Originally, this was the month I was going to do my annual tech articles but, I'm working on a particular part of the series that going to be extra special. Something that's been years in the making that's finally going to happen. Finally.
For a second, I didn't have a clue what I was going to write quick, easy and relevant blog article. The next second I thought "I'm going to completely indulge myself!" I'm not going to follow my editorial calendar and just wing it. Let's see how this goes for the month of March!
A recent shoot with one of my favorite models: Tashi!
This shoot was done sort of last-minute when I decided I wanted some solid practice before a big shoot scheduled for next week. It was supposed to be super simple, no great expectations. But that's what I thought the last time I photographed Tashi. That simple shoot landed her on the cover on my portfolio....
I think every photographer has them: a muse.
Whenever you work together, it's just magic. There's almost zero effort to getting great shots. I can't even articulate, or even figured out how that works. Is there something on the sub-conscious level? Did we know each other in a previous life. Which I believe more than the former possibility.
I don't think there is any way you can predict how you can work with a person. God knows we've all known people from a distance only to find out that reality, can be quite different.
Tashi showed me what she was going to wear. It was interesting because it was very unconventional to what I usually photograph. But I trusted her. To me, it looked like just a mush-mash of items put together. But there was a NY style to it. And somehow, sexy.
She did her own makeup and hair. She's so amazing. Gorgeous makeup. But her hair. It has its own personality. It's so much of what makes Tashi "Tashi". All these amazing colors. The way it moves. The way she can make it move. I can do portraits of her all day.
30 degrees that day. Tashi was totally fine with it! She's great! A good wind which is why we chose this day as the forecast said it would only be slight one. It wasn't. It was regularly blowing down my light stand.
I freaked for a second. My 3' Profoto Soft Octa box adds a nice-something to images. But I couldn't use it. So I thought "I'm going to make this work!" and moved the speedlight in the Octa box and mounted it on my camera.
And it worked. Wow....
We did about 2 hours of photography in a 3-hour shoot. Some time used when packing up my Profoto modifier and putting it back in the bag. Walking to different locations. Chatting about so much. Tashi is just the best to work with. Fun. Lovely. Professional.
I knew I was enjoying the pics from the shoot when I'd peak at the display on the back of the camera. I saw serious potentials. I was quite exhausted from life and wanted to nap when I got home from the shoot. But I forced myself to stay awake just log enough to import and do some minor adjustments. Okay, Ioved them. I had to force myself to stop selecting photos after about an hour.
It would then take hours and hours to sort images. HOURS. And just by chance, I thought I would convert one into black and white. Then another. And another. And another. I have ZERO idea how all these image looked so great to me in black and white. I couldn't figure it out. I just loved them! It's part Tashi. Part New York. It's the only reason I can think of....
I thought it would be fun to finish the article with a color of photo of Tashi looking back. To give you an idea of what I was looking at and feeling when taking the pics. Hopefully.
