[ BERNADETTE MACIAS ], a model I find in front of my camera a lot these days, contacted me to shoot a cover and spread for her in the [ JULY 2011 ] issue of [ THE PETITE ALTERNATIVE ]. The Petite Alternative is the only publication with a mission to help petite women who are tattooed and pierced. In planning for the shoot, Bernadette said she also had a line of shirts and bikinis that also needed to be shot. The first place that came to mind was shooting the sunset at Corona del Mar Beach. I love shooting there because it has a variety of settings all located in the same place. You can get both the sandy and pebble beach, the rocky cliffs, and the private coves.

Like always, Bernadette totally knocked this one out of the park. She is always a blast to shoot with, and I find myself laughing the whole time. It’s always great to work with someone who has such a drive and passion for pushing their career forward. I couldn’t have asked for it to have turned out any better. Lastly, take a minute and check out the “Cut ‘N’ with Bernadette” series on [ SULLEN TV ].

Equipment Used: This was taken using a Profoto D1 1000W/S studio strobe shot through a 22″ Mola Demi. To over power the sun I used a 2-8 stop variable ND filter. My Nikon D7000, 24-70mm and 70-200mm were used for this shoot.

Hey followers! It’s been forever I know. In my defense I’ve been ridiculously busy with both my day job and trying to find inspiration. I think taking a break for a little while is something creative individuals have to do from time to time. With that being said, here’s my return in full force! And to go along with this new revitalized Brandon is a shoot that I did, what seems like ages ago, with Olga Solomina.

To go along with this post, I decided to show a little bit on how I retouch my images. I had a few people ask and I plan to do a lot more posts like this. Hope you all enjoy! Check the full post to see the equipment used and a behind the scenes shot for this image.

Equipment Used: This was taken using 3 Profoto D1 1000W/S studio strobes. The main is shot through an overhead 22″ Mola Demi and a 2×3 Creative Light Recessed Front Softbox was used as a fill underneath. The background was illuminated with 1 Profoto D1 1000W/S  on a floor stand. My Nikon D80 and 70-200mm were my body and lens combination of choice for this shoot.

I have to start this post by saying HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICHOLE! Today marks your induction into a new phase in life commonly referred to as “Adulthood”. I’m sure there is a lot of partying to be had, so have fun and stay safe.

With that out of the way, last weekend I had a test shoot with [ NICHOLE PORGES ]. Nichole is an aspiring actress and proving to be quite the model. Several of us ventured back out to the [ GRABER OLIVE HOUSE ] and organized an all day shoot (a handful of photographers coupled with a handful of models for 9 hours of shooting…definitely not something I can withstand everyday. My feet were paying the price days later). Almost immediately everyone gravitated towards Nichole and her unique red hair (would almost go as far as to say ‘signature’). We all had a lot of fun and it’s always a learning experience seeing how other photographers setup, shoot, and interact with models. Thanks again to all those that made this event happen! More pictures to come and skip over the break to see the equipment used and the lighting diagram for this image.

Equipment Used: This shot was taken using 2 Photogenic 500w studio strobes and 2 Nikon SB-900s. The key light is equipped with an 18″ Silver Beauty Dish placed directly over the model at just about 45 degrees. The other studio strobe is being used to light the far background wall with a Standard Zoom Reflector. 2 SB-900s were placed inside vats on opposite sides and shot straight up to light the overhang that’s just behind the model’s head (due to the crop it hard to see the effect of these lights). All were triggered using PocketWizard Plus II Transceivers. My Nikon D80 and 70-200mm were my body and lens combination of choice for this shoot.

This time up I had the pleasure of photographing [ MIMI YIP ], a photographer recently turned model (with exceptional skills at both if I may add) at the [ TRI-COMMUNITY PHOTOGRAPHY PROGRAM] in one of the studio lighting classes. It’s always great working with a model that also has some photography skills, because they know what it takes to get a good image (where to look, what angles work, what angles don’t work, when to change the pose, what to do with the hands, what not to do with the hands, and being aware of the light). And to go another step, it’s even better when a photographer/model brings the concept for the shoot, and goes the extra mile to even buy the materials. You’re the best Mimi! I thought the idea was great and I can’t wait to come up with my own spin on it. Read more after the break if you want to see a setup shot and lighting diagram for this image.

