Honest Critiques

Writer’s Block! It’s not that I don’t have anything to say, it’s just that sometimes I don’t know exactly how to say it. I wish I had it in me to break off some fabulous technical tips and insight on how to light for black clothing (use side light) or an insider secret on a great beauty shot (use a model with great skin to begin with) but I think I want to write about something else. I know that I haven’t been writing a lot lately.  The truth is: I AM BUSY!!! I’ve had a smashing great start for the new year! I’m meeting today with a client for a huge gig that will be a monthly contractual job for 12 months. Love those kinds of jobs!! Getting ready for Dubai in March and I’m so excited!! Just booked my plane ticket yesterday and have already done a couple of interviews for some of Dubai’s newspapers and magazines. Gearing up for my best photographer friend David Anthony’s move to Los Angeles…….no, seriously, Can. Not. WAIT!! Met with and am going to be working with Vincent De Vries on European seminars to commence in August (LONDON CALLING). Shooting for my book! Shooting for CHURCH, which has now become a regular client needing me to supply monthly images for their upcoming website. Prepping a shoot for MIRRIN Magazine, based out of the UK that I will shooting next Tuesday. And as if I don’t have enough on my plate, I’m organizing and downsizing my archives because aforementioned David Anthony accused me of collecting too many nic nac’s (sp.) and gave me some great advice on how to store my past editorials, which was taking up WAY too much room. Thanks, David!

A word to the wise…

One thing I need to mention here is some of my readers have been contacting my clients that I mention here on my blog and that’s just kinda’ a political NO NO. Okay? Do I really need to explain this one to you? Alright then, glad you get it. And BTW, when you send harassing emails to them, it really pisses them off. ; ) WINK WINK.

However, most of my blog readers are just amazing people!! And one of them took me to lunch recently when she was in town. Kitty Maer wrote me a very polite email and asked me if she could take me to lunch. Normally, I just get the sort of email (about 100 a week, and counting) if I could “look at their work and give them an honest critique and some advice on how to break into the fashion photography industry”. So the invitation for lunch was exotic! Plus, I know of her boyfriend, Wolfgang Parker who has won the SOTW a few times on here and has become a facebook buddy. I love his wonderful snarky comments!  I knew if Wolfgang was dating her, she must be a cool chick. After sitting down and ordering food, I asked Kitty to show me her work. She pulled out her iPhone and we waited patiently for her Model Mayhem portfolio to load. I looked through her portfolio of work. Kitty has a ton of potential. Kitty has an EYE! Kitty lives in Columbus, Ohio.

Get the heck out of dodge!

“You need to get the fuck out of Columbus!” First words out of my mouth. And there it is! Part 1 of an honest crtitque. Are you ready to hear it? Was she ready to hear it? I thought Kitty shows some strong potential. Her lighting skills are pretty tight. She has an eye for fashion.  But she kept saying to me that she felt like there was something “lacking” in her work and she just couldn’t figure out what that was. What lacked in Kitty’s work was A: the models. B: the styling. C: the clothes. And that makes perfect sense when you’re trying to build a body of work in Columbus, Ohio to compete with photographers based in New York, LA or Paris. Or London, Milan or Tokyo. Columbus, OHIO? Apologies a mile long, and I’m sure it’s a swingin’ city (sad to report but I’ve never been) but there ain’t no way you’re going to book those campaigns and editorials if you stay in a city that small. SOTW winner this week is Polina Osherov. When I first saw her name I thought she must be from Europe. When I went to her website’s contact page I saw an area code so then I knew she was somewhere in the US. But I didn’t recognize the area code. I wrote her and asked her where she was based and she wrote back, the “fashion capital of the world” Indianapolis. Her words, not mine. While I’m sure Indiana is a great state (never been there either) it’s going to be hard to “make it” if you’re based there. You have to base yourself out of a city that has a somewhat large fashion market (or any fashion market) in order to compete in the industry. That’s not to say you can’t make a living in Columbus or Indianapolis. You can. Seniors, family portraits, weddings…..sure! Fashion…..no. It’s just IMHO (in my humble opinion or in my HONEST opinion) and you are welcome to argue with me in the comment section ( I don’t moderate the comments…go right ahead! ) but how can you make make a living as fashion photographer in a city that doesn’t even have an ad agency that handles fashion accounts? I know, the main argument is going to be, with today’s internet you can be based anywhere and they will fly you out. Sure, if you’re Steven Meisel or Peter Lindbergh. In other words, if you’re already established and have a reputation and have been published for years, then sure, you can live in Anchorage, Alaska.

