4 WAYS PHOTOGRAPHY COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE

“We are making photographs to understand what our lives mean to us.”

Ralph Hattersley

Many photographers claim that photography saved their life in one way or another. For some this profession was an escape ticket from 9-5 reality, for others it was a creative salvation. How could photography change your life? We asked 4 Professional Photographers about their story.

The full interview is available of YOUTUBE. For your convenience, here is the transcript of it as well.

Ron Khy @ronkhy : Photography definitely changed my life in a positive way. It gave me a creative outlet to go out and do things. And without photography, I definitely wouldn’t enjoy doing a lot of the things I’ve done, especially because I travel a lot. I travel a lot for work. I travel a lot personally. I’m not saying get into photography so you can go out on … Go on vacation, but I think you should get into photography if you think it’s fun, and it’s a passion, and you love documenting photos. And it’s definitely made life good for me.

Moisnomois @moisnomois: Photography changed my life in terms of meeting people. So, I’ve met a lot of cool people doing photography. A lot of cool makeup artists, just regular artists. I get to work with a lot of DJs and popular artists, singers, whatever. So, that’s basically how it did change my life. It gave me bigger opportunities, I guess.

Toma Kostygina @toma.kostygina : Photography changed my life because I got to know more people and it’s always fun to experiment with cameras, with styles, and with techniques as well.

Mila Zvereva @mila_zvereva : Photography is my favorite thing to do and I made a career out of it. It allows me to travel and see new places. I get to meet many different people. When I take camera in my hands, I forget about anything that can trouble me in that moment. Photography didn’t necessarily change my life, but it total defined it.

WANT TO LEARN PHOTOGRAPHY?

Check out our WORKSHOPS in Los Angeles that teach you hands-on how to make great photos!

One of our closest workshops – Hyperlapse Masterclass w/ Award Winning Videographer Vadim Tereshchenko: Shooting & Post-Production

will take place on October 27th, 4-8:30pm, in one of our Los Angeles studios !!!

Watch the full episode :

Zahra Jordan goes Yellow

23 year old model Zahra Jordan also known as Zahra Maia is a frequent client of ours and never ceases to amaze with great shots. Taken of course by one and only Demetreus Ward.

What is your mission (asking photographer Demetreus Ward):

“My mission is to deliver fashion/beauty artistically in portraits, while providing excellent personal attention and demonstrating a unique experience for each and every client. In addition, I am Originally from Milwaukee, WI and now located in Los Angeles California.”

This session’s crew comprised of:

Photographer: Demetrius Ward @meech213

Model: Zahra Jordan @zahramaia

The crew has chosen Stage A due to its size and affordability. Nevertheless, this Stage provides outstanding natural lighting conditions where there is a direct sunlight in the morning through north and east-facing windows, and beautifully soft indirect light as the day goes on. Equipped with all of the same great gear that’s included with all of our studios – strobes, light modifiers, radio trigger, and paper backdrops – it’s a wonderful place to be able to achieve different looks all in the same place. Visit Stage A on our website to learn more.

Quick vs Quality, Why Make-up Matters, with Gavin Hoey and AdoramaTV

In this video photographer Gavin Hoey and his show “Take and Make Great Photography” on AdoramaTV shows you how you can quickly improve your portraits by working with a makeup artist.

In a beauty portrait shoot Gavin makes use of good light, a talented model (Beth) and most importantly , for the topic of this video – a super talented makeup artist Sophie Daley.

Sophie would need to create two different looks – a quick makeup and a quality makeup.

Lighting setup

Gavin Hoey uses classic beauty light set up, – a beauty dish with an eVolv 200 as the light source from above.

And to fill in a shadow below Beth’s chin Gavin uses – Californian Sun bounce.

For the background we would use gray seamless paper lit by another eVolv 200 light for a little vignetted area. The light setup will stay the same for both makeup looks.

Quick MakeUp

MUA Sophie has done a great job and Beth now has a basic coverage makeup.

It’s a nice matte finish so it’s going to cut out flare and hot spots from these lights that should make the whole post-processing much quicker and simpler.

This makeup has a very clean simple look, a sort of level you can expect from a model who’s really good at doing their own makeup.

At first glance this all looks great but look a little closer, you’ll notice how Beth’s neck and shoulders are a different tone to her face.

Hands are often overlooked especially when you’re short of time and in this case Beth’s hands are clearly not the same tone as her face.

Now let’s give our MUA a bit more time and freedom to approach the model’s look more creatively.

While the model is being prepared for the second look, Gavin shares with us few tips of working with makeup artist.

1. Always provide a mood board. – You can’t just expect the makeup artist to read your mind. Web sites like Pinterest are really good to gather your ideas together and then share them with your makeup artist.

2. On the day of your shoot expect your makeup artist to need some space to work in so make sure you’ve planned and prepared for that.

