International Firefighters’ Day
From a photo shoot I did for a magazine series about fitness in the military. At March Air Reserve Base. Photo shoot note… I shot this with a Phase One medium format camera system.
“International Firefighters’ Day is observed each year on 4th May. On this date you are invited to remember the past firefighters who have died while serving our community or dedicated their lives to protecting the safety of us all. At the same time, we can show our support and appreciation to the firefighters world wide who continue to protect us so well throughout the year.”
“The role of a firefighter in today’s society – be it urban, rural, natural environment, volunteer, career, industrial, defence force, aviation, motor sport, or other is one of dedication, commitment and sacrifice – no matter what country we reside and work in. In the fire service we fight together against one common enemy – fire – no matter what country we come from, what uniform we wear or what language we speak.”
– Lt JJ Edmondson, 1999
More Than A Bag
At first look, just a wrinkled plastic bag. It has been sitting crunched up in a drawer. Actually it was a part of hugely successful marketing. If you are a bodybuilding and fitness person, you were handed one of these bags at some time.
At one of the annual, week long, planning meetings at Bodybuilding.com in Boise, the bag concept came up. At the major bodybuilding and fitness expos like the Arnold and Olympia, hundreds of companies hand out tremendous amounts of swag and product samples. The same at all of the other bodybuilding and fitness competitions around the country. So the idea was to hand out a bag that would tell people to buy their products at Bodybuilding.com.
It immediately came to my mind and I said “Find everything in this bag at Bodybuilding.com”. That was it and the bag went into production. I am sure hundreds of thousands of these bags were handed out over the years. They were even supplied for free to other companies and manufacturers to hand out with their products.
Part of a concept that was to make sure that everyone knew Bodybuilding.com and went there first for anything related to fitness and bodybuilding. It worked!
Fitness Marketing
We take it as common place seeing neck lanyards with company names at events and conventions etc. But that was certainly not the case 15 years ago at bodybuilding and fitness events. At one of the major amateur bodybuilding competitions, thousands of attendees, competitors and guests all had their passes on plain black lanyards. I said to Bodybuilding.com, let’s make lanyards and give them free to all of the bodybuilding and fitness event producers around the country, even around the world. Within the next few months and going forward, hundreds of thousands of people at these events became individual billboards for Bodybuilding.com.
From Here To There!
Before and almost after, still going. My own story and you will like this. A before and after like you have never seen!
BTS For Ad Campaign
I have been having great fun with short videos and especially “behind the scenes” in my photo shoots. The idea for me comes from a series I had done for Bodybuilding.com for their ad campaigns promoting “BodySpace”. Then a new social media concept for fitness people that when I came into the picture had only 7,000 members and then grew to millions. That in turn helped grow the company to perhaps pushing towards a billion dollars of sales annually.
The videos were shot with a video crew and built around my photo shoots for the print and online advertising, features and content such as online wallpaper. The ads we produced are some of my all time favorites and appeared in magazines monthly for a long time. One of the print ads became a favorite for women, affixed to their refrigerator doors as fitness and workout motivation. I dare say the same ad was torn out and taped next to many a guy’s office wall or truck dashboard. So here is a favorite and watch for the “behind the scenes”.
I Get Asked The Most About…
In my years as a photographer in the world of bodybuilding and fitness, I have for a long time been asked many times over and over…. “Have you ever photographed ________?”. And the person I always get asked about more often than any other has always been this glorious, gorgeous, wonderful creature on Earth…. Ava Cowan. One of the world’s best known, most popular and respected IFBB Figure Pro’s ever. Over 1,000,000 Facebook fans alone. So the answer is Yes, I have photographed Ava Cowan!
Waiting
Waiting… Is she waiting for someone? Is someone waiting for her? What is on the other side of that door? Is she hiding something? Somewhere at the Salton Sea.
That incredible body built and owned by Regina Piazza. A fitness professional for sure and opening her new all around fitness facility in Dana Point, California as we speak!
Makeup and Hair styling by an also incredible body and talent, Natalie Lyle. Photographed with my Hasselblad digital camera system. Only the best!
So Many!
The subject came up about all of the photo shoots I did for Bodybuilding.com. Having become one of the most visited websites in the world, sales for the company had grown to exceed a half billion dollars per year. During those growth years, I photographed their advertising, online and print magazine features and endless bodybuilding and fitness competitions around the country. Most memorable for me, so many, very many. But way at the top was the advertising, video and features that came out of my photo shoot with Maria Rogers. “A picture is worth a thousand words” and way more!
Ever Ever
One of my all time favorite photographs I have ever shot ever. The incredible wonderful Tina Chandler during her Olympia bodybuilding competition.
Gym Motivator!
That is what you call Joanna Johnson, a Gym Motivator! And not just my words, others around World Gym in Palm Desert yesterday, men and women, walked up and congratulated her on the way she has worked so hard to build her body. Joanna drives the goals and admiration of others to be a better self. Go visit her, Joanna is a trainer there and she can be your Gym Motivator too!
This photograph was just a quick example I picked out from our photo shoot because it is so fun. Joanna’s first professional photo shoot, she warmed up and gave me some of her own posing. Good job!
Photo shoot notes… Makeup and Hair Styling by another gym motivator herself, Natalie Lyle. Hasselblad digital camera system. Lighting by Broncolor with the Broncolor Para 133 reflector and Move 1200L pack. Only the best!