Equipment Used: We used one 500w Photogenic Mono-light with an 18″ Silver Beauty Dish directly overhead at almost a 45 degree angle. As usual, for beauty work, my Nikon D80 and 70-200mm were my body and lens combination of choice for this shoot.

This session I had the great opportunity to work with the one and only [ ZARA ARIANE ]. For makeup, Zara brought her usual artist [ DANIELLE BEE ]. Danielle provided just a simple makeup look that would go well with the different looks that we did for Zara. I recently just purchased some 4′x8′ white foam boards and wanted to incorporate them into the shoot somehow for inspiration. I really like these because they are simple to setup, and depending on how you light them, can be very versatile. I would definitely recommend Zara to anyone. To be a rookie in the modeling scene, she was fun, energetic, and eager to get the shot. Sometimes I can be too much of a perfectionist, so it’s nice to work with someone that’s willing to put up with me.

Equipment Used: Setup #1 - This shot was taken using 4 Profoto studio strobes. 1 with a beauty dish and grid as a main, 2 shot through a pair of 1′x4′ strips with grids for rim, and 1 for a back ground light to add a little separation. The key to this setup is the beauty dish and grid combination. This allows for minimal light spill on the background and maximum control of the directionality of the light. Setup #2 – This was a single Profoto D1 1000w Air mono light equipped with the 22″ Mola Demi Beauty Dish and grid. The grid on the beauty dish placed at a distance from the model provides a spotlight effect, due to the light fall off. I wanted to get the natural vignette look. This look could’ve been achieved in post but I like getting things as close as possible in camera (I’m lazy remember). All were triggered with my new Profoto Air system, which I’m quickly becoming a fan. My Nikon D80 and 24-70mm were my body and lens combination of choice for this shoot.

So I’ve officially been on break from the blog for a while. Between work and shooting it’s been hard to dedicate time to my loyal and patient blog readers (I appreciate you all!…even you who’s just reading my blog for the first time). But fear not, the neglect continues no longer. Welcome the return of Brandon Buie Photography! And I’m returning more driven than ever! I’ve got a lot of great things in store for the blog and I’m excited for what’s to come. During my break I’ve been focused on improving my quality of work and becoming more familiar with my equipment. Sometimes I sit back and I’m surprised at how far I’ve come in such a short time. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be the first to admit that I have a LOOOONG way to go yet.

This has been one image I’ve been sitting on for quite some time. It’s from a fashion shoot I had back in December with Helen Williams. It just happened to fall on one of those cold, gloomy, rainy days here in Southern California. But even still, Helen showed up, and I’ll add with almost everything but the kitchen sink. I loved her enthusiasm and passion for wanting to give modeling a try. I believe it was her first session. After she got the hang of it I think she knocked it out the park!

Equipment Used: This shot was taken using 2 Profoto Compact 300s studio strobes. The key light is a Profoto Compact 300w/s mono light equipped with 22″ Mola Demi Beauty Dish placed directly over the model in close. The other Profoto Compact is being shot through a 5′ Octa Softbox to provide a little fill. My Nikon D80 and 24-70mm were my body and lens combination of choice for this shoot.

Happy holidays everyone. I just wanted to give you all a quick sneak peek at my latest photo shoot with Helen Williams. Helen was forwarded to me by [ Albert Martinez ], a teacher and fellow photographer, who happened to be out on vacation for the holidays. I’m still working on the photos, but I think they came out great for someone that’s never modeled before. Stay tuned for the final images!

Here’s wishing you and your family a warm and wonderful Holiday and all the joy His Season can bring.

