ENTERTAINERS
Do you wish you had more bookings? I was recently told by a booking agent that when one of my photos was used, the group's bookings took off. Let me do that for you.
Like Carroll Shelby, they are those people who have found not only what they want to do in this life, but what they HAVE to do, something that obsesses them, something that if they can't do it will drive them clean out of their minds.
I seek to discover and capture the uniqueness of those individuals and what makes their mastery of the craft and their dedication and interpretation of it so special.
In the group guitar shot, I sought to capture the contagious fun of this band, Sweet Spot and their ability to connect with their audience. Lead singer, Gary, makes the audience feel like a part of the show and they all make each audience member feel like the music is being played just for them.
This shot connects the viewer up close and personal with them, just like their audience feels when they are part of the experience. This is an example of people inspiring a shot that expresses who they are and results in me creating a unique and never seen before image based on that inspiration. Not just a boring, recognizable image you get when good enough IS good enough.
When I saw that Mohawk, John's trademark, I was inspired to make it the subject of a shot. The fantastic edge bindings of the Gibson Les Paul guitar highlight the area where the magic happens. I lit them and the beautiful neck inlays and the Mohawk with the precise light angle to make them pop. Again, a creative shot with impact inspired by the subject that has probably never been done before. It is HIS shot capturing HIM.
Fun is the hallmark of the group and drummer Max shows it with the Malocchio pose. Black Sabbath would be proud.
Showmanship? Don't miss their rendition of "Keep Your Hands to Yourself" with a classic duck walk and John and Robbie playing their guitars behind their necks. I strive for performance shoots to avoid the cliched "eating a microphone shot" with the mouth obscured. This shot is a far cry from that.
Speaking of not eating a microphone, Frenchy's lost a 25 year icon this week with Rick's retirement. This is a shot of him stepping out from behind the bar to demonstrate his fantastic singing talent.
Sir Robert is wearing armor used in full contact sword fighting as well as what would be worn under that metal helmet
Next a location shoot showing an intricate dress, not a studio background, a canvas tent as background and lit only with a reflector.
The next shot features the dancers amazing ability to not only leap this high unassisted, but nail incredible pose and hand position.
Compare her skill and grace to a leaping photographer, me. A shoot should be fun and she had a good laugh at my clumsy attempt. In most shoots, I strive to keep my feet on the ground but keep the session enjoyable.