I am joining this site to get experience, not because I lack shooting time but because I want to expand my horizons.  I would consider myself to be a professional photographer.  I shoot consistently for a living everyday.  I have a 4-year degree in photography and I own all the necessary equipment including studio lights and backdrops.  I have shot at professional studios doing family portraits, but I did not get much of a chance to experiment. 

    My first calling as a photographer is a combat documenter, or conflict photography, I have a year in Iraq as a military photographer and I have spent this last year in Afghanistan taking combat photos.  I would like to introduce portraiture into my work, but I have not had enough experience shooting creative portraits.  I want to use Model Mayhem as a chance to experiment with new personalities, new ideas, less conventional lighting, and especially color.  As you can see from some of my example images I like simple clean light setups, using only a few heads and softer lighting.  I can light any situation but I want to do more exciting things, I want to push myself beyond lighting that simply makes a good portrait. 

    I am still up for more traditional shoots.  I want the work to add to my portfolio and because I like shooting.  I understand that the professional community often frowns upon setups where no money is exchanged because it depresses the market, but I also understand a lot of the work done here is based on trading prints for time.  I will not give over my copyrights, but I will draw-up a contract that gives the model permission to use the images on personal websites and in portfolios, and then the model will release contract for my portfolio use.  I am looking for people who are serious about what they do and have interesting ideas.  I am seeking models who want to collaborate with myself as the photographer on themes, looks, and locations, and to bring personality that can be captured.  I am looking for color and creativity, I want to work with fun and interesting people, and I want my portraits to reflect them.  If you are looking for conventional stuff I am up for that too, as practice makes perfect.

    Like I said I have my own gear, lights, meters, cameras, ect.  We just need to collaborate on ideas for backdrops for photo shoots.  I am all about location shoots and if you have a cool idea I will gather my equipment for an onsite job, I want some challenges.  I currently do not have an area I can set up my studio in, so if you want an indoor shoot you will have to provide the building.  If you are looking for some special effects that I don’t have the equipment for I would be willing to rent items if the shoot sounds worth it.  I can only shoot on the weekends because I work all week, but we can figure something out if needed.  I have proper schooling and professional training in PhotoShop and post-processing. What I will give you…what we "trade" will be different on every shoot based on needs, but I am willing to provide a few commercially and or professionally printed 8X10s that I can sell to you at cost if needed and some web quality files for use only on this site or on personal portfolio sites. 

    Additionally, If you want to involve more people, other models, stylists, background artists the more the merrier, I want to do some true art here and if you know people who are at that level bring them along.

    If you want to try something contact me and we can talk about the idea, theme, lighting, and location together.  For more insight on my style of shooting (mostly not portrait) check out my website.

Tags

See All Tags (5)