[ CLIFF GRABER ], a fellow photographer friend of mine, runs the [ GRABER OLIVE HOUSE ] out here in Ontario, CA. The historic olive house is home to the world famous Graber Olives grown and produced by the Graber family since 1894. Cliff extended me the opportunity to shoot on the grounds of olive cannery. I’ve shot there a couple times before and couldn’t resist giving it another go. Saying the place is huge is definitely an understatement. There are dozens of unique areas providing just about any mood that you desire, all with perfect lighting. You really couldn’t ask for a better place to shoot fashion. I’m sure that my images don’t serve the place justice, so don’t be surprised if you see me going back in the near future.

One of the models for this shoot was [ ALEXIS NICHOLE ]. If there were a ‘Who’s Who’ list of models on Model Mayhem, Alexis would definitely be among the top of the list. She’s been shot by some of the best upcoming photographers in Southern California, and is quite the model herself. Being only 17, she’s put together an amazing portfolio, full of Fashion, Beauty, and Commercial work, and will inevitably be a model to keep an eye on. She’s got just the right amount of Looks, Personality and Style to go far in this industry. After our first shoot I can see why she is a favorite amongst so many photographers. The camera loves her and her experience modeling makes photographing her seem effortless. Thanks again to everyone involved and Alexis if you are reading this we need to set up another shoot ASAP! Map and lighting diagrams posted in the [ FULL POST ].

Equipment Used:This shot was taken using 2 Profoto Compact 300s studio strobes and 2 Nikon SB-900s. The key light is a Profoto Compact 300w/s mono light equipped with 22″ Mola Demi Beauty Dish placed directly over the model at just about 45 degrees. The other Profoto Compact is being used to light the far background wall with a Standard Zoom Reflector. 2 SB-900s were placed inside vats on opposite sides and shot straight up to light the overhang that’s just behind the model’s head. All were triggered using PocketWizard Plus II Transceivers. My Nikon D80 and 70-200mm were my body and lens combination of choice for this shoot.

A while back I was contacted by [ ROXY DAVIS ], an extremely creative and talented makeup artist based out of Bellflower, California, who had seen my work and was interested in collaborating on a photography project for trade. I love personal projects because they allow me to do the kind of work that I want to get. After I checked out [ ROXY'S PORTFOLIO ], there was no way I could turn down the opportunity to add a makeup artist of Roxy’s caliber to the team. She was so humble and professional in her work. It’s rare that I come across someone that’s almost as much of a perfectionist as me, so it was nice to see someone that was so serious about their craft. I would highly recommend any photographer to work with a MUA because they can see things that you might miss, and can make an OK image into something that totally rocks.

After a quick search through potential models on [ MODEL MAYHEM ], we settled on [ NOHEA BRYCE ]. Nohea is a 5’2″ model from Rossmoor, California. She  expressed that she was interested in beauty and sports (because of her athletic build). What I liked most about Nohea is that she has such a fun and fresh personality. I had such a great time shooting, despite the fact that the shoot was an early morning session. It was a little tough getting started, but once we got rolling I think we got some really good stuff.

Equipment Used: This was taken using 2 Profoto Compact 300s studio strobes and an SB-900 for a rim light. The main is shot through an overhead 2×3 Creative Light Softbox and used a shoot through umbrella for fill. My Nikon D80 and 24-70mm were my body and lens combination of choice for this shoot.

I’ll keep this one short and sweet! Just wanted to wish everyone out there a Happy Halloween! Have fun and be safe. Stay tuned for upcoming posts because I have a lot coming down the pipeline.

Equipment Used: This was taken using 2 Photogenics 500w/s studio strobes. The main is an overhead silver beauty dish. And for the rim light we used another Photogenic equipped with the standard reflector and an orange gel to add a little separation light and accent to the photo. My Nikon D80 and 24-70mm were my body and lens combination of choice for this shot.

