Crap...

If you happen to see something that looks similar to this somewhere between London and San Diego and it has all my photos from France on it please return it.

I can't f'ing believe I lost all my photos from my point and shoot camera. I am really bummed.

What can I say... I should have taken my backup device but I thought it would take up too much space.

C'est la vie...

Nate

Overly Sexy?

OK this is a rant, I'll put that out there right now.

Models what are you doing? Or should I say those that want to be models, what are you doing? The world doesn't revolve around sexy images. Most publications and advertisements out there don't require overly sexy. STOP!

Take a real look at your portfolio. Do you really want to work as a model? If not by all means keep up the wanna be Maxim/Playboy shoots. It takes more then T&A to be a model.

I've been trying to help a friend of mine find a model to do a life style product shoot and every portfolio I showed her she comes to the same conclusion. She comments something to the effect of "I can't see them doing the shoot. They are so sexxxy...." I have to agree they are.

My suggestions to you from a nobody like me.

• Have a clean none touched-up head shot. People really need to see what you look like.
• Do more then just sexy. Look at real adds in magazines other then Playboy.
• Build portfolios (multiple) that shows different looks; life style, fashion, editorial, and yes even sexy if you choose.

I don't know where I've heard this from and I'll probably quote it wrong:

"If you aren't happy with the results you're getting then change what you're doing..."

Maybe I am completely off base, I don't know. That's it....

-nate

What is your style...

A friend of mine asked "Do you think you have your own distinguished look to your pictures" I immediately replied "No".

What is my style, my look? I hate that question! (Don't take it personal, you know who you are.)

What is your style? I don't even know what that means. I've been thinking about this question a lot. Some professionals say you have to have a style. My question to them is what about change? Everything is always changing. So by defining yourself or your style then you stop changing? I am sure they would answer with a big "No!", but really that is what you are doing... You are saying this is me. This is what I do. This is my style...

So, after struggling with this I've come to the following conclusion.

Every situation requires its own style. The "style" should be representative of my interpretation of the situation. Somethings require edgy with attitude, kinda a big fuck you. Sometimes a soft and airy feel is more appropriate. It all depends on what the situation requires to create the vision.

So at the end of the day my style is whatever I feel the situation calls for.

There you have it, my style....

-nate

Togetherness

I can't believe 2009 is in full effect, and unfortunately I haven't even BLOG'd this year. I've already taken so many photos. Some aren't bad. I've been so busy, which is a good thing, but today I was at a funeral in LA for one of my wife's family members. The minister recited the following poem.

"Togetherness

Death is nothing at all. I have only slipped away into the next room.

Whatever we were to each other, we still are.

Call me by my old familiar name.

Speak to me in the same easy way you always have.

Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.

Play, smile, think of me, and pray for me.

Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it always was.

There is absolute unbroken continuity.

Why should I be out of your mind because I am out of your sight?

I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner.

All is well. Nothing is past. Nothing has been lost.

One brief moment and all will be as it was before - only better.

Infinitely happier. We will be one, together forever."

-author unknown

I know this has nothing to do with photography but it is to good not too share. More photo adventures to come.

-nate

Pinup Girl Round Two and a whole lot more!

Holy crap what a busy weekend of shooting! I got a call from a friend Friday night asking me to help him out with a group shoot on Saturday. I had a portrait session Sunday and a ton of images I still need to work on from the 2nd pinup session (image displayed). 

The Saturday shoot was rough. I only brought one light and I didn't have "a place to shoot". I was trying to make the best of it. Some of the models were OK and others were very green! I am still trying to get to those images, but for the most part I am not happy with the them as usual... I do think there are some that can be worked with. They are not typical portraits but they'll be cool when I finished the post processing.

The portrait session this morning was kinda funny. I showed up at the site and there were four other photoG's working. It was kinda interesting watching them work. I am not happy with those photo either. I know, no big surprise...

I still have to finish working on the photos from the pinup session. I think there are some good ones in the bunch. The model in the 1st session was new. She didn't know what to expect. In the second session she was thinking about modeling and it showed. She still did a good job! I can't wait to show the finished product.

Until my next rant...

-nate

You ever take someone for granted?

I do...

I was going through some photos from a shoot today and I came to the sudden realization. My brother has been driving over 45 miles each way to help me with these shoots. His help ranges from picking stuff up or slapping me in the face and telling me I am going completely in the wrong direction with the shoot.

And to boot, my wife puts up with me spending so much time working on these projects.

I am really lucky to have people in my life that support me.

Thank you guys for everything.

-nate

PS checkout my brothers BLOG