3. Make sure MUA got great light at the MU station.

4. Be aware – you hire a makeup artist, not hair stylist. Now if you also need a hairstylist that could be somebody else. Not all makeup artists do hair and makeup. Sophie however she’s trained in hair as well.

5. Make sure you check with your makeup artist and explain what you need and that they can actually do it.

6. Great makeup takes time so expect that to be part of your day.

7. Finally makeup artists don’t work for free. Like everybody else they should be paid as part of your team.

Quality MakeUp

Our model Beth now has a wet look hair and much more intense makeup. This should make for a very different set of pictures

using exactly the same lighting.

Gavin also reminds:

Now the makeup artist job doesn’t actually stop there. A really good makeup artist will be on set with you and they’ll keep an eye on the makeup any stray hairs and they can help you out enormously, so it’s always worth talking to makeup artist and explaining what you need.

Beth has got some makeup on her neck, her shoulders and even her hands so their color is a much closer match to her face.

If you zoom in on a picture, you can see the sharpness of the lip line, the detail around the eyes and just how smooth and even the skin tones are, all of those things really add up and save a ton of time in post-production.

Watch the full episode with Gavin Hoey and Adorama TV:

!MASTER CLASS! Shooting and Editing Hyperlapse w/ Award Winning Videographer Vadim Tereshchenko

Vadim Tereshchenko is a leading expert in the hyper-lapse videography who in a short number of years has enriched his portfolio with such names and brands as Paul McCartney, ABC, Insomniac, NBC, CBS, and more giants of the industry.

His hyper lapses standout with its luminous energy, dynamic movement, yet smooth transition between slides.

On October 27th, Vadim will host a unique masterclass showcasing both shooting and editing,

What is this about?

This course is about a very interesting filming technique called Hyperlapse or Hyper-lapse.

These days with videography becoming more and more competitive, it’s more important than ever to stand out from the many others. And hyperlapse is one awesome way to help you distinguish yourself from the crowd!

No matter what field of videography you specialize in, Hyperlapse will enhance your video productions!

Where and when?

The event will take place at stage Art 4, at 1048 Santee St, Los Angeles, CA. It will happen on October 27th, 2018, 4-8:30pm so mark your calendars.

How much?

$150. Only 20 seats left. Have a look what you can learn.

GET YOUR TICKETS HERE!

Want to learn more about photography?

Check out our other workshops we currently offer:

Artistic Burlesque Photography by “Rawl Of The Dead”

The model Marie Devilreux surely knows how to capture viewer’s attention and project the character, even in one shot. In this session, every single shot that is.

How was your experience at FD:

“We had a great shoot at FD studio. I had a model from London visiting LA. Marie Devilreux who is an amazing model and burlesque dancer. She also designs her own clothes. FD studio art2 was the perfect room to get the shots we wanted.”

This session’s crew comprised of:

Photographer: Rawl of the Dead @rawlofthedead

Model: Marie Devilreux @dressedtokillyou

Assistant April Misloski @apryldeadly

Art 2, is one of the busiest stages we currently offer. Equipped with everything you need for a perfect intimate, romantic or empowering style of photoshoot, this stage always leaves our clients excited and hungry for more time. Featuring a dark wood floor platform across the stage and a sexy dark leather lounge chair creates welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. A wall section with the brick veneer adds a flavor of downtown loft New York style. Among these unique features, the stage comes with great equipment – three strobe lights, three backdrops of white, grey and black color, sound system, makeup station and changing station. Take a look at Art 2 on our website for availability as well as rates.

Here is why you need to be at Milk Bath Group Shoot!

Milk bath photography is wildly popular and gaining even more interest at the moment. There is something about the white color of the milk that really puts the focus onto your subject.

On October 20th we will let you experiment with this peculiar setup, empowered by a fully armed professional crew of models, MUAs..

Yes it is time for another awesome Group Shoot – Milk Bath Group Shoot w/ Agency Models & Makeup Artist !

Here are few details about group shoot:

Who?

2 Agency Models with Diverse Looks
3 Hours of Studio Time
A Modern Tub Filled with Milky Water
A Gifted Makeup Artist
Props like Flowers, Citrus, etc.
Networking Time with other Creatives

What?

Here is the mood-board of what you can expect from the shoot:

Where and when?

The event will take place at Pro Stages and will happen on October 20th, 3-6pm, so mark your calendars.

How much?

If you were to organize such a shoot yourself, you would be looking to invest at least $1500 to make the session happen. But since we are that awesome and decided to take the workload off of our shoulders, your fair share is ONLY $125.

GET YOUR TICKETS HERE!

Want to learn more about photography?

Check out our other workshops we currently offer:

Jaime Foxx Designer Stylist Jack Manson Shoots his new line GRVL

GRVL team captures content! Artistically endowed Jack Manson is the talent behind many of the designs that are seen on Jaime Foxx; he exclusively released his designs to the public! Here’s a couple of shots from his collection.