Once again we’re out in the alley in Covina (it’s become one of our default shooting locations) with Laura Shodire and the usual suspects. This was a different shoot because we got to play with a new toy, a Honda EU2000i portable generator. The generator allows us to shoot on location without the need for electrical power, so we could literally shoot in the middle of the desert now. If you are willing to deal with the noise created by the generator, then it could definitely serve as an alternative to the generally more expensive battery packs. Compared to battery pack units, generators last much longer. The Honda claims to provide 9+ hours of power on a single gallon of gas (review and video coming soon!). At nearly 50 lbs, this isn’t something you’re going to want to lug around for long distances. But once set up it works like a charm, even powering 4 x 500 watt mono lights and music. For those interested in getting a generator solution for their on location sets, I would highly recommend the Honda EU200i. Once I get to play around with it some more I plan to put together a more formal review, so stay tuned!

Equipment Used: This was taken using 2 Photogenics 500w/s studio strobes. The main is an overhead white beauty dish. And for the background we used another Photogenic equipped with the standard reflector to add a spot separation light behind the model. My Nikon D80 and 24-70mm zoomed all the way out were my body and lens combination of choice for this shoot.

A commercial headshot is the kind of work that you can bet on to always be in demand. The need ranges from bartenders and waitresses looking for work to aspiring actors, actresses and models. The importance of taking a great commercial headshot for agencies is critical. It’s not as simple as taking a pretty picture. The image can either make or break a models career. Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Really looks like the model, and doesn’t hide those slight imperfections.
2. Looks like the camera caught the model unaware that he/she was being photographed, and that he/she was really thinking about something specific, not just trying to look good for the camera.
3. Having the model’s face straight on can’t be stressed enough. That means no crazy angles.
4. The model’s makeup should be clean and fresh. You shouldn’t see eyeshadow or lip liner, the makeup should be neutral and well blended.

For this session I was given the chance to shoot Roxy Darr. Roxy’s acting, singing, dancing, and modeling skills make her quite the contender in the entertainment arena. She definitely breaks all the rules when it comes to how people stereotype models. She’s extremely bright, humble, and is truly one of a kind. I shot with Roxy previously when she was about to go out on tour with Lady Gaga, and I remember then that I had a great time. Albert Martinez, a teacher of mine at the Tri-Community Photography Center, contacted me asking if I could shoot some headshots for Roxy because he was unable to. Of course I couldn’t resist the chance to help out a friend.

Equipment Used: This was taken using available light in open shade. You can get this same lighting by shooting in an open doorway, open garage, or the shaded sided of a building. My buddy Frank Wise, over at Faded & Blurred put together a great video describing this open shade technique. My Nikon D80 and 70-200mm VRII were my body and lens combination of choice for this shoot.

Finally the Mola Demi arrived at my house here in Los Angeles, CA, from the great people over at B&H. The reason I choose to purchase from B&H is that they offer free shipping to NAPP members (National Association of Photoshop Professionals).  First impressions of my new arrival…it’s bigger, deeper, and a lot lighter than what I thought it would be. Unfortunately, Mola does not provide a mounting system (I already knew this was the case when I bought it), so you are required to purchase a speedring insert for your brand of lighting.

The Mola family of softlights consists of the 22″ Demi, 28″ Setti, 33.5″ Euro, and the massive 43.5″ Manti. When you look up “Beauty Dish”, inevitably you will stumble across Mola. Mola’s unique design, light clarity, efficiency, and outstanding light control makes it a prized possession among many professional photographers, and soon to be mine. I chose the Demi because of its compact size and portability making it a perfect solution for on location projects. Can’t wait to get out and shoot with it!

I have to preface this post by saying that this is NOT a Maxim cover. Not in any way, shape, or form do I claim to be affiliated with Maxim. Ok, now with that said, I guess we are clear to proceed.