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!
Not A Selfie And A Selfie
I love selfies! They can be so much fun. And my buddy Sasha Brown really has an ability to post some great ones! So here is a not selfie from our photo shoot at the Salton Sea. And a selfie from Sasha. Just say Thanks Sasha!
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
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.
And Then She Shows Up
I really have had the chance to photograph some of the most beautiful amazing women on the planet. Then Ashley Owens-Gulina showed up, oh my! It is said “a picture is worth a thousand words”. I have many pictures I have shot of Ashley and I remain without words. The wonderful Makeup and Hair Styling by Natalie Lyle. Another beautiful woman in my life. Thank You to both of you!
Vintage Swimsuit Posing At Muscle Beach
So excited to be the Muscle Beach photographer shooting the first new Vintage Swimsuit Competition. You can have your photographs on stage, backstage in the famous “Pit” or even your own photo shoot on Saturday or Sunday. But I can only photograph so many people so please sign up ASAP. Any questions just get back to me on Facebook Messenger. Thanks! For more details and sign up information go to MuscleBeachPhoto.com
Posing examples for the new Vintage Swimsuit Competition at Muscle Beach.
So Very Sexy, Fit And A Chocolatier
You can have your chocolate and look great too! Katie Madden at 56 years old in my pool on front of my Hasselblad camera. She is a Fitness Professional, a Corrective Exercise Practitioner, and to top it off, a Chocolatier specializing in artisan white chocolates. She is just so incredible and oh so very sexy and gorgeous. I am sure happy I shot photographs because I really don’t know what more to say! The superb day of Makeup and Hair Styling by the equally superb Natalie Lyle. Thank You!
Basic Safety Rule
A basic safety rule to be followed at all times. Avoid looking at photographs of Sherry Goggin for more than 30 seconds or you may lose the ability to focus and concentrate on anything else for as long as 24 – 72 hours. There is no known cure at this time nor expected to be in the near future. From our photo shoot near the windmill farms and the bikini from her own Fit Girl Wear designs.
Got Your Attention!
So much fun getting your attention with my photography for Bodybuilding.com. The Bodybuilding.com Mission:”To help our visitors reach their health, fitness and appearance goals through information, motivation and supplementation.” “The largest online sports nutrition company and recently ranked the No. 1 most visited bodybuilding and fitness website in the world!”
How To Find Me
If you are going to be at Muscle Beach for the big Memorial Day weekend show, this is how you find me. Look for my 6ft tall gorgeous assistant Natalie Lyle. Most often on my photo shoots as Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist, she is very exceptional in front of the camera too. Natalie will be helping me keep track of the people who sign up for photo shoots. For signing up details, click here… http://squ.re/1Sl56iQ
I will be shooting everyone who signs up with me and I am the Muscle Beach photographer. Bikini class, Vintage Swimsuit, Bodybuilding, Physique, all of it, I am your photographer. It will be a really busy show and to be fair I will only be photographing the people who sign up for photographs. I just will not have enough time otherwise. At the show, you can have your photographs on stage and also you can select to add on backstage in the world famous Muscle Beach “Pit”.
You can also have your own mini photo shoot for just yourself or a couple. On the Saturday and Sunday before the show, I will be photographing right there at Venice Beach and nearby on the beach in Marina Del Rey. And you do not have to be doing the Muscle Beach show to sign up for a mini photo shoot.
If you have at all been wanting to shoot with me or wanting to have some great professional photographs, this is the chance at a really reduced cost. I make these prices available only for times like this when I can photograph a lot of people. I have really done this so it can be as inexpensive as possible for everyone. For the details, here is the link and Thank You! I really hope as many of you as possible get in front of my cameras! Click here and please sign up right away, only a few weeks left… http://squ.re/1Sl56iQ
Vintage Muscle Beach
So excited to be a part of the new Muscle Beach Vintage Swimsuit competition coming up on Memorial Day! Along with show producer Joe Wheatley we are planning on re-creating timeless photographs like this. If you are doing the show, you just might be a part of it. And you can have your own moments in my photographs too. I am the Muscle Beach photographer. You can sign up for your photographs on stage, back stage in the famous “Pit” and your own personal mini photo shoot. Also available for couples. But please sign up ASAP, I will not have time for everyone, so do not wait. Thanks and click here for details… https://squareup.com/store/secondfocus/
Chainmaille Beauty
The beauty and fitness of Stacey Naito draped in a one of a kind Chainmaille masterpiece by artist Jerry L. Hanson. The magnificence of it all enhanced by the superb Makeup and Hair Styling by Blanche LeBeau. Thank You!
Perfect Set Up
Still so very proud and excited to have shot this cover photograph of Doug Brignole for his book, co-authored with Adrian James Tan. Sure looking forward to doing the next one too! It was a photo I had in mind all along and it set up perfectly. It all worked from Doug looking great to following my directions and the lighting set up. Great fun! Check it out here at Cognella Publishing.
Millions!
My favorite van wrapped with the most famous photograph I have ever shot! This photograph has been on maybe millions of flyers, brochures, magazine ads and more. Hugely successful. And the best Egg Whites ever and around longer and sold more than any other brand ever. That is that guy who started it all, Ray Mac McCabe. Egg Whites International.
SecondFocus Blog 