So Sexy!
A day shooting with Catherine Kwong for her portfolio took us to a number of wardrobe changes, all wonderful. I was and remain so consistently impressed with this woman, model and actress. And then she came out dressed in this and I just sighed. Oh my, so sexy, took my breath away. Maybe I shouldn’t say that, but I can, I am a professional!
The people I photograph take on a different look to me through the viewfinder. The camera changes things. And when it is so gorgeous or perfect, I have a tendency to let a little laugh. Models, who do not know me, are usually a little taken back, not sure what to make of it. They usually turn to Natalie Lyle my makeup artist, as Catherine did, and whisper “What does that mean?” ” Is that good?”. I sometimes don’t let on the I heard them, but Natalie just puts them at ease and says “That is really good”.
Catherine Kwong was amazing in this photo shoot and I am really disappointed in her for that. Because she made more work for me. I shot more photographs during our shoot than I have ever shot of any one person in a photo shoot ever before. Just last night she asked me, “Are you seeing images of me in your nightmares?”. Yes I do and I have no regrets!
Photo shoot with Catherine Kwong in Palm Springs. Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle. Lighting by Broncolor and a Hasselblad digital camera system. Only the best!
Mesmerized
Sitting, standing, lying on the floor and posing, Noel VanBrocklin mesmerized both myself behind the camera and makeup and hair stylist Blanche LeBeau all day. Actress and model, Noel was amazing even when in a chair upside down. Wait until you see a photograph from that series!
Not any photo of any model makes it to my website. Noël VanBrocklin in this photograph does for sure! Much better seen on a full screen as big as your biggest screen. Bigger is better! Click here… http://bit.ly/1SlfgkG
Noel VanBrocklin, Makeup and Hair Styling by Blanche LeBeau. Lighting by Broncolor and digital camera system from Hasselblad. Nothing but the best!
Chameleon
Catherine Kwong poolside in Palm Springs
Never!
I am trying to remember the time I got tired of looking at the photographs I took of Randalene Sergent… NEVER!
Photo Shoot With Randalene Sergent. Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle.
Break The Rules
I just love this photograph I shot in a studio with Melyssa. Very casual and sexy. But it does break some of my photo rules. The left side is really somewhat over exposed. But I like it! It was shot on film, Kodak Portra in a medium format camera. Part of the magic of film is that you would, after processing, get back photographs that were not actually what you were expecting in one way or another. So fun!
Something else I sometimes hear from people is… “I don’t like that she is naked, I like something left to the imagination”. Well that’s fine, but I like her naked. I like the other gorgeous naked people in front of my cameras and the photographs we create too. It is wonderful and fascinating! And I like breaking these rules of society. Thanks!
Yes Guys!
You see men in front of my cameras too. And not just in the gym. Bodybuilder and fitness model Jake Sawyer has often been in my photo shoots for magazine features and advertising. Everybody says the same thing… “good looking guy”.
Beauty Dish At Work
Always working to get my lighting to get it right. So model Amber Flowers was kind enough to work with me on placement of the Broncolor beauty dish. We did finally get it right.
Photo shoot notes… Broncolor lighting with a Move 1200L pack and one strobe head in a Para 133 reflector. Hasselblad digital camera system.
Rising Star!
I photographed Catherine Kwong on Saturday, posted her first photograph from our shoot on Monday across all of my social media, and the response to her has been wonderful! A professional model and actress who has had her successes, Catherine Kwong is taking it to another level. From fitness to fashion, from the small screen to the big screen, I so look forward to seeing her rising star!
Photo shoot notes… The superb makeup and hair styling by Natalie Lyle. Hasselblad digital camera system and Broncolor lighting. Side note… the teak lounge from Gloster.
Catherine Kwong poolside in Palm Springs
You Do Look Good!
She said… “Good golly Ian! You make me look good!!!” Of course she does look good! Beautiful and gorgeous actually! Catherine Kwong in our photo shoot. Professional model and actress, you have seen her in ads for Nike and Adidas, on the screen in Grey’s Anatomy and The West Wing. From lifestyle to fashion to fitness, yes Catherine Kwong… You Do Look Good!
Photo shoot notes… Natalie Lyle for wonderful makeup and hair styling! Clyde Sawyer, my ever present do it all assistant. Hasselblad digital camera system. Broncolor lighting. Only the best!
Looking At You
Model Amber Flowers looking back at you in our photo shoot. Shoot notes… Hasselblad camera system. Broncolor Para 133 reflector on one strobe head with a Broncolor Move 1200L pack. All so very exceptional! Thanks!
That Is What I Do!
You workout hard and watch your eating habits consistently. You look great because it is your lifestyle and maybe your business and livelihood. I take that just as seriously as you do. So when you come to me to stand in front of my cameras, you will get my best. And that will be way past the best from so very many.
To chat about photo shoots for yourself or your advertising or your magazines, send me an e-mail to Ian@SecondFocus.com. I truly look forward to chatting with you with whatever your needs or just want to do. Thanks!
Mark Ebinger photographed by Ian L. Sitren at Power Of Fitness Gym in Palm Desert California.
The Beginnings Of An Icon
Jamie Eason, for almost 10 years one of the biggest names in fitness. From her cover and feature in Planet Muscle Magazine, she came to the attention of Bodybuilding.com. They assigned me the very pleasant task of photographing Jamie for two days in a studio and a gym. Her very first gym photo shoot by the way. That led to her signing on as spokesperson for Bodybuilding.com and launching her success and helping to propel them to the behemoth of the fitness business they are today, pushing towards $1 billion in annual sales. Maybe I should shoot your advertising and magazine features! Send me an e-mail to Ian@SecondFocus.com and Thank You!