I’ve been inspired lately by tearsheets. Since I have yet to be published in any notable publications, the closest I get is by imitations in Photoshop. I don’t claim to be a Photoshop wizard by any means, but I do enjoy tinkering around just a little bit. I’m always trying to figure out what lighting was used and how the images that inspire me were post processed (Some prove to be easier to reverse engineer than others). Because of this, I’m constantly going back to some of my images and putting them through a different process, which often leads to a completely different end result. Every now and then you start along a path and quickly find yourself crashing and burning, but I feel it’s in the things we find challenging where we grow, and occasionally you might create something truly stunning.

On this shoot I had a blast shooting Naghmeh Kiani. Naghmeh is a regular muse of a good friend of mine, Fred Khordon from Khordon Photo Design. I always have a lot of fun when I shoot with the two of them. Naghmeh is definitely one model with a “Maxim” look so I thought how would it look if I did something fun for her and made her a cover girl. I think it looks rather convincing.

Equipment Used: This was taken using 2 Photogenics 500w/s studio strobes. The main is shot through an overhead white beauty dish with a sock. And for fill we used a medium sized softbox just to fill in the shadows just a little bit (the effect of this is minimal). My Nikon D80 and 24-70mm were my body and lens combination of choice for this shoot.

God, I feel like ages have passed since the time today when I’m sitting down to write this post and the day I actually shot this image. Seriously, Rome itself was conquered in less time! With that said, this was a shoot that I did a while back but never get around to publishing it on the blog. So here goes!…hope I can remember the details.

For this shoot, I had the opportunity to photograph Asante Gunewardena, who is a voice student from Chapman University referred to the studio by a totally awesome beauty and fashion photographer friend of mine, Miguel Benitez (you rock Miguel!). I consider Miguel a close and trusted friend of mine who has influenced me a lot along my path to becoming a “professional photographer” (whatever that means…I don’t think we ever reach a point to where we know it all and can’t stand to grow in some aspect of our craft. So I’m happy being an amateur and hope that I always have the same passion for photography as I do today). Asante was a real treat to work with, and I look forward to our next session (if you are reading this Asante, lets set something up soon!).

Equipment Used: This was taken using 1 Photogenics 500w/s studio strobe shot through an overhead silver beauty dish. Simple, yet classic setup. My Nikon D80 and 24-70mm were my body and lens combination of choice for this shoot.

Kie Ma is a working actress/model from Japan and can be found in various print magazines and independent films. I stumbled across Kie on Model Mayhem looking for a photographer to help her build her U.S. portfolio. She just recently moved to LA and needed some new shots for her portfolio. We started out or shoot in the studio and ended up in an abandoned gas station. Her bright and outgoing personality made this a fun shoot.

Equipment Used: (First) This was taken using 3 Photogenics 500w/s studio strobes. The key light is a socked 22″ Beauty Dish. To add some separation from the background I added a 1×4 strip softbox as a rim light. And to keep the bottom of the subject from going dark (due to the light fall off of the beauty dish) I added a small softbox just as a fill. My Nikon D80 and 24-70mm were my body and lens combination of choice for this shoot. (Second) The subject was back lit and a single diffused Quantum Flash was used as a key light. Once again I used my Nikon D80 and 24-70mm.

Remember Laura Shodire? For those of you that happen to be new to my blog, Laura is a regular in front of my camera, and she happens to be kind of like the “chameleon” of modeling. I say chameleon only because she can pull off so many drastically different looks. I’ve had people go through my portfolio and see a few shots of her and not realize that it was the same girl. With that said, on to the shoot at hand.

Several weeks ago I was trolling through Model Mayhem (it’s kind of like a daily ritual of mine), looking for inspiration and new talent, when I stumbled upon an image that caught my eye. The setup was designed using taped up old newspapers. I thought it was a little different and would be easy enough to execute on my own. So I put this one down in my “Must Do”  list (you know one of those lists that every photographer has of shots that they wished they would’ve thought of first so that they could’ve gotten credit for the idea).

I think it turned out pretty good, and I’m happy with the results. It’s reusable so don’t be surprised if you see a shot or two in the near future using it.

