Why we love Los Angeles

It's sunny, it's 75 degrees and Spring is almost here. Ooof.

space coming soon

I'll soon be opening a small studio in downtown LA; which means regular commutes again and no more working in my pajamas (unless I keep a stash in the studio).

I'll let you know when it's open, and I'll post pictures, and if you're in the area, you can stop by and say hello and get shot. By me!

Chloe

I had a chance to shoot my neighbor's two bulldogs yesterday and it was a gas. The more I shoot dogs, the more I enjoy shooting them in their own environment. Studio portraits have a certain appeal, but dogs in their own digs are much more entertaining. I never would have gotten such a candid moment from Chloe if she were sitting in front of my lights.

Grace

Which is, coincidentally, this lovely's name. I got a chance to shoot a couple of Vizlas today. They are perfectly lovely dogs and so photogenic.

Bob

Bob is, I think, homeless. I see him on the same corner somewhat regularly, and I've seen him there for some time. I give him a few bucks whenever I can, but I always wave back to him when he waves. He's always waving at people in cars, whether they stop or not.

I've been seeing him for almost a year, and yesterday I stopped to say hi to him, introduce myself, and ask if I could photograph him.

He was terrific, but told me that he doesn't come around as much as he used to because he keeps getting ticketed by the Long Beach police. Drag.

If you're ever near the corner of 7th and PCH in Long Beach, see if you can spot him. And if you can, give him a few bucks. If you don't have a few bucks, give him a wave.

merry merry!

and kiss your dogs for me!

one side of a mother/daughter conversation

i love taking portraits of this one. she used to not let me, and was very uncomfortable in front of the camera. now, she hardly notices when, in the middle of a conversation, i slip my camera out of my bag, remove the lens cap, and point it at her.

i shoot myself...

...mostly because i don't have frequent access to other models or people. (besides, i'm the only one i know who will do everything i ask during a shot.)

but, i'm always on the lookout for people to shoot, if you're interested in a trade-for-print session, drop me a line. i'll travel pretty far for something i'm really into (but most likely, i'll make you come to me) :)

the boxes

I had the chance to shoot another band this past weekend, and they were terrific. Not only do I like their music, but I completely dig their style. The remind me a lot of the jazz-infused new wave bands of the 80s, like The Style Council.

No website up for them yet, but an EP coming out soon.

dogs love you, not your camera

I've found that most dogs really dislike being photographed (that is, if they know they're being photographed). I think it's probably that thing, that massive clunky thing you put up in front of your face that freaks them out. The flash and the lights don't help. But as much as your dogs love you, I'm afraid they probably don't love your camera.

There are a few ways around this. Sleeping dogs shots, of course :) but there's only so much you can do with those. Another trick is to mount the camera onto a tripod, or rest it on something solid, and use a remote (if you have one) one the dog is in frame, so that your face is recognizable and your dog can stay in his/her safe zone.

If you don't have a remote, you can still manage this by just framing the dog, then lift your face away from the camera so he/she can see you. Seeing your face, of course, is the best thing in the world to your dog.

Give it a shot. You may end up with fewer of those guilty, sort of "what did I do" faces and more dog smiles.

And we all know that dog smiles make the world go 'round.

The Jeroldines

I had a chance to shoot a very cool LA band on Saturday:
the Jeroldines. It was crazy Christmas madness all around us (we shot in downtown old Pasadena), they scouted this great little location that looks totally out of the way. Check them out on myspace. They play pretty regularly around LA.

G under light

When I'm shooting a client's dog, I really don't have the time to make drastic lighting changes. I set up my lights before the client arrives (based on what effect we're going for) and pretty much leave them that way for the shoot.

That's why I love having the smalldogs around to do different things with. Although they are usually reluctant models, I do get the chance to get a few shots off before they skulk away. I love this shot of G. I wasn't sure how she would react in this shot because of the way the lights were set up, but I got the perfect expression from her. She's a trooper.

do the math, adopt a rescue

If you're thinking of a getting a cat or dog for someone this Christmas, please please stay away from pet stores and visit your local shelter. If you don't find an animal there, ask them about local rescues (who often have many pure-bred animals who need homes).

Rescues make the best animals, and the karma you will build up for saving a life is immeasurable.

Prints of this photo are available for purchase at my Etsy shop.

More of GatorBait (having lived in Florida for several years, I can totally appreciate this name).

great dog, great client, great shoot

Had a very successful shoot this morning, in large part due to the fantastic client, Rita. She just had a wonderful understanding of the process, even though I don't think she'd ever had her dog professionally photographed before. She walked him before she arrived; she brought a bag of his favorite toys; and she was almost instinctively doing what I needed her to do to keep the dog (Gator Bait, best name ever!) where I needed him to be.

The is the only shot I've processed so far; I've taken the advice a good friend (and amazing photographer) who told me to always wait a day before I begin processing a shoot.

dance goddamnit

When I first saw this shot of G, I thought of the old Sparks' song, "Dance Goddamnit."

I love dog parts; it's rare to find a client who likes photos of their dogs' parts, but thank God for the ones who pop up now and then.

the emotions of animals

The most important thing in taking photos of someone's companion animal is to capture the emotions of the animal. Not as easy as it sounds, because most dogs, under these conditions, will be curious, happy, running about, etc. It's sometimes hard to get anything other than the goofy, tongue-hanging-out face from most dogs. But the longer I spend sitting with the animal, playing with it, talking to it, etc., the more likely I am to get a wider range of emotions when it's time to start shooting. The whole idea is that the dog (or cat) isn't aware that anything has changed.

I love this shot of Lola, because it's so clear that she didn't want to model for me on this day. I rarely see her upset, so this shot is a big treat for me. Not because I pissed her off, but because she looks so silly trying to be a snot (because honestly, she's not one.)

the beauty of Death Valley

I've lived in California most of my life and went to Death Valley for the very first time last weekend. I'm kind of jaded on landscape photography; it doesn't really excite me the way it does other photographers. But I have to admit it was am amazing place to see, especially predawn to catch the sunrise coming up over the dunes.

A nice departure from dogs, people and old buildings :) I'm selling some of my favorites over at my Etsy shop.

sit! stay!

I had a really great session with a dog named Chief today. He was mad crazy about running around, eating the grass and chewing pinecones to bits. His people tried so hard to get him to pose, but he would have none of it. Of all the shots I was able to get, this is my favorite.

G

G's the most photogenic dog I've ever had. She's not very patient in front of the camera so I have to be quick. But when I do get a shot of her, it's almost always adorable. :)