Introduction of the GRVL Brand to the Fashion World:

Los Angeles, CA(April 1, 2018) – Celebrity stylist and fashion designer, Jack Manson introduces his contemporary clothing brand, GVRL, #fromthegroundup, to the fashion world. The designer marries the polished style of the past, together with the free-spirited nature of the present day, to deliver a “sophisteclectic” luxury brand to fashion enthusiasts.

As a designer with extensive experience in designing all aspects of men’s clothing, Jack reflects his artistic nature through fashion by effectively combining luxury, inspiration, style, culture, and refined sophistication into the GRVL brand. Having worked as a stylist for many celebrities and professional athletes, GRVL is both a reflection of the designer’s love for fashion and his professional experiences.

Jack Manson, the founder and designer of the fashion brand, had this to say, “Style and Fashion is as much an emotional connection as it is aesthetic.” He added that, “Clothing elicits a response from those who can truly see it, and style influences how it’s perceived. However, style is the key element that makes clothing unique.”

About Jack Manson

Jack is currently the personal stylist for Oscar and Grammy Award Winner, Mr. Jamie Foxx, and has worked with many other celebrities and professional athletes. His most recent work (2011-present) with actor and singer Jamie Foxx has been featured in Men’s Health, Men’s Health UK and Men’s Fitness.

This session’s crew comprised of:

Brand: grvl

Photographer: bryandavidhall

Wardrobe Stylist:_AshiraProvost

Assistant Stylist: beeshive

Stage B features all black walls and ceiling, with capabilities to completely shut off the natural window light. Equipped with black, gray, and white background paper, three strobe lights and numerous modifiers for your choice this stage is all you need for a perfect, intimate, creative environment. To check the availability for this stage as well as find more helpful information about our rental please see the WEBSITE.

PHOTOGRAPHY MIXER! From Photography to DJ party and everything in-between

Monthly Fd PhotoStudio Rooftop Photography Mixer Meet-up

And it’s free. Yes.

On October 18th, we will be hosting our monthly Rooftop Mixer at the art location, the event dedicated for photographers, models, MUAs, stylists and other industry professionals to expand their network over a few drinks and good music.

This event has already left a prominent mark on Los Angeles photographic community and continues to do so every month.

Here are few details about event:

Who?

You. This event is about you and what you can bring to the table. Bring your models over, take some shots, expand your portfolio, have fun with fellow photographers and enjoy breath taking, iconic Los Angeles sunset.

When?

October 18th, 4pm till 9pm

Where?

1048 Santee St, DTLA on Rooftop AND Art 4 stage. If you ever shot at the Art location before, you already know the spot. And yes, it is not only the rooftop but also Art 2 stage will be available for you! 😉

Who?

Our favorite DJ 6AM will be there to play us his best tracks and make us dance! 6amlosangeles.com

How Much?

Most networking events would charge a fee to get in. Here at FD, we decided to go one step further and make the Rooftop Mixer event absolutely free! Moreover, as it has become a tradition, we are also going to have another series of lottery. During check-in, everyone who RSVP’d will get a ticket with a number to participate. Don’t forget to check-in!

Take a look at the Rooftop Mixer Event page and photos that were made on our Website.

Here is the recap of one the previous mixers 😉

Igor Malakhov + Mr. Alex Sparrow

Singer Alex Sparrow is a Russian celebrity artist, best known for his appearance on Russian X-factor – the show that skyrocketed his career after. It was only a matter of time when his frequent visits to LA resolved in an awesome rooftop photoshoot, hosted by yours only – FD.

Igor Malakhov + Mr. Alex Sparrow -wrongron, Wrong Ron, Studio Photography, shot at FD Photo Studio, rooftop, rental stages, Photoshop, Photoshoot, photography services, photographer, outdoors, Los Angeles, Igor Malakhov, FD photo studio, DTLA, blog, Art location, Alex Sparrow, !done

Quick summary about the artist/singer Alex Sparrow:

“He is best known for appearing on the Russian version of The X Factor at the age of 17 in 2005.^[1] In 2006 Vorobyov was contracted by Universal Music Russia,^[2] and in December 2007 was appointed as a goodwill ambassador for Y-PEER, a youth-based initiative of the United Nations Population Fund.^[2]^[3] Vorobyov represented Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Germany.”

This session’s crew comprised of:

Photographer Igor Malakhov @igor_malakhov

Model Mr. Alex Sparrow @mr.alexsparrow

ROOFTOP is located in our ART studios building and available every other day on the calendar. Encompassing the LA’s downtown scenery with highly energetic industrial sector this stage is perfect for picturing big city life. Upon your request we will provide strobe lights powered with mobile batteries as well as c-stands and other grip tools. Check more information on our WEBSITE.