Equipment Used: This was taken using 1 Photogenics 500w/s studio strobe shot through a medium softbox. The smaller light source and short distance relative to the subject is what provides the quick fall off of light. My Nikon D80 and 24-70mm were my body and lens combination of choice for this shoot.

I was recently going through a catalog from Nordstroms, and realized how simple most of the shots were. It was all very simple, clean lighting, just to accentuate the design and fit of the outfit. It’s no secret that fashion is where my heart is and is where I want my photography to be in the upcoming years, so anytime I get the chance to do it, I jump at the opportunity (even sometimes giving a little subtle hint for the model to bring anything “fashionable”)

Equipment Used: This was taken using 1 Photogenics 500w/s studio strobe shot through a strip softbox. In order to supply a little fill on the shadow side, a black/white v-flat was used as a bounce. My Nikon D80 and 70-200mm VRII were my body and lens combination of choice for this shoot.

I just recently had the pleasure of executing a collaboration with Dana Brown, an inspiring model from Baltimore, MD. We made the trip out to Corona del Mar Beach for a sunset on the beach session. Dana was a lot of fun and was a trooper because she didn’t hesitate to take a dip in the nearly freezing cold water. The lighting was perfect and I couldn’t have asked for a better location. I can’t wait to get back out there and shoot again!

Equipment Used: This was taken using 2 Nikon Speedlights shot through one 36″ Westcott shoot through umbrella. Both speedlights were on manual and set at 1/2 power. My Nikon D80 and 24-70mm were my body and lens combination of choice for this shoot.

This definitely wasn’t my first session with Sister Bonez, and from her track record she’s truly turning out to be a rock star. Her humble and down to earth personality makes her a real pleasure to work with. She’s a model that I can count on in a pinch, and when she strolls into the studio she’s always ready to roll with a smile on her face and willing to get “dirty” (including hopping in a dumpster) for whatever the concept is.

Equipment Used: This was taken using 2 500 watt Photogenic Powerlights. The main is equipped with a 24″ beauty dish for contrast, and to keep the background from going completely black, we threw a monolight, outfitted with the standard reflector, in the back to show the depth of the dumpster. My Nikon D80 and 14-24mm were my body and lens combination of choice for this shoot.

On Friday, May 14, 2010, the Fashion Department at Saddleback College hosted their annual student produced Spring Fashion Show and I had the pleasure of being invited on as a photographer. Student designers entered their designs in the show and fashion merchandising students put on an awesome show!  The show’s theme was “Etheral”, meaning spiritual, heavenly, and celestial. There were a couple bumps along the way, but that is to be expected when putting on an event like this. Congratulations to all those who worked so hard to make the Saddleback College Fashion Show 2010 happen! Check out some of their designs below:

Brandon Buie Photography: Saddle Back College Fashion Show 2010 from Brandon Buie Photography on YouTube.