I was blessed ( and cursed ) to be born in the city of Los Angeles. I have a mixed love affair with this city. I was born and raised here and it is definitely HOME to me. I wake up at 5 or 6 AM most mornings and one of my favorite things to do is get in the car and go down to my local Starbucks on Hollywood Blvd. The sun is just breaking out, the light is low and mysterious, and all the weirdos and freaks are out walking the star studded sidewalk. On any given morning, I get to see Captain Jack Sparrow and Charlie Chaplin grab their morning cup of Joe and head over to the Grauman’s Chinese Theater to get their picture taken with the tourists infiltrating my town. I love it! But even I have suffered in my career by being based here. My work is not very “LA”. I don’t really enjoy shooting celebrities so I never built a book to try to get more work doing that kind of work. I don’t enjoy shooting lifestyle and that’s what a lot of the fashion work is here in LA. My style has always been more NY or Europe. And because of that, most of my clients are in NY or overseas.

What do you need to make it as a fashion photographer?

I know, this isn’t easy to swallow and I feel a little bad writing it, but I can’t tell you how many emails I get from very talented people asking me “what they need to do to make it as a fashion photographer” meawhile they are living in cities that I’ve never even heard of. I know that some of you have families that you just can’t leave behind to pursue your dreams. I know some of you have mortgages you just can’t pick up and walk away from. Some of you have kids. Obviously, you can’t pick up and walk away from your children! I never had kids. I knew that having children wouldn’t facilitate my career and in a sense, my photography is my kid. And marriage? Well, marriage doesn’t exactly facilitate it either! I remember my 2nd husband asking me for a divorce over the phone in 1993 because I decided to sign a 2 year contract for a job that paid very well and was very good for my career. I was only supposed to stay in Australia for 3 months. But I really wanted to stay and shoot. So I got the divorce. There was no way I was going to turn down that kind of career opportunity. In my 20’s, after graduating from Art Center, I literally lived out of a duffel bag. At 28, I got a call from a friend who had become the new fashion editor for a Spanish men’s magazine and he asked me how soon I could be in Paris to shoot a few editorials with him. I was on a plane the next day! My (ex) boyfriend was furious with me! As he drove me to the airport he told me I might not have a place to come back to.  So what did I do? I got on that plane! Looking back, I made the right choice. I met some great people, drank really good wine and shot some beautiful guys. The (ex) boyfriend? Who cares! And no, I didn’t have a place to come back to. I stayed for 4 months in Europe ( I told him I’d be gone a month at the most) and then went to NY on my way back to LA and stayed a month there because I kept getting work. He was over it. But there was no way I could turn down the work or the opportunity so the sacrifices had to be made. And it takes that type of commitment and devotion to your career in order to stay in the game and play ball.

Fashion photography is a specific market and you must live in or near that market so you can get work. And we’re in this to work! We’re in this to make a living. Remember, this is a business! So, Yes!!  You can start out shooting in Coon Rapids, (look it up, I had to) but you cannot advance to a higher level or begin to promote and market yourself as a fashion photographer in Coon Rapids. Once you start honing your skills and after you’ve decided that fashion photography is the ONLY career you’ll settle for you are going to have to busta’ move!

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Submit Your Best Shot and Win a Pair of Etre Gloves!

I just got back from Dubai. I was there for two weeks, teaching some workshops the first week and then shooting 3 editorials back to back before jumping back on a plane for the 16 1/2 hour flight back home to LA. My trip to Dubai was kind of surreal. There’s lots to share about it and I definitely will very soon. Aside from the 3 editorials I shot in Dubai, two being for Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, I shot a third editorial for a magazine back here in the States in the Spice Souk plus I shot for MIRRIN and Genlux Magazine two weeks prior to going. So I have 5 editorials I shot in the last month to share with you very soon! And I seriously can’t wait to share the stories and the photos from all five shoots! Each shoot was memorable in its own unique way. And for some very good news: I shot BTS videos on all five shoots! Even the three shoots in Dubai, with one of them being shot by a pro filmmaker who lives and works in Dubai, Harvey Glen from Alchemy Films. And on that particular shoot, some of his colleagues including Andrew Clemson (provided images below) from Alchemy Films Dubai came down to my set with a RED camera and I shot with the RED, which was an amazing experience (after seeing the still images pulled from the shoot, I’m sold!). And we have it all captured to show you! As much as I hate being in front of the camera (you know I never get use to it) I wanted to share the shoots with all of you. You see, I really DO think about you guys! Oh and the locations I got to shoot at for Harper’s Bazaar in Dubai were just incredible! Well, all three locations were incredible! Out of the 5 new editorials I shot, only 1 was shot in the studio. So you’ll get to see me shooting on location again! (Less swearing and drama this time around….YAY!!) ((Haha…this made me laugh out loud))

Our FILM Crew and Models with the RED Camera in Dubai

But in the meantime, the guys at Etre Touchy gloves were very happy I wrote about their gloves and how much I love them in my last post on what I keep in my ditty bag. They wrote me and asked me if they could send me 3 pairs of their warm but very hip gloves to give away to my readers. Why, yes, of course! When I came home to all my mail stacked up, there was the package of gloves from Etre Touchy. NICE! I’ve decided to run a little contest for the giveaway. So, if  you’re interested in owning a pair of these great gloves, here’s what you need to do: Just go to the Fashion Photography Blog’s forum section and find the thread that I posted this morning titled “Etre Gloves Photo Contest!!” or click the LINK HERE. Post your favorite fashion or beauty shot in the thread along with  your name and why it’s your favorite shot. In exactly one week from today on March 22, I will choose the top 3 winners! Not only will I mail the gloves to the top three winners, I will post the three winning hot fashion/beauty shots along with your name and a link to your website! Cuz we all know it’s about getting as much exposure as possible! Even on my little blog! ; ) Good luck to all of you who enter the contest!

