Details:
I am in search for serious traveling makeup artists/hairstylists looking to up their portfolios. I am shooting tear sheets for a signed model. The theme is inspired by Mariano Vivicano!

The shoots will be outdoors, on a Sunday for the month of April (possibly the 8th of April).

Compensation:  4 Web Files & Prints

APPLY BY EMAIL:
info@genemariephotography.com, reply with your full name, contact information, samples of your work and the best time to reach you and your availability for the shoot.

Apply Now
 

Header Image  by create-stock - Edited by Stella Spire Retouching

I have less and less time for Free Test shoots with Models! April is the last month I will be doing Free Tests for new signed or hopefuls looking to get signed! I am moving myself and Gene Marie Photography to Toronto Ontario this year.  In celebration of all the fun and great people I met and all the great people I will be working with this upcoming Season I bring you FTSW! Free Test Shoot Weekend – April 7th & 8th!

How do you Apply? Just contact me by clicking below, send your contact info or email me with your links/samples! I will be selecting a handful of people so act quickly!

FTSW – F.A.Q

What type of shoot will it be?
Well that depends on you. I go by your look, your likes, your wardrobe and what you already have within your portfolio.

Can I do my own makeup?
Absolutely. If you’re talented within the role as MUA, be my guest!

Will there be crew on set, Makeup/Hair etc?
Possibly, we’ll see who’s willing to work free through the holidays!

What do I get after the shoot?
You will get 4 professionally retouched photographs as prints with matching web files.

ooo go BOLD!

I just began working with indie jewelry designers and importers. Boy do they have all the amazing items you’d love to have! Many have kindly added to my studios wardrobe and accessory collection. Which is great for me but even better for you guys as you get to wear them when you shoot with me. So in celebration of new contacts and great fans, here is a thank you with a Like Share Win contest (brought to you by Shia Rae Jewelry and Mariti). All the best!

Prizes:

• A Vintage Blue Mother of Pearl Bangles in laid in brass (or white mother of pearl in laid in sterling silver) a set of  6 – 8 (from Shia Rae Jewelry)
• A Vintage ‘Queen’ Rhinestone earrings with bullet backings (from Mariti)

Thanks to all who entered. Winners have been announced on Facebook and contacted!

Her work has life. I’m not even sure words can describe it completely. As I felt her inspiration from what she saw and I saw her dedication to the design she sent and now each design she makes. Especially since she makes only one of everything! “I want to create things that only exist in the world because I was here to imagine them,” says Kinga Nichols when asked about her designs. “I want to push boundaries, come up with new techniques, create exquisite textures, irresistible color combinations, I want you to fall in love with my creations. Everything I make is one of a kind, handmade, inspired by all the things around me, experience translated into wearable art, contemporary, yet timeless designs that you can live with.”

Be sure to support Kinga Nichols and her company Crimson Frog Designs,  as she is going places, I recommend purchasing from her online store.  Stop by her etsy shop, facebook page, become a fan, and visit her blog. She posts about her work and I think you’ll truly be taken by her process and overall, taken by her, as she is the art of Crimson Frog Designs.

Thank you for inspiring me Kinga! Also a huge thank you for Etsy.com, as it’s another great place to shop online with items from all over the world! You can find my Etsy account here.

Photos from the arrival and additional designs!

Kinga kindly sent promos to share with others!

South Sea Treasure - Shot at my home studio.

'Golden Age Bead Embroidery Bracelet' - image by Kinga Nichols - Gustav Klimt inspired gold bead embroidered bracelet. The substantial center stone is lace agate, and it's surrounded by Swarovski crystals, gold pearls, mother of pearl cabochons and thousands of little seed beads.

‘Into the Night’

Another one of her great pieces are shown below, this one grabs me, the colors, I feel what inspired her and it’s gorgeous!

For the piece she even used a clay piece from another fellow indie designer’s collection. “My inspiration was midsummer’s eve. When I was a kid, my family used to make bonfires on midsummer’s eve, and we would stay up late. The summer solstice, the longest day of the year was always magical, as the turquoise sky “slowly turned into deeper shades , with fireflies in the air,”…read the full description here.

Into the Night Bead Embroidered Statement Necklace - image by Kinga Nichols

Header image design by: Gene Cuvier

My father gave me his Eastern German camera, a Praktica LTL35 mm film camera from 1972! (with 50mm 1.8f lens and carrying case). I shot with it twice so far! I will post pictures as soon as I get them developed. Working on buying some black and white film! Pumped for that!

I’ve always wanted a German camera, I was ecstatic when my father found his and gave it to me. It’s time to save for lens, accessories…always incredibly expensive. So it’s time for me to get to work!

This is my first Camera Oscar, and how I’ll start collecting the oldies but the goodies hopefully. The second best part of this camera is the M42 screw-mount lens! It also has a vertical-run focal plan shutter (1s to 1/1000 + B), it even has a self timer (mechanical) and uses TTL-metering using stopped-down metering controlled by a switch (the best part!)

I took a few portraits but It’s so perfect for a few creatives, that I will be using it in a few upcoming shoots.

For all you camera lovers, here are a few shots! (image at top taken the day my father gave it to me on top of one of my books lol).

