Family Vacation Photos with Anylza
For the two people who missed me last week (but shouldn't admit it in public) :wink, I spent the week on a family vacation in the Dominican Republic.
Of course, my family includes my Dominican model Daughter-in-Law Anylza. As long as we were down there, she wanted a "Sports Illustrated" type shoot.
After checking on the cost of three assistants, 8 lights, 4 scrims, an art director, two go-fers and roadies to carry it all, we decided to just go with just me, her and one HUGE reflector called sand. Here are a few results (and Diva - yet again, we didn't go for "sexy" - this is my daughter in law after all)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Of course, my family includes my Dominican model Daughter-in-Law Anylza. As long as we were down there, she wanted a "Sports Illustrated" type shoot.
After checking on the cost of three assistants, 8 lights, 4 scrims, an art director, two go-fers and roadies to carry it all, we decided to just go with just me, her and one HUGE reflector called sand. Here are a few results (and Diva - yet again, we didn't go for "sexy" - this is my daughter in law after all)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Bilsen (the artist formerly known as John Galt NY)
Canon 600D; Canon 1D Mk2;
24-105 f4L IS; 70-200 f4L IS; 50mm 1.4; 28-75 f2.8; 55-250 IS; 580EX & (2) 430EX Flash,
Model Galleries: http://bilsen.zenfolio.com/
Everything Else: www.pbase.com/bilsen
Canon 600D; Canon 1D Mk2;
24-105 f4L IS; 70-200 f4L IS; 50mm 1.4; 28-75 f2.8; 55-250 IS; 580EX & (2) 430EX Flash,
Model Galleries: http://bilsen.zenfolio.com/
Everything Else: www.pbase.com/bilsen
0
Comments
www.cameraone.biz
though, in my eyes 2 and 8 are no no.
My Site
My Facebook
5 and 7 for me.
Link to my Smugmug site
You've seen her many times previously, but never in a bikini. This shoot was her declaration that she has her body back after having her daughter ( my granddaughter of course). She wanted the shoot to be in her home country so here we are.
Hack, we shot early (8:00 AMish) and late (4:40 ish) while it was still pretty bright but directional enough to angle the light. Also, the sand is pure white and served as God's own clamshell reflector.
It's the same sun and it can get harsh but, for some reason, it seems to track differently across the sky. Or maybe I was just drunk at the time.
Canon 600D; Canon 1D Mk2;
24-105 f4L IS; 70-200 f4L IS; 50mm 1.4; 28-75 f2.8; 55-250 IS; 580EX & (2) 430EX Flash,
Model Galleries: http://bilsen.zenfolio.com/
Everything Else: www.pbase.com/bilsen
Thanks Tin. I have a couple of hundred images of my granddaughter including documenting her every month of her first year. I have a gorgeous mother daughter model combo living with me. I don't usually post them but here's one:
Canon 600D; Canon 1D Mk2;
24-105 f4L IS; 70-200 f4L IS; 50mm 1.4; 28-75 f2.8; 55-250 IS; 580EX & (2) 430EX Flash,
Model Galleries: http://bilsen.zenfolio.com/
Everything Else: www.pbase.com/bilsen
Not arguing Foques (me?? Never
I understand many will not like the compressed pose in # 2 but # 8??
Canon 600D; Canon 1D Mk2;
24-105 f4L IS; 70-200 f4L IS; 50mm 1.4; 28-75 f2.8; 55-250 IS; 580EX & (2) 430EX Flash,
Model Galleries: http://bilsen.zenfolio.com/
Everything Else: www.pbase.com/bilsen
I see both poses as quite unflattering pose choices for the lady.
in 8, her crotch looks larger - i'm guessing partly due to brighter colored suite in contrast to the skin color. Truth be told the pose could have been pulled off had she leaned on the tree from the other side.
She is a beautiful girl, and the pose is just not feminine in my eyes.
My Site
My Facebook
Canon 600D; Canon 1D Mk2;
24-105 f4L IS; 70-200 f4L IS; 50mm 1.4; 28-75 f2.8; 55-250 IS; 580EX & (2) 430EX Flash,
Model Galleries: http://bilsen.zenfolio.com/
Everything Else: www.pbase.com/bilsen
It's a nice set with 1 and 7 the strongest. The poses look natural and you have nice separation from the background.
2 doesnt work because of the angle you took the pic. This type of photo you need to be below her eye level. You have mentioned you can't get low because of your knees. If you can't get low find ways of getting models higher. 1 and 7 you are slightly lower and it flatters the presence she makes. If the model is sitting you have to get lower or get them higher. Shooting down makes her look like a kid as most all parents shoot down on their kids instead of getting on their level. The exception is closeups headshots where it can make neck and jawlines stronger.
7 is just awkward. It looks like she is trying to climb a tree but can't. I agree with Foques this could have been pulled off on the other side of the tree as it looks like the tree is working against her.
Here is an example of a sports illustrated set that shot lower for the most part. The ones that don't work for me are the ones that were shot high.
http://thesharper.blogspot.com/2013/02/alyssa-miller-for-sports-illustrated_14.html
Canon 600D; Canon 1D Mk2;
24-105 f4L IS; 70-200 f4L IS; 50mm 1.4; 28-75 f2.8; 55-250 IS; 580EX & (2) 430EX Flash,
Model Galleries: http://bilsen.zenfolio.com/
Everything Else: www.pbase.com/bilsen
Thanks for linking that SI set. THIS IS WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT!!!!!!!!!!! This is EXACTLY what I meant when I said in the other thread it would be cool to analyze a set of great photos with a celebrity or top end model. These come over as super-sexy to me. WHY????
