Robyn Cooperman has been a friend of mine for several years. We met in College and sang together in the choir. Robyn is still singing, and is trying to get out there as a model/actress. She’s got such a great outgoing personality, and has a real positive outlook! We’ve hired her as our Outside Sales person, and she’s helping us get going on our portrait work here in Las Vegas.
Albert Carinio is someone we met since we’ve been in town. He’s got a great outlook, and a great sense of humor, and we’re looking forward to working with him in our stock photography. We’ve got some real fun things planned for him, and are going to draw on his ethnic background for several of our shots!
We’re looking forward to bringing our brand of photography to the Las Vegas area, and already have received quite a reception! Unfortunately, due to ethical issues, we had to pull out of the WAF/Humiliated Angels gallery exhibit we were going to be a part of, but we’ve made new connections with the art community here, and look forward to displaying our work with them.
Due to our issues with our vehicle, we will be staying close to the Las Vegas area for a while. We still plan on visiting a lot of the scenery in the area, and since Robert isn’t from this part of the country, it will be nice to see his fresh view on the local terrain. The journey continues as we sort through our view of life, and reminding ourselves, that, even in the face of adversity, we can still focus on the positive and remain inspired to carry on!
In the latest of our series on the Essence of Woman, we would like to introduce Jennifer. We had such fun, she was a dream to work with! We are looking forward to working with her again very soon.
Loree Morris has been a friend of ours for several years. Recently, between jobs, she started working with us. She helped with uploading our backlog to the Microstock agencies we are part of, and began to help with outside sales. Loree had to find full time employment, so she no longer works regularly with us, but she’s always here to lend a hand when we need her! Here, she offers another piece of our story:
I met Robert and Lori several years ago and was privileged enough to be let into their lives. Robert at the time was working at his j.o.b and although I knew he had been an artist and a photographer, he wasn’t really actively pursuing it at the time. I could see a special light in his eyes when he’d talk about his art or show me something he had created in the past, but a look of sadness often followed it. I don’t think he even knew it happened.
As life events unfolded and took us in separate directions for a while and I eventually left the country for an extended period of time, we didn’t get a chance to communicate as often, but still kept in touch from time to time. When I returned from over seas, life events allowed us to spend more time together and I remember the first time I saw them.
They had just started on the path of micro stock photography. Robert was behind the camera again and had that light in his eyes again, only this time it never faded to the sadness look I had seen in the past. They started telling me about what they were doing. Both so full of passion that it nearly brought tears to my eyes. They showed me the websites and explained their idea of what they wanted to build. They showed me what Robert had been shooting and even asked me to get in front of the camera for them.
Over the course of the last year, I’ve had a chance to get a very in depth view of what they are creating, the learning, the struggles, the joy, the sorrow, the stress and the amazing creation of some of the most artistic pieces I’ve seen anywhere.
Robert has an amazing ability to create art in away that captures the very soul of what or whom he’s shooting. I’ve seen him take a few simple objects and display them in such a creative way that the photo is amazing. When he shoots a model, he has such a natural way of putting them at ease. He makes you feel as if you’re the most beautiful piece of art he’s captured. He see’s beyond the physical…he see’s true beauty.
Lori is also very creative and has taken some beautiful shots as well, although their styles are different, they both bring such a creative eye to everything they shoot. They balance each other in many ways artistically. The man Series is my favorite. Not only does it show the raw emotions of Robert, Lori’s eye while shooting that was amazing. Her ability to capture those emotions is just an example to me of the passion they both have for what they do.
The business has gone in avenues neither of them expected at first and they’ve had such great accomplishments in such a small amount of time. The knowledge they’ve learned and the growth I’ve witnessed myself amazes me every day.
I’m truly glad I’ve gotten to see this Dream from the inside, two amazing people, creating such beautiful artwork. Sharing a passion that is rare in this day and age. I can only see this Dream being a reality!!!
Through my years in the business, I have had the pleasure of photographing thousands of people, and most of them have been women. And there is one truth, which is universal amongst them. Women want to look beautiful in their photos. Whether it’s for Corporate Identity, Fashion, Family Portrait, or a Glamour shoot for their significant others. If they don’t look great, you won’t have a successful shoot.
Preparation – Before the Shoot: (Apply for every shoot)
1. Have A Solid Concept – Know what your client wants. Whether shooting portraits, or an advertisement for a commercial magazine; you cannot produce the right image if you have an unclear vision. 2. Now Work It – Be prepared with some ideas of your own, you are the artist, and that is why the client hired you. Incorporate your style and ideas into the general theme of the session. 3. Check, Check, and Check Again – Check your equipment out, make sure you have an empty card, make sure your batteries are fresh enough to get you through your planned shoot time. Running to the store to buy batteries for your strobe in the middle of a session leaves a bad impression, not to mention ruining the atmosphere you created. 4. Know Your Stage – Whenever possible, take a pre-session look around your staging area. Know what props are available, things you may want to bring close or have on set so the mood and rhythm is not interrupted. Blankets or small pillows to sit on, blinds for a makeshift dressing area, water close by, music set to a comfortable level. The more comfortable you and your subject are, the easier it will be to get the desired results.
Introduction – When the Model Arrives:
1. “How Do You Do?” – Sit down and have a conversation with your client. Don’t be in too big a rush to get your subject on the set. Take a few moments to be personal, ask how they are, how their day has been going. Compliment them, no need to overdo it, a simple “You look nice today” or “What a nice smile!” can go a long way in putting you both at ease. Give her a few moments to settle and get used to you. 2. Show and Tell – Discuss your plan, let your client know the general flow of how you like to direct and work with your subjects. It is much easier to instruct a person when they have a general overview, and it makes specific instructions during the shoot much simpler. Give them a general feel of what to expect, get their input on poses they may want to try. Discuss wardrobe changes, and how many you might want to try.
The Shoot – Connect and Capture:
1. Connect – To capture the essence of a woman, and the elegance of the female form, you must work well with your subject. Remember, you are trying to Connect, Relate, and Capture, so interact with her. Speak softly and smile a lot, don’t shout out directions like a military drill sergeant, take your time and be patient. It may take several dozen shots or (depending on your assignment or goals) several sessions to draw out that essential spark from your subject. It is her essence you are trying to capture, that true beauty, the piece of your subject that goes much deeper than surface appearance. 2. Give Me A Break – Take breaks in your session, have water, coffee, or soda available. Give her and yourself a few moments to relax. Be aware of your subject; don’t make her hold a difficult pose for too long. Let her shake off the tension and reset the pose. As you proceed, ask “Are you comfortable?” or “Do you need a moment?” It is very hard to “relax” and “give me that look that only your husband sees” when her arms or legs are cramping, or the position makes her back ache.
Wrapping Up – Before the Model Leaves:
1. Thank You – Appreciate your subject. Thank her for taking the time out of her day to work with you. 2. Who’s Props? – Take a quick walk around and make sure she’s gathered her things, check the changing area for her makeup and accessories.
In Conclusion At all times, even when it’s the uncomfortable Mother-In-Law portrait, from the moment you pick up your camera to start your session there is one thing to remember. The woman in front of your lens is a Lady and a Princess, if only for the next 15 minutes. As an Artist and Photographer, the true secret to making a woman beautiful is to see more than the surface beauty. If you can do this successfully, you may have also shared a moment, a look, or a deep expression in her delicate beauty. This is this spirit, this essence that is in every female, and you must connect personally to see more in her than she could see in herself.