I purchased a Nikon D3100 this summer…my first SLR. I’ve been shooting with point and shoots since 2007 and honestly I never dreamed of having a SLR until late 2009 but I was honestly just thankful I had a camera!

Sony Cybershot DSCW30

Everyone kept telling me that it’s the photographer that makes the photo not the camera, it’s all about your ability to see. I completely agree and I am glad I had those photographers around to tell me that. As now it’s as if the camera makes the photograph as I’m being called ‘professional,’ ‘a real photographer’ now that I have a SLR. I walk around with other photographers with their snazzy 2 grand cameras (much more expensive than mine) and people rave…they go nuts when they see it regardless of what they know about photography or cameras, it looks big and expensive they’ve got to be a good photographer… I remember the looks I’d get with my tiny cameras. But my new Nikon it’s as if I walk on water. I get it, it’s a status thing and your photos are much sharper. I’ve been knocked for shooting with a Sony Cybershot from 2000 and a Fuji Finepix…those were gems to me, gifts, gold, as I’ve had nothing but wind ups before that. I’ll always be thankful for them. Heck I’ll probably go back to them at times.

After practicing with the DSLR the past few days the wealthy who can afford SLR’s get it sooo easy. You can snap a shot and it looks great without any adjustment. Before this I had to plan and do tricks, stand in the exact spot, put something there, put something here to manipulate light, I had to do things a certain way and be smart about it as I knew my camera well and that it truly couldn’t handle what I as asking but I wanted it to be done. A weights been lifted with this SLR in a way and at the same time I’m at a loss as I have no idea what I am to do now as my usual process is almost irrelevant with this new camera I have to do different things, I can do even more…I have to reshape myself in a way. I wonder where I will be next summer?

For all you dreaming of being a photographer with your point and shoots. You got this. Of course you’ll be proud and more into the photography world when you get your DSLR (they’ll embrace you now too lol) but you can keep on the heels of the big boys with your point and shoots, be tricky, manipulate the moment and break out your photoshop talents. You’ll be even stronger with your SLR stronger than those that have always been SLR infected.

I shot these with my Cybershot (ten years old):

I shot this with my FujiS1800 (a year old):

Your equipment DOES NOT affect the quality of your image. The less time and effort you spend worrying about your equipment the more time and effort you can spend creating great images. The right equipment just makes it easier, faster or more convenient for you to get the results you need.

Ken Rockwell, Your Camera Does Not Matter, 2005

Aw, promoting Macbeth, she's so kind!

Suzanna and the hair tie!

Suzanna being blinded by the reflector lol, wearing Ashley Zaba (www.ashleyzaba.com)

Victoria found a caterpillar!

Victoria...

Suzanna, hanging...blur is intentional...it was an in the moment thing.

Suzanna's choice for a bracelet (it's hers) I have one just like it! hehe!

Macbeth snapped Victoria going for her camera, she couldn't help it, as she's a photographer as well.

That's my lens and fingers at the bottom of the photograph

That's my foot, lens and fingers at the bottom of the photography, model: Suzanna Alsayed, Wardrobe: Ashley Zaba

results

Model: Suzanna Alysayed

Model: Victoria Strehlau

Victoria Strehlau & Suzanna Alsayed

Model: Suzanna Alsayed

In order to get this picture right, I stood back a few feet using an 18-55mm lens zooming into about 55mm (work with what you have). I always get as far back as possible for images like this. The sun was slightly above us, as it was July at about 5:00pm. Imagine it right in the far left corner. The light on her face is all real. Meaning the white highlights on her forehead, chin, eyes and cheeks. I had Macbeth (hairstylist and assistant) hold the reflector at my right which highlighted her left cheek, neck, chest, hands and shoulders. Just what I was aiming for to separate her from the background and ‘pretend’ I have onset lights and a nice 105mm lens. I stepped back as I mentioned as distance with the use of the pop up flash without a diffuser truly helps, it doesn’t ‘shock’ the models features so to speak, and diminish color or accuracy and it also highlighted the flowers color.

The model and I also stood in the weeds for this, to get the flowery yellow…weed. Not sure what it is, but they’re pretty and everywhere around here.We had the mosquitoe bites and scratches to prove it.

Now where’d I cheat…her makeup under her eye, had smeared, it was hot and we were abandoned by our MUA’s lol. So the light just under her eye is artificial as I had to remove the makeup that had seeped into the indentations of her skin, as it was a tad dark and shiny (which is good for editing). The hair, untouched, thanks to hairstylist Macbeth Castro!

I gently brightened her skin using Photoshops adjustment tool and selective color, to make her look more of what my eye saw with her skin complexion. I also used the blur tool on the flowers in front of her as my camera hadn’t done exactly what I had wished for. But it did well. I hope this helps someone.

MY TIPS AFTER THIS SHOOT: Work with what you have. Be creative. The sunlight is an incredible light source. Save and spend money on a handy shinny reflector! If you use MUA’s make sure they stick around for touch ups…yikes, saves in editing time. Relax your model, have a great relationship with them during the shoot and you will get solid shots like this one. Oh and keep an eye on the models hair and have a great assistant! If you don’t know how to use photoshop, learn, or message me to be your retoucher.

Credits:  Hair: Macbeth Castro, MUA: Glow Makeup, Model: Suzanna Alsayed