Photo 144 out of 365: “Max on the Job”

"Max on the Job" - Settings: ISO 800, f/3.2, 1/160 sec, 50mm lens

I took this photo on Tuesday and was supposed to post it yesterday but I was too crazy!   This is Mark – the best man at our wedding and Adam’s close friend for over ten years since they met out in LA.  Mark and Adam call each other “Max” – a nod to Woody Allen’s “Annie Hall”.  Mark/Max and I have been working closely together on this Food Network job and we’ve been having such a blast!  Here, he is using the macro lens we rented to get some extreme close-up shots.  You can just see his intense concentration!

Photo 145 out of 365 – “Jessica”

"Jessica" - Settings: ISO 3200, f/4.0, 1/160 sec, 28-105mm lens (70mm)

This beautiful lady is my friend Jessica – I have known her since we were little babies!  Jess and I had an awesome photo shoot session last night.  I am helping her out with head shots and she is helping me out with head shot practice AND Alexander Technique sessions.  Bartering is fun!

Anyway, our head shot session last night was a blast!  Before we started,  I was a little nervous about my ability to direct a photo shoot – to recommend poses, to find the best light, to put my subject at ease, etc.  That’s why it was good for me to start with Jess.  I have known her for so long, that both of us were really able to relax and have fun!  Of course, it didn’t hurt that we started off with a glass of wine…  or two. 🙂

Jess is so pretty and has such a natural ease in front of the camera, that it wasn’t too hard to get some great shots.  My only gripe, looking at them today, is that I was shooting with a manual focus the entire time and I have several pictures that are beautiful, but a little soft (not entirely in focus).  I thought they’d come out better if I used manual focus – but in hindsight, I would use auto focus more next time.  Good to know… I’m learning on the job!

I have a few more photo gigs coming up in the next couple weeks – I’m doing head shots for another actor and I’m doing engagement photos for some friends.  I’m much less nervous about the directing – now that I know some spots with great light and some poses that really work.  I think I’ll just get more confident with each job!  Though I might make a glass of wine standard at the beginning of each shoot… a little vino buzz only enhances the creativity!

Now… I’m going to go eat some cheese and write about it.  Stay tuned  – it’s cheese Thursday.  Are you ready for some dairy deliciousness?