Here are my thoughts:
- extremely skilled posing that shows off her body lines and that great figure she has to show off
- TASTEFULLY skimpy clothing. Just enough bare to let you know what's there, but without looking trashy
- These are actually ALL standard body-flattering fashion poses - the ONLY one which might possibly fall into "intentionally sexy" (and it's arguable) is the one where she's kneeling over the water with her knees far apart. And even that one is merely suggestive
- NONE of them are about pulling underwear or maximizing cleavage, or spreading her legs or pulling her thong between her butt cheeks or semi-fetish wear, but about FANTASTIC "come hither" expressions - often very PLAYFUL expressions. The reason the one with the thong in this works in a different way, IMO, is because it seems completely organic and because it isn't the only point in the shot; the expression is captivating, "oh, and by the way you can see her a**" - it's not the only thing going on.
The thing I find most interesting here: EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE SHOTS would look just as great and have just as much impact if she were dressed any other way, including fully clothed. The fact that you get lots of skin is merely incidental - they're simply EXCELLENT shots of a model who is working the camera and has the body to show off..... and seems to be ENJOYING showing it off! There is a confidence that seems to come across. Obviously, I'm not a guy so YMMV, but THAT is what comes over as "sexy" to me.
+1
I'd also add that it is contextually appropriate. Specifically, what I mean by that, is that a bikini at the beach is normal and expected as there is likely to be sunbathing or swimming involved. A woman in her underwear in a warehouse or dark ally is normal and expected only for certain kinds of women.
There’s an old Benny Hill bit that goes like this: <brackets added by me>
Benny Hill: “Hello darling. Would you fancy coming up to my room <to take photos in your underwear> for 200 pounds?”
Girl: “Well hello, big spender. Sure. Sounds like a laugh.”
Benny Hill: “Rats, all I got on me is a fiver. Well that will have to do.”
Girl: “Hold on a minute, a fiver? What kind a girl do you take me for?”
Benny Hill: “We’ve already shown what type a girl you are, darling. Now we’re only haggling over the price.”
Consequently the whole feel and vibe of the "sexy" part of the photo is altered and not in a good way. Like Diva more or less said - sexy is in the eyes. The "come hither" look, smiling with the eyes, the posing, and so on is what makes it work. The hot body is just a plus. Don't believe me?... Find the sexiest picture that you can and clone stamp out her eyes and smile and see if it is still sexy.
To be perfectly honest, I don't really think a person can take "sexy" pictures of women in swimsuits, underwear, or in the nude, until first it has been mastered fully clothed.
I was shooting with a model this summer and she calls it "secret scank". She wanted sexy swimsuit shots without being sexual. She has a great bum and wanted to show it off but didn't want the bent over kind of stuff. I was wearing a button down white shirt. I gave it to her to wear and she was covered more, but it almost looked like she wasn't wearing bottoms. She looked sexy while wearing more covering.
I had another model that wanted topless swimsuit taken from behind. She was wearing less clothes but because it was taken from behind there was so much more left to the imagination. I think wannabe male fashion photographers get so wrapped up in seeing a "hot" model they forget about the basics. I try to compose and light in a way that would look good no matter who was in the picture. You also can't force sexiness. The best thing to do is create a safe and welcome environment. I've had talks with models and they have told me they feel safer initially with female photographers. However, if they feel comfortable around a male photographer, the pics look sexier. I enjoy photographing models and they tell me they appreciate the obvious guy feedback I give them.
Believe it or not, I am often laughed at by models for telling them to move a leg to "cover the full Paris" or use a hand to cover a bit too much breast. However, that makes them comfortable and they end up asking to do sexier stuff than I ever ask for. Whatever else you may criticize about my stuff, I doubt anyone can say the model looks uncomfortable.
Canon 600D; Canon 1D Mk2;
24-105 f4L IS; 70-200 f4L IS; 50mm 1.4; 28-75 f2.8; 55-250 IS; 580EX & (2) 430EX Flash,
Model Galleries: http://bilsen.zenfolio.com/
Everything Else: www.pbase.com/bilsen
My Site
My Facebook
ALL of them can outrun me and half could probably beat me up anyway.
Canon 600D; Canon 1D Mk2;
24-105 f4L IS; 70-200 f4L IS; 50mm 1.4; 28-75 f2.8; 55-250 IS; 580EX & (2) 430EX Flash,
Model Galleries: http://bilsen.zenfolio.com/
Everything Else: www.pbase.com/bilsen
that said, those who get over it and do agree to work with usually come back for more
My Site
My Facebook
One way I calm them down on a first shoot is tell them wardrobe is their decision. I used to say "I'll shoot you in a trashbag" until one of them said OK and that developed into the trashbag concept I've put up several times.
Another thing I do with first timers is to encourage them to check me out. Some do, some don't but they feel better coming in.
As you've seen, I have a fair percentage of multiple shoots and I think that's a big part of why.
Canon 600D; Canon 1D Mk2;
24-105 f4L IS; 70-200 f4L IS; 50mm 1.4; 28-75 f2.8; 55-250 IS; 580EX & (2) 430EX Flash,
Model Galleries: http://bilsen.zenfolio.com/
Everything Else: www.pbase.com/bilsen