FitExpo and Photo L.A.
Tomorrow, Friday through Sunday, find me in Los Angeles for Photo LA and the FitExpo Los Angeles. Time to just meet and/or talk about photography and my work in shooting magazine features, advertising, your portfolio and more. It would be great to meet you! Just send me an e-mail to SecondFocus@mac.com or text to my cellphone at 213-712-1929. And Thanks!
Never Enough
I can never get enough of photographs with Maria Bertrand. So I thought I would try four of this one!
Model Maria Bertrand. Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle. Photography by Ian L. Sitren.
Not Much To Say
The photographs of Randalene Sergent from our photo shoots are just fine without saying much about them. What do you think?
Randalene Sergent with Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle. Photography by Ian L. Sitren.
My Mulholland Drive Tour Guide
My Mulholland Drive tour guide for the day. Maria Bertrand told me she had some good photo shoot locations in mind and wow was she right. And wow is she gorgeous! We did a few different looks for a few different themes to go with magazine feature stories and more. Here she is in a Guess by Marciano dress that was just made for her. Or maybe she was made for that dress! Just perfect! All photographed on Hasselblad which is why you are seeing so much detail in the fabric of that dress, the perfect colors and skin tones and the looks like you are there feel to the photograph. Also just perfect!
My Secret To Working With Gorgeous Models
I am often asked by newer inexperienced photographers how to get the most out of models during photo shoots. It can also be especially intimidating for new photographers when working with tall, gorgeous professional models like Maria Bertrand. I will tell you my secret… Cookies and Milk. Yes that’s it! You can get the best photo shoots ever with a model if you give them Cookies and Milk.
Tonality As In Black And White
I keep seeing color digital camera photographs converted to black and white and wonder why I do not like them very much. I prefer the tonality created by actual black and white film and most of the black and white conversions I see miss the smoothness of the changes from the whites to the grays to the blacks. So I do prefer to shoot film for black and white or if I do a conversion from a digital created color photograph I try to create that tonality. And that is what I did here for example.
This is model Maria Rogers during an advertising photo shoot I did for Bodybuidling.com. Maria of course is nothing short of incredibly beautiful with a body that is just totally breathtaking. And a wonderful model that day for sure. This is actually an outtake but the ad itself ran in endless magazines for quite some time. I got a lot of e-mail from women who told me that they had torn this out and it was on their refrigerator for motivation. I also got a lot of e-mail from guys, sometimes the word motivation was in those too.
A side note you might find fun, Maria is wearing my underwear! Well not really mine and they were new. I try to carry extra new wardrobe pieces in a bag on all shoots. Odds and ends or some things I just happen to buy or that get sent to me by clothing and accessory companies. In this case we needed a matching thong. And I had one in just the right color. I would say it saved the day! What would you say?
Yes I Photograph Men…
Yesterday I got an e-mail that I do get every now and then… “Do you ever photograph men?”. Well yes! Actually, I have had more magazine covers and features with men than with women. The same might be the case for advertising. But I am working on more new magazine features with women recently. That is why you are seeing those photographs from me.
I am always happy to hear from new guys for photo shoots, so if you are interested send me an e-mail to SecondFocus@mac.com. And you do not have to be a bodybuilder like Jake Sawyer, not everyone is! Thanks!
My New Selfie…
I always say I like selfies so here is a new of me. Oh… that other person is model Bailey Daniels.
Bikini Weather
I saw a swimsuit ad yesterday about getting ready for bikini weather. It is always bikini weather for me and my cameras. Especially with Ashley Owens Gulina! Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle.
I Can’t Help It!
Can’t help it! I have to do photo shoots that just surprise you…. and me actually! I have to hold back some really fun photographs from this shoot because they are exclusives until they are published. But this is fun for now! With Jamie Lovelle. Thanks!
Another Favorite…
Another one of my favorites, happened across this photograph when searching through my archives to fill a photo request. Ayla Webb from our photo shoot.
Photographs
I very often have to search my archives for photographs to fill requests from magazines, companies and other people. As I do that I often see again photographs I took that I really like. This photograph of Brad Gwinn from our photo shoot being one of them, that I happened to run across just yesterday. Being a photographer starts with being a huge fan of photography and photographs and sometimes even my own.
Better Without The Wedding
I think sometimes a wedding dress looks better without the wedding. At least if it is being modeled by Maria Bertrand in front of my camera…
Adorned By Beauty…
How wonderful to have my photographs adorned by the beautiful model, Aristodeme. And how wonderful to have her adorned by the beautiful jewelry by Shari Dixon. Created from “natural elements and mixed media such as pressed flowers, leaves, herbs and snakeskin, immortalizing their fragile lives”. Shari describes her designs as “whimsical and extremely unique designs of personal adornment”. I think that is such a wonderful description of such wonderful pieces. How perfect to adorn the natural beauty and grace of Aristodeme. Find these beautiful creations and more at ShariDixonInc.com. 
Get To Your Photo Shoot
How do you get to your photo shoot? Sharon Lim prefers classic air travel. So if you fly in, I will pick you up at the airport or if you are really lucky, at the Palm Springs Air Museum!
The Architecture Of Regina Piazza
So many people here for Modernism Week but too bad they missed the great architecture of Regina Piazza in front of the 1960’s Palm Springs Boxing Club. Next you will find Regina building her own training gym in Dana Point. As if there were not enough reasons to go to Dana Point! Even Richard Henry Dana stopped there on the sailing brig “Pilgrim” in 1835. He won’t be stopping back but you can check out the progress of “Shredded Fox” on their website being built now or by going to Regina’s Facebook page by clicking right here! Very Fun!
A Camera, A Few Rolls Of Film And Thou…
This is how I like to do it. Just a camera with a few rolls of film, yes film! And then a beautiful model with a unique look. The model is Xtine, very tall, slender and just stunning. I had a specific series of photographs I wanted to shoot for some magazines and Xtine was beyond my expectations. Then we photographed some more to take advantage of the time and the day. It was all perfect!
Photographic Magic All It’s Own…
I used to shoot a lot of my work on film. Off and on I have kept going back to film. And now I am starting to like film again even more for at least some of my photography. Photographic magic all it’s own. More soon!
Palm Springs Fine Art Fair
At the Palm Springs Fine Art Fair VIP opening on Thursday night. Scenes and art I found interesting and fun. I did mention to the woman in front of the art sign that I did not believe for one moment that she was a “bad texter”.
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“Eat Like You Mean It”
Ever since Carl’s Jr. introduced their commercial for the Superbowl 2005, with Paris Hilton washing a car, I have been a huge fan of their commercials. This latest with Charlotte McKinney is every bit as outrageous as so many they have done in the past. It is so fun!. So Carl’s is still my fast food burger of choice! And tell you a secret, I once had dinner with Carl at his home.
A Uniform Look
Around the Los Angeles FitExpo, over 50,000 people saw many of my photographs around the 650 booths. And a recurring photo is this one of Sherry Goggin from our photo shoot. I guess we could say it is a very uniform look!
On The Rocks
On the rocks is often my choice. Windy Nguyen makes for a wonderful yard accessory don’t you think! From our photo shoot.
Hiking At The L.A. FitExpo!
I know I will be seeing my hiking partner Sherry Goggin at the FitExpo today. I don’t know if she will be wearing this hiking outfit she wore the last time we did a photo shoot out in the desert, but she is always looking amazing in wardrobe from her own line of clothes from Fit Girl Wear! If you are hiking at the FitExpo at the Los Angeles Convention Center today, send me an e-mail to SecondFocus@mac.com and we meet up on the trail! Thanks!
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