truely inspire me to keep shooting…
Just wow!!! Great work Melissa. I love B&W too. My next beauty project was going to be B&W. Now you have me rethinking fashion. I love when blacks are black. Deep dark black.
Great pictures again!!!! Love the simplicity of your lighting. Congrats!!! More more more!
Soooo inspiring, as always! I love that you used black&white, love the model too!
Gorgeous Melissa! Love the dramatic light
Great pictures Melissa and great post again!
Great pictures!!…Love BLACK And WHITE pictures : )
hi, great job! ONCE AGAIN you’ve created magic!
who do you use as a retoucher?
Hi Emily
I use my husband for my retouching. I’m a lucky girl! Thanks for your comment and for everyone’s sweet comments! You guys are the BEST!
picked this issue up when I was in LA, love the shots. And lets be honest, Jelly is phenomenal. It doesn’t look like the same model in every shot. Great team for sure
I like the way you light your photographs, very simply but strong. The way you deal with the black and whites is great, congrats to your husband.
Can I ask a question, what size file do you send to be published in the magazine.?
Thanks.
Joan
Love this!!
wow this is great the video is out of site. The images are way cool… Just the type of styler i am trying to learn and perfect. Plus, I love that scarf.(LOL!)
Great video, but mostly fantastic shoot.
It is a special experience to be allowed into an artist’s work space like you allow us to be. Thank you.
This is awesome! “got ta tweet about this one”! Keep those great shots coming I love the inspiration!
Another fabulous video Melissa. Who cares about the sound? I can turn the sound off and still benefit from watching what you’re doing. Thanks so much for sharing.
Thanx for such great content!! I believe it will sharpen my photo skills!!
Hi M.!
Another enlightening post!
Here I need to share one thought with you: somehow youo managed to change the way I perceive those magazines “for women.” I don’t see them as a waste of paper and boring. The way you photograph is sooooo about light that I simply started to see that in those “for women” shots. I really began appreciating the content of such magazines and learning.
Thank you for that!
Keep up the good work. And it is really understandable that you cannot post photos before they’s published, that’s obvious!
Melissa, these photos are superb. Another fantastic posting that is very useful and inspirational. Thank you
I cant agree more about the importance of a good team. Im still searching for my best combination. And yes, you totally made obvious that your “teammates” are superb – the photos show why.
Really like what you did on this shoot, especialy because its in BW which in my opinion is harder for photographer to show the impact (if he doesnt know what he is doing – which is not in your case
).
And yes I totally understand what you ment with part of the brain shutting down on the set (loved your “explanation” why you use the 85mm lens
). I have the same sindrom so having a model that understands what is going on and what you want from the shot, is priceless.
Love your work, looking forward to see more.
Good lighting and best regards.
you’re one of the very few photographers based here in the state that can pull off the euro high fashion look so effortlessly. everything is just perfect
Thank you, William! What a nice compliment!
Just discovered this blog and it’s the best thing since the invention of Guinness beer (and yes, I mean that in a positive way).
I’m quite new to this type of photography and your postings are very inspirational and informative. Although I’m from the Euro zone, I’d NEVER be able to pull of shots like you do, haha!
Thanks for sharing this with us.
This is very inspiring. I have been reading your blog and really enjoy it. Question: where did you purchase your posing blocks from??
I second that great work yet again but
Where did you purchase your posing blocks from??
Great stuff! This may sound redundant but really thanks for sharing !
another awesome article… thanks again for this post
Nice video. I enjoyed watch it. I like to see the whole process from Start (empty room) – to the end (the image). By the way your images are fabulous. I worked as a model and now I am a photographer and the videos reminds at the past. Thanks you for sharing.
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beautiful work Melissa