Wearable Softbox
This is my idea of the correct use of a softbox. For you non-photographers, a soft box is a lighting modifier that is often met with frustration by photographers in putting it together. I think Amber Flowers wearing one is a much better use! Anyone interested in my ideas for me doing a lighting workshop!
The actual lighting here on the left is a Broncolor Para 133 reflector powered by a Broncolor Move 1200L pack and head. I use a Hasselblad digital camera system. Only the best!
Gabriella
When I saw this gorgeous woman at the Palm Springs Photo Festival late night event party there was no question in my mind that she was a professional model. The way she carried herself, her presence, dress and makeup and hair, tall and slender. When we did meet and she told me her name was Gabriella, I thought how perfect is that. Such a romantic name that takes one away to beautiful places in Europe that so very much fits her. Then much to my surprise, I find that she is an extraordinary photographer herself. I am wondering now if I should hang out with more photographers. Just kidding, they mostly all just look like me. But that is how I came to be graced with Gabriella Muttone in front of my camera.
Gabriella Muttone in our photo shoot at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Photographed by Ian L. Sitren. Hasselblad digital camera equipment and Broncolor lighting. Only the best.
Rise Above It
The inescapable presence of model Tiana Joy in our photo shoot. Made even more so by the just the right water level in the pool. Such a candid feeling and view that would not be the same with modesty. Such a wonderful model! Thank You Tiana!
Tiana Joy photographed in Palm Springs by Ian L. Sitren. Hasselblad digital camera equipment and Broncolor lighting. Only the best.
Fashion Model Flight Demo
During our photo shoot at the Palm Springs Air Museum, Gabriella Muttone did her best to do a flight demonstration. Limited by lack of flight clearance from the tower, she never the less looked really great in her liftoff.
I must tell you about Gabriella. Stunningly beautiful, a professional model who has worked around the world, been the face of Avon, and has graced such brands as American Express, Sony, CocaCola, Diet 7-UP, WonderBra, Sears, Faberge and Appolinaris. Gabriella is represented by the prestigious Spot 6 Management in Toronto, one of the most sought after modeling agencies in Canada.
There is yet more! Gabriella herself is a superb photographer. Incredibly talented and creative, you must check out her work at GabriellaMuttone.com. I truly admire what she does behind the camera!
How flattered am I to have this accomplished professional model and an extraordinary photographer stand in front of my camera. I would otherwise be without words but I had to say Thank You Gabriella Muttone. You are just wonderful!
I must also say that I am so happy I use the best gear possible, Hasselblad digital camera equipment and Broncolor lighting. Anything less would have been just that. Thanks!
Vintage Swimsuit Is Here!
The first retro Vintage Swimsuit competition has now happened! A look back in time to those healthy, carefree, and exciting times at Muscle Beach that the entire world imagines. Vividly in everyone’s mind is the picture of Southern California beaches, the sun, good looking guys and pretty girls. And the pretty girl here is picturesque herself, Hannah Gordon Etherson on stage at Muscle Beach!
Hannah Etherson competing in the revival of Vintage Swimsuit competition at Muscle Beach, Memorial Day 2016.
So Much Fun With Gabriella
Sharing a laugh with an incredibly beautiful, gorgeous, talented and fun Gabriella Muttone. Behind the scenes in our photo shoot at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Made all the better with my Hasselblad camera and Broncolor lighting. Thank You Gabriella! You are wonderful!
Hitchhiking to Muscle Beach
I imposed upon Maria Bertrand to demonstrate the proper form and universal sign for hitchhiking to Muscle Beach. We were on Mulholland Drive above Beverly Hills so the results for cars that stopped included 17 Ferraris, 14 Lamborghinis, 6 Bentley Coupes, 11 various Rolls Royces, 4 Lincoln Town Cars and one black Loach helicopter with no markings that dropped out of the sky. However last I saw of Maria for the day was as she rode off on the back of a bright red Vespa with a really cute blonde wearing a matching helmet who had really long legs. I went back to the hotel with my Hasselblad camera and my memories of the day, in my photographs. Sigh…
Everybody Makes Friends On My Shoots
One of the very fun things that happens on my photo shoots is that everybody makes friends with everyone else. Bella found a perfect companion! Photographed with my Hasselblad digital camera and Broncolor lighting. I love this gear!
Alternate Energy Sources
I was going to use this post to tell you about the difference between Windmills and Wind Turbines. But never mind. Instead just a breathtaking moment with Heidi Cannon in front of my camera.
A Guess First
It was July last year when a so very gorgeous Maria Bertrand was photographed by me in this beautiful dress by Marciano by Guess. It looks like Guess decided that it was so beautiful on Maria that they had to put it on Gigi Hadid for their billboards and magazine ads.
Maria Bertrand Photographed along Mulholland Drive by me with my Hasselblad. Gigi Hadid for Guess.
The Best Part Of Being A Photographer
The best part of being a photographer is getting to shoot photographs, especially with really great looking people. Like my good friend Daniel Hill here out in the desert right near Palm Springs. Thanks!
Bonnie Waiting
Bonnie waiting, but for who? Who is Bonnie? More of this story to come.
Emma Mesrobian is our Bonnie. Makeup and Hair Styling by Estee Lauder’s world traveling Blanche Le Beau. Broncolor lighting and Hasselblad digital cameras. At the Orange Empire Railway Museum. Thank You!
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