Specks of Me

Accidental Happiness

2011-09-03T16:50:00.000-07:00

I wanted to try to create a period look, this past weekend with a shoot I was doing, and my lovely daughter agreed to model for me again. We were going for an old fashioned, high society look. I was pleased with they way they turned out, but have had a huge mix of reactions from others. I don't see what they do in this image, but I have been told it and the others are too sexual and suggestive. I really couldn't disagree more.

Anyway in the process of this shoot she took her hair down and the gloves off and we had fun taking some more pictures, just goofing off. The image on the right is my favorite from the session and it was purely by accident that I got the shot. I love the movement and the expression on her face. The image makes me stop and ask questions. It makes me want to know more. To me that is the measure of a good photograph. One that make you stop and take pause and want to know more.

I can't wait to take some more pictures. I have a shoot planned with a model on Friday, can't wait.

Fashion Show

2011-08-14T16:17:00.000-07:00

Cait participated in her first fashion show last night. It was an incredibly long day, but so much fun. She had to be there 10 hours prior to show time to go through hair, makeup, final fittings, and rehearsals. There were over 120 models, 11 designers, and a 90 foot runway. Those girls worked the runway.

This was the first fashion show I have been to, so it was a new experience for me. I count myself lucky to have been able to have access backstage to see all the hard work that goes into something like this. I think Cait and I are looking forward to the next show.

Studio Fun

2011-07-25T23:33:00.000-07:00

I had some fun this evening with lighting. I usually shoot outdoors with natural light, so it is always a treat when I get the opportunity to shoot with lights. My daughter, the photographer, invested in some studio lighting gear over the weekend and she was so gracious as to allow me to experiment with it.

I'm looking forward to lot of fun ideas I have going around in my head. Can't wait.

Audition Time

2011-07-11T18:26:00.000-07:00

The first view of the city

Cait went on her first audition for a commercial. I got the call the day before letting us know we needed to be in San Francisco the following afternoon for an audition. Cait’s audition time was at 4:45 pm, so we didn’t need to leave until the afternoon.

I spent a few hours planning our trip. Seriously, I got on Google earth and checked out the building we were going to so I would know what to look for. I checked out parking close by, and zoomed in on their signs for pricing info. Yikes!!! Parking in the city is way to expensive.

In the end, I chose to take her by BART. We left in plenty of time because I wasn’t sure how long it would take to walk from the station to where we were going. We ended up getting to the station two hours early, pretty typical for me. The station was sooo much closer than what the map made it look. We headed down to Starbucks and killed some time.

Waiting at Starbucks

About twenty minutes before her appointment we headed to the casting. We walk in the door and there is a copy machine and stairs. Kind of a strange lobby but we press on and up the stairs we went. On the second floor the room was full of children and parents bouncing around. I was beginning to think we had been sent to the wrong place when I spotted a sigh directing us to another flight of stairs. So up we went.

Immediately at the top of the stairs was the casting room with the door closed, and beyond that the waiting room. The room was full of young ladies waiting their turn, some with parents, some on their own. Cait checked in and we took a seat.

I can’t help but pay attention to each person as they check in. One didn’t remember their work permit, and wasn’t even sure if it was not expired, she blamed it on her agency. Several didn’t bring head shots or resumes and played dumb, they all blamed it on their agency. A few came in crying because they were late, some were honest and said they couldn’t find parking, others blamed it on their agency for telling them the wrong time. Are you sensing the pattern here? It was almost always someone else's fault.

The woman working the check in was so good natured though and took it all in stride. I want to be that woman sometimes. Having the patients to fix everyone mistakes as best as she can and keep smiling at the same time. I think I wouldn’t be able to bite my tongue though and would probably be fired after one day for telling someone to own up and take responsibility for their own mistakes in life.

I digress. The girls went in in groups of three and the clock was ticking away. 30 minutes after her appointment Cait was finally called to the “launch pad” where the three girls waited to go in next. About five minutes later she came out and it was time to go.

According to her the audition was alot of fun.

We jammed back to the BART station to catch the next train out of the city. Then drove home. Overall, a great experience for both of us.

New Adventure

2011-07-01T21:57:00.000-07:00

I was sitting in the chair trying to remember why we were there. I'm not sure who was more nervous, Cait or me. In a few minutes we would be sitting in front of a talent agent asking if they would like to represent her. I shouldn't have been surprised that we were actually there as Cait has been asking to pursue modeling since she was 11. I ignored her requests for as long as I could with excuse after excuse as to why it wasn't a good idea, or things she had to prove to me me first. You need to be a better student, have a better attitude, grow taller, be older, etc... She is in fact older now, taller now, is a much better student, and an improved attitude. She slowly chiseled away at my excuses until all I could do was give in and take her to an open call. That is how I found myself sitting in the waiting room dreading what was to come. I wanted them to love her and find her as beautiful as I do and give her an opportunity to live out her dream. I also hoped they didn't like her so I could keep my baby to myself. I knew that would crush her though so I mostly hoped they liked her.

Turns out we picked a day that the model agent was out of town to go to an open call. Cait got to see the owner of the Agency instead. She came over to us and made a comment that Cait was cute. She measured how tall she was, and looked at the snapshots we brought with us. She took a few pictures with her camera. Then she told us that we needed to see the Model Agent and had us schedule an appointment to come back and meet her. When we left Cait was so excited, as was I. The owner liked her and asked her to come back, which was a good sign.

They following Monday we went back to meet with the Model Agent. She asked Cait why she wanted to be a model, what type of modeling she wanted to do, and answered our questions. She measured Cait again, and took more pictures of her. Then she explained what an agency does and does not do and went over her contract. She asked us to take a few days to look it over and get back to her with any questions we might have. She told us after a few days, if we were still interested to let her know and she would schedule a test shoot. Cait was through the moon excited, and I was very excited for her. After looking over the contract and having my attorney husband look it over we decided to take on a new adventure and see where this modeling thing can take her.