Stay tuned. I promise there will be more posts coming….and very soon. Some of the editorials are coming out in April, which means I can post about them pretty soon here. And just to close here: I really want to thank you all for your loyalty and love. I get the most amazing letters from some of you. Either you find me on Facebook or through the contact page here on the blog or through my contact page on my website, you find a way to find me and let me know your appreciation for all that I do. Honestly, I do this because I’m very grateful for my life and for the opportunities I’ve been given. When I was young and starting out, nobody helped me out. And I want to give back to an industry that, despite it’s rough competitiveness and mind bending politics, has afforded me to travel to great places and meet just simply some of the coolest human beings on Earth. So thank YOU for your continual support and love. It hits home deeper than you can possibly imagine.

Okay, enough of the sappy stuff. I’m off to bed again. Cuz jet lag is a bitch!

Melissa Shooting at the “Spice Souk” in Dubai

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The Year of the Tiger!

I hope everyone had a safe and happy holidays! I was able to relax for a little bit, catch up on some reading that I sorely miss doing and reassess where I am and where I’m heading in my career. I also had the immense pleasure of spending the day with David Anthony down in Palm Springs. We kicked around downtown Palm Springs with our point and shoots, arguing and laughing and eating and smoking and just having a great time. I came back home totally inspired, actually. And that’s what colleagues should do for you, they should inspire and provoke! I also quit smoking as my New Years resolution. So far, I’m 4 days off cigarettes. I’ve quit before, and I’ll keep trying until I stay quit! But I’m hoping this time is the last time I have to quit and I can stay off cigarettes for good. We’ll see.

So…what does this next year look like for me? For one, a lot of travel! I’ve been asked to teach workshops at Gulf Photo Plus in Dubai! I leave at the end of February and will be in Dubai the first week of March. I will be there with the big heavy hittin’ honchos: Zack Arias, David Hobby, etc etc. But  I am especially excited to meet  Joey L. That kid really blows my mind as far as how young he is, how inspired he is and how bomb his work is. After Dubai, I am showing some photographs at the SNAP! Exhibition in Orlando, Florida from May 20th to the 23rd.  And NYC in between all the rest! That’s the first six months of the year. I can only imagine that the next six months will be just as busy. But what will I be doing when I’m in LA besides shooting? Doing more SEMINARS!!

Speaking of Seminars…. I had alot of lovely people write me recently with a review of what they thought of the previous seminar I held back in November. They even sent me pictures they took at the seminar! So I thought I would showcase a couple of them!

Visit Amanda Elkin’s Website

We have the next 6 months of seminars blocked out at Smashbox Studios here in West Hollywood, where we held the last one. The first one is February 6 and 7th. April 4th and 5th is the next one. And June 5th and 6th  is the 3rd one this year. If we get a good enough turnout on these 3, I plan on doing them once a month here in LA for the remainder of the year. The weekend long workshop is limited to 10, to ensure everyone gets enough attention from me, and ample enough time with the models to shoot.

Check out more information on the Seminar here!

Visit Michelle Moore’s Website

Visit Jan Klier’s Website

Problogger.com asks: Do You Have Any Blogging New Years Resolutions for 2010? I AM going to TRY to write more posts on my blog for 2010. And I’m also thinking of offering a private mentorship program. I’m just trying to figure out if I can actually find the time to do all this. In between prepping and shooting, promoting and marketing, teaching and reviewing, I dare say I have little time left for my private life. But you know, I wouldn’t change any of this for the world. Being busy is a sign of success and I’m definitely  living my dream!!  2010 is the year of the Tiger which is my Chinese Astrological sign. David (my husband) and I have been singing a little song around the house lately. Sung to the tune of “The Eye of the Tiger” , we’re singing The YEAR of the Tiger. I feel good about this year! I’ll have loads to report to you and events to take you to. You’ll be right there with me, in spirit and in words and hopefully some of you can come out and attend one of my seminars because it truly is just like one big happy family!! Not only do you walk away a better fashion shooter, you do end up having a good time! And if you live in Dubai, either come to my workshops or drop by to say HI. Same with Orlando! If you live nearby, you gotta’ come by!!

At any rate, I wish you all a hugely successful 2010, full of love, happiness and prosperity!! Rock on and Stay Tuned! xoxo

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