FASHION-SHOW-1 FASHION-SHOW-2 FASHION-SHOW-3 FASHION-SHOW-4 FASHION-SHOW-5 FASHION-SHOW-6 FASHION-SHOW-7 FASHION-SHOW-8 FASHION-SHOW-9 FASHION-SHOW-10 FASHION-SHOW-11 FASHION-SHOW-12 FASHION-SHOW-13 FASHION-SHOW-14 FASHION-SHOW-15 FASHION-SHOW-16 FASHION-SHOW-17 FASHION-SHOW-18 FASHION-SHOW-19 FASHION-SHOW-20 FASHION-SHOW-21 FASHION-SHOW-22 FASHION-SHOW-23 FASHION-SHOW-24 FASHION-SHOW-25 FASHION-SHOW-26 FASHION-SHOW-27 FASHION-SHOW-28 FASHION-SHOW-29 FASHION-SHOW-30 FASHION-SHOW-31 FASHION-SHOW-32 FASHION-SHOW-33 FASHION-SHOW-34 FASHION-SHOW-35 FASHION-SHOW-36 FASHION-SHOW-37 FASHION-SHOW-38 FASHION-SHOW-39 FASHION-SHOW-40 FASHION-SHOW-41 FASHION-SHOW-42 FASHION-SHOW-43 FASHION-SHOW-44 FASHION-SHOW-45 FASHION-SHOW-46 FASHION-SHOW-47 FASHION-SHOW-48 FASHION-SHOW-49 FASHION-SHOW-50 FASHION-SHOW-51 FASHION-SHOW-52 FASHION-SHOW-53 FASHION-SHOW-54 FASHION-SHOW-55 FASHION-SHOW-56 FASHION-SHOW-57 FASHION-SHOW-58 FASHION-SHOW-59 FASHION-SHOW-60 FASHION-SHOW-61 FASHION-SHOW-62 FASHION-SHOW-63 FASHION-SHOW-64 FASHION-SHOW-65 FASHION-SHOW-66 FASHION-SHOW-67 FASHION-SHOW-68 FASHION-SHOW-69 FASHION-SHOW-70 FASHION-SHOW-71 FASHION-SHOW-72 FASHION-SHOW-73 FASHION-SHOW-74 FASHION-SHOW-75 FASHION-SHOW-76 FASHION-SHOW-77 FASHION-SHOW-78 FASHION-SHOW-79 FASHION-SHOW-80 FASHION-SHOW-81 FASHION-SHOW-82 FASHION-SHOW-83 FASHION-SHOW-84 FASHION-SHOW-85 FASHION-SHOW-86 PRE-FINAL FINAL

Event Description

The Fashion Department invites you to “Ethereal” a student produced fashion show! Friday, May 14 @ The Saddleback College McKinney Theatre Reception @ 6:00pm. Show @ 7:30pm. Tickets available at the box office T-F, 12-4pm. for $15.00 For more information contact Diane McGroarty, dmcgroarty@saddleback.edu

Brenda Jill Castillo is not your typical 27 year old. She is a singer, dancer/choreographer, actress, & make-up artist with a huge passion for print and commercial modeling (whew…that was a lot). I first had a session with Brenda back in the fall and we had such a good time shooting that she wanted to set something up and shoot again. Since our first session, I’ve been refining my style to have more of a fashion/commercial feel, which worked out great because it represents the kind of work she is interested in doing.

I always enjoy shooting with Brenda because she is a perfectionist like me and when she shows up she gives it 110%. She’s always the first person I think of when I’m in a crunch and can’t wait for our next shoot. This shoot was so fun because I wanted to experiment and get some very typical fashion/glamour shots. Brenda was super fun to work with and truly is unique and has the ability to add a certain “pop” to the images. I wanted the shoot to reflect her personality. It worked perfectly!

Several weeks ago my good friend Samuel Gilroy invited me to join him with a fashion photo shoot he was organizing. We had Marilyn as our amazing model. I have shot with Marilyn on previous occasions and she is quickly becoming a much appreciated and welcomed regular.

Marilyn is participating in the “Ms. Honduras” pageant this summer as the current title holder and approached us needing fashion/glamour shots for publications and media back in Honduras. This was an exciting shoot because it’s not everyday that the chance to be published comes along knocking at your door.

We took several evening gown shots (the traditional “pageant” look) and had a ton of fun with Marilyn being Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn’s mom supplied the hair and makeup for the shoot. I had a blast, and I think the images came out great!

Sorry for the short post today, but I wanted to get out some of the images of Jayme. I met her through a fellow photographer friend of mine. She was such a pleasure to photograph. Jayme’s a waitress at a local sports bar and was interested in getting some pictures taken after just recently losing weight. I love stories where a person decides to make such a drastic change in their life and discovers how truly beautiful they are. I’m glad I was able to help further her modeling career.

I really had a great time getting to know Jayme. She is such an incredible person with a colorful personality. She and I are really happy how her photos turned out! Here are just a few of the photos we got in and around the studio in Covina, CA.

It was really nice hanging out with you and I wish you all the luck in the world my friend!