Lindsay is just starting out her modeling career and needed some images worth of agency meetings. I had a great time working with you Lindsay! 

Each session includes a Smart Phone APP of your final session edits that you can use as a digital portfolio. It can be downloaded, and shared to as many devices as you'd like. The APP ensures FAST viewing of your edits and images can be shared directly to social media sites! 

​Book a session today! 

90% of human communication is non-verbal. For someone who captures images of people that's really good news. I can effectively convey to my audience a feeling or emotion with poses and positioning. 

In the above examples you can see that by changing my positioning I've completely changed the mood of both images. I've also changed the lighting to emphasize the pose, and implied emotion. 

For the more sensual pose shot in landscape, I've created hard shadows with my light. For the more aggressive pose shot in portrait I've lightened the image by reducing my shadows and pulling the light more in front of my subject. I feel by doing this I've made my primary subject Margaret appear to be in control in both images regardless of the positioning. 

It helps when setting up your shot to know what feeling your attempting to translate with your image and to effectively communicate that to your subject. I always show a couple of frames to my model so that she or he can see what it is that they're doing and how it's translating to the end result. I know a lot of photographers tend to shy away from this practice but I want to build confidence in both my subjects performance and my ability to make them shine in the final image. I want everyone to feel confident in what we're doing because when everyone feels good about what's going on we all preform better. 

I also tend to build mood boards with images that convey my intended emotional content. This helps me visualize what I'd like to create, and assists in showing my subject what it is that we're going to attempt to photograph emotionally. 

Have fun finding things you like and combining light and poses to create different emotions in your compositions. Don't be afraid to try a couple of different things to see what works best for what you'd like to accomplish, and experiment! I wouldn't recommend replicating images, but finding your own voice and creating unique original content! 

Pictured is Margaret Sinarath
with Wehmann Models MPLS
and RB's arm.... 
MUA Angela Morris
Shot with my 85mm 1.8 and Nikon D610
ISO 100, f/16, 1/100s
Light modifier 16" beauty dish with sock on boom lit by AlienBees B800 at 1/2 power

1) Try to invoke a natural smile. Know the difference between your subject painting on a smile for the camera and an actual smile. Learn a couple of jokes to tell your model, and be ready to capture a real moment! Make yourself laugh! 

2) Cross your legs. You'll look leaner, and more polished. Don't squat. Especially if you're a woman. It's not flattering. If you cannot cross your legs at the knees, do so at the ankle. 

3) Posture! Pretend you're squeezing an orange between your shoulder blades to give you perfect posture in an instant! 

4) Avoid a double chin by moving it forward and slightly down. It may feel uncomfortable, but it will look great. Practice this in the mirror to ensure the right technique. "Feel" how you want it to look so you can quickly and easily recreate that pose in front of the camera without the assistance of a mirror. 

5) Keep things natural. If you normally don't sit outside with your arms above your head then don't do that for the camera. Overly dramatic poses look more glamour or pin-up than portrait or fashion. 

6) Confidence! If you don't have much or you're just starting out... Fake it until you feel it! Modeling and posing is acting. Create a character for yourself to become in front of the camera to help you build confidence until you naturally command the lens. 

As always if you've got any tips or tricks of your own please share them! Happy shooting! 

I recently worked with Max again to capture some new images to create his comp card for IMTA. I do offer this service for both new models and those who have been working in the industry. Comp cards are a great way to network, and gain new business. 

What is a comp card? It's a business card for models. It contains a small selection of images from the model's portfolio and lists vital statistics such as height and sizing information. Comp cards typically also contain any agency information for booking purposes. If the model is unsigned or non-exclusive the agency information can be left off of the comp card. 

There are a couple of things your comp card should contain. The first is a focused selection of images showing range and flexibility. The images ideally can be from previous tears or printed work. If you don't have printed work the images should have a minimum of 4 different looks. The main image on your comp card is your head shot. The back of your comp card should have no less then 3 images and no more than 4 images. The back of your comp card is where you should include at least one full body image and some 3/4 shot images. I do not recommend completing a comp card primarily of head shots. 

Your comp card should also contain accurate, and up to date contact information. The comp card has two main purposes, conveying size and measurements and phone and email information. You want to ensure that a casting director is able to contact you easily. Do not hide or mask this information with fun graphics or design. Your comp card should be neat, clean and easy to read. 
Do include:

• height
• chest/bust
• waist
• hips
• weight
• hair color 
• eye color
• shoe size

Comp cards are typically 8.5"x5.5" and printed on high quality card stock. Do not print comp cards on photo paper, which is thin and appears to be cheap. Ensure you're using a good quality paper with substantial weight. You're making and leaving a first impression, make sure it's a good one! 

If you have any questions in regard to comp cards or this service please feel free to comment or email me. Thank you! 
Elle