When I first started really playing with lighting, that is not the natural lighting from the sun, but Alien Bees, triggers, lights, remotes, smoots, grids, boxes, barn doors – was when I decided to take a workshop through SPA Studios.  It was GREAT!  A photographer by the name of Greg Pascarelli taught the class and did a fantastic job at it!  It was interactive and we all had the chance to try different lighting, cause & affect.  We all partnered up and shot each other.  Thanks to When and SPA setting up this particular event.  It was great because it opened my world up to an entirely new outlet for my creativity.  I love moodiness and found that it can be created and assisted by using different lights.

Larry Grant

Spencer Leamer

John Clark

All 3 of these  photographers showed and explained in detail what and why the lights being set up would assist in creating a masterful piece of ART for a photographer.  I had the pleasure of working along side and assisting these men on various occasions.  Doing this I also was given the opportunity to help run a ladies group of photographers through SPA studios.  It was a blast!!!  We would get a model and set up 2-3 stations.  We would set up our stations and try to create different moods, feels, and overall sets for our shoots.

Here I am sharing some of the shots from these events that I absolutely LOVED!

This is David Truax.  He was competing in Olympia, WA bodybuilding the very next day.  I think he was down to around 2% body fat.  This particular shoot I assisted in setting up the lights on both sets, but did not set them up myself.  This was the VERY beginning where I was just learning.  What I did learn is that I LOVE the dramatic effects and especially how I could capture a body.  I also LOVE working with bodybuilders.  They have such control – mastering of their own bodies!

Props can be fun – they add a new dynamic and make you really think outside the box.

This is one of my very favorites.  Many people say that they wish they could see his face – but the point of this shot was not what his face looked like but what and how he has developed his muscles – which are very very obviously portrayed here.

My fascination with the body has been developed through the years by the help of my husband who is a body builder himself.  It amazes me how well a muscle can become so defined and displayed.   I could do shoots like these all day!

This next is from a shoot where I worked along side Pamela Matthews.  She is a great friend and fellow photographer.  She also has a hobby of collecting Victorian costumes.  This next model is Mackenzie Snell.  These were done on Ladies Night at SPA Studios.  We set up our own lights and sets.

Anyhow – there is more to come along with new shoots to be added.  Thanks for coming along on this journey and enjoying this blast from the past as I get this new blog in motion!

The Bachelor is a reality TV show that has become quite popular.  I did not imagine that I would have the opportunity to shoot someone who had applied and was going to be a contestant on this reality show.  Model J was supposed to be on this last season but circumstances made it so she was not available during the time they would be shooting.
J is adorable and super fun to have as a model.  Quite easy to work with.  Here are just a few shots that I had taken of her.

A super time with a super gal.  The Bachelor missed out when she could not make it.  Hopefully her chance will come around again

(The opportunity came through fellow photographer and friend John Clark along with SPA studios.  Done at their facilities and at Picnic Point Beach.)

I have had the pleasure of working at a studio with models and costumes and all sorts of just fun!  We set up our own lights and sets – we do our own work, but are provided with amazing models and at times some interesting themes.  This is one of my favorites that I would love to do again and again.   The place is SPA studio.  We had 10 models to shoot that day.  They were dressed in Helen Hawthornes designs and wigs.  When was the producer of this event and owner of SPA.

The cool part of it all is that we get to create our own atmosphere and shoot what we love to shoot whether it be Goth or Romantic.  Here is my set from this event.  It was oh so fun and the models were adorable!

McKenzie Wilson

Rachel Lefron Godbe

Anna

Michelle Green

Kat Schoeder

Nayema Clark

Maja

Alice Rowson

Mackenzie Snell

Aubreyana  Anderson

Anna & Kat

These models rotated through 10 different photographers with 10 different sets and styles.  They did AWESOME.  All this after spending all morning having their makeup, hair and wardrobe worked on.   Could not have asked for a better set of models.