Chelsea Family Portraits | The Kimmels

The holiday season was very good to me and as the year draws to a close, I am reflecting on how much my business has grown. My clients have been not just loyal but generous in referring me to their networks. So, thank you to all the clients, readers and fans out there! 

In my last post, I mentioned how difficult lighting indoor shoots has been. This is mostly because I had coined myself a "natural light photographer," but the reality is shooting in mixed light situations really tests a photographer's technical skills. This year {and NYC weather!} have really forced me to hone in my skills using a variety of lighting options. 

The Kimmels came to me looking for more traditional holiday portraits and were anxious to finally have "good" ones, as Sarah described. With a more photojournalistic style, I decided to meet them halfway but I knew my on camera Canon 580 flash would just not cut it. The Kimmel's Chelsea abode had just one window and 12 ft ceilings, making it a large space to light! With a little help from my friends at Adorama, I rented a Chimer Super Plus Pro White Softbox with a Dynalite 1000. Definitely not as strong as the strobes I used here, but perfect for lighting a family of five in a private residence. 

Without further adieu, the Kimmel's Holiday Portraits...

Thanksgiving Tribute: My Short List

New York City is a place where everyone is rock star (or was one in a former life!); I'm talking former All - American athletes, school presidents and advanced degree holders. These accolades are common place; everybody holds one of these titles, probably more. Consequently, NYC is a place of lavish excess, where one can get lost in the shuffle of the hustle and bustle. The saying "If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere" never felt more relevant until I started my business three years ago. What a wild ride it's been and there are a few things that always help center my thinking about success as a female entrepreneur. Since today is a day of "thanks", I'm gonna take the time to do just that. 

1. Going back to where my roots are in California and spending time with people who have seen me evolve over the course of decades, means something. It reminds me that my profession and income don't solely define the woman I've become. 

Circa 1984, at a wedding with my parents

2. My husband, who is a thought partner and my sole "silent investor" (as he was self annointed!). I simply don't tell him enough how much I appreciate his efforts to support the development of my photo studio. When we agreed that I would scale back on my "other" work to do photography, we had no idea what that would mean. Now he does, and it's not sexy... late nights in my hoody and under - roos at the computer!

A photo of Jorge on our wedding day in 2010

3. Difficult/ challenging clients. There is something about these people I recognize almost instantaneously, but who I will predictably always learn something from. That "something," time and again, has helped revolutionize my process. Whether it be a new clause in my contracts, or a new directive to shout out during a shoot, these hiccups, though painful, almost always help advance my business positively. Notwithstanding absurdly late nights and unexpected tears. THANK YOU! Without my clients, my business would not exist!

Chester and Dani, this past Sunday who so graciously volunteered to be the couple featured in my video at a moment's notice. They were stunning and beautiful and I am so lucky to have clients who are also friends. 

4. Mentors. My mentor is not just my teacher but also a friend. I can use expletives freely all the while garnering advice on how to become a better photographer. This is a lonely profession so it's great to have someone to laugh with over the silly mistakes! What I have realized over time, however, is that mentors come in all shapes and sizes; sometimes I even learn from the children I shoot and strangers watching me work. Being a better photographer means becoming a more conscious person. 

Stephanie, my illustrious friend and mentor. 

Studio Lighting | School Portraiture

In expanding my reportoire of skills, I took on my first project doing school photography last week. WHEW!, Is the only way to describe this production! We're talking roughly 250 portraits and 11 group portraits all the while, changing light situations with the use of strobes and umbrellas. Talk about a clinic in studio photography! Lots of lessons learned!

1.) Make sure you have the 12' seamless, not the 7' (absurd retouching costs have ensued!). Preferrably NOT in grey/white/black but in a blue or red hue. 
2.) Have the best darn photo assistant during set up, shooting and take down!
3.) Partner with a school liaison to negotiate timing and order of students; it's impossible without insider support!

Here's a photo my lovely assistant, Falcon, shot of me doing the individual portraits. It's a little fuzzy because of all that hairy, third party non - disclosure "stuff," schools sign. 

Harlem Engagement Photos | Dayna and Ryan

Shooting Harlemites is at the top of my list of preferred projects. I suppose it's my love for the New Renaissance, or that I too, took my engagement pictures here in Harlem. When I shot my first Harlem Engagement Shoot nearly a year ago, I thought I'd never get another chance to document the beauty of this Harlem. Enter Dayna and Ryan. Referred to me by Brian, a muse for my Faces of Harlem project, we couldn't have been a better fit for one another.

Set to wed in Richmond, Virgina this coming June, Dayna and Ryan happened to be my neighbors. Naturally, we met up on a sunny Sunday afternoon and traipsed around our stomping grounds, on what felt like a walk with old friends. Stylish, chic couples make my job feel effortless as I got to know more about Dayna, who works in Fashion PR and Ryan, an Actor. As you'll see, they were both easy in front of the camera and perfectly paired for one another. 

Dayna and Ryan were in the market for engagement photos that captured their Harlem lives, as Dayna hails from Virginia and Ryan, from the Motor City. Having met at a mutual friend's dinner a couple years ago, they've endured a quite romantic path to the altar. After sharing their first kiss in a NYC cab, the couple wanted to relive that moment as the finale to their shoot. This, of course, came after a few quintessential stops including a portrait with their dog, Paco. Cutest. Couple. {and dog!} EVER! 

Congratulations Dayna and Ryan! 

 

Newborn Shoot | Baby Ayah

My beautiful and lovely friends, Ishmael and Kyndra, recently had baby #2 and for their "Sprinkle," I gifted them a newborn shoot of little Ayah. I don't shoot a lot of newborns and unfortunately, on the day we scheduled our shoot, it rained! So, instead of bringing baby out in less desirable weather, we brought the baby to the "studio." I realized just what an artform studio lighting is during this little adventure. Needless to say, I will spend the upcoming cold months mastering this for future rainy day shoots! More to come!