Jimmy Quaintance for SIXELAR

One of the best ways to promote a latest collection of clothes from your online fashion boutique is to invite a celebrity to wear your clothes for the photoshoot. Creative director Alexis Rosario had a task in mind to promote the newest pieces from SIXELAR clothing store. He invited a notorious skateboarder, actor and model Jimmy Quaintance and the photographer Dariya Dolgacheva. The rest is a pretty productive history. A quick info about the photographer:

“My name is Dariya Dolgacheva and I am professional photographer. For many years of being photographer I learn to see the unique beauty in every person and I do everything that other people can see the same beauty in my pictures. I try to make my photos alive;I want my pictures “talk” to you and share theirs mood and story with you. I enjoy taking pictures of anyone : men, women (fashion photography, maternity photography, portfolio, models portfolio) children (Family Photography), babies (baby birthdays), young and older people (vintage photography), wedding, reportage and etc. Pictures for me are the love from the first sight. Its the love from childhood. I love to take photos and have been doing so far nearly … years – it is a great job and a wonderful lifestyle. So far it is the best work I have come across for my personality!!!”

The star of the session, model and actor Jimmy Quaintance is heavily present on many social platforms such as TWITTER and INSTAGRAM. Have a look at the portfolio and personal work of the PHOTOGRAPHER Dariya Dolgacheva via her INSTAGRAM and WEBSITE. Also, make sure to visit the clothing online boutique SIXELAR’s INSTAGRAM as well for more trendy outfits. The DIRECTOR of this photo session was Alexis Rosario.

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.

by Wrong Ron

Matt Kulisch for Pansy Magazine

Photographer Matt Kulisch featuring the model Jay W has had a sensual, perfectly balanced photo series dedicated to one of the online editorials of Pansy Magazine. Have a look at beautiful outtakes from the issue.

A quick info about the photographer:

“Matt has been photographing semi-professionally for eight years. He is a graduate of the MFA in Writing program at University of San Francisco and holds a BA in English from University of Utah. His photography has been published by the queer web magazine, Spit & Spirit, and twice in digital/print by Gorgeous Freaks. Matt was recently featured in exclusives for Pansy Magazine (June 2017), Summary Diary Project (Sept 2016) and Fashionably Male(June 2016) and in Hypnopompia III, the Brooklyn-based art magazine “collecting ikons of male erotica.” Matt likes the stories that bodies tell about innocence and desire, vulnerability and the sensuous. For him, masculinity (as a subject) is too often traditionally rendered—a kind of lovelessness worth frustrating. Fans claim his compositions “possess wonderful focus, a simple loving elegance. It’s as if he falls in love with his subjects.” Eschewing techniques which lean too heavily on direction or post-processing, Matt prefers collaborative relationships with his subjects that spring from ideas and highlight emotive moments—often shooting in natural light and domestic spaces. Many of his subjects are lovers, friends, or fellow artists themselves. Matt is 35 and lives in Los Angeles, CA.”

Find out more about Matt Kulisch via his WEBSITE. The model for the shoot Jay W may also be reached via his Instagram page.

Stage Art 3 is one of our most popular stages. Featuring shot perfect props such as an elegant white-and-gold chair with a mirror as well as a luxurious bathtub, this stage is always on a high demand. Art 3 now also presents a gorgeous rose wall for your unrivaled, outstanding background setting. Besides, this studio is supplied with a seamless backdrop paper of black,grey and white color and studio lighting found in all of our spaces, promoting it as a very flexible creative space. For pictures and more information about stage Art 3 check out our WEBSITE.

Lorenzo Contreras + Shelbi Lyn Castro

One photographer, one model, plenty of natural light. This formula has been proved a multitude of times as the perfect recipe for clean, natural, warm shots. Stage Hill 1, one of our newer stages, turned out to be a perfect ingredient for that recipe. Have a look at what Lorenzo Contreras and Shelbi Lyn Castro got cooking.

Photogrpaher Lorenzo Contreras was very kind to share with us a few words about his experience at Hill location:

“I loved the new Hill St. Location! Ever since I came across your studios they’ve been go to location as long as they’re available! A friend needed some updated shots for her port and Hill 1 was the perfect spot for that.”

Make sure to take a look at the PHOTOGRAPHER’s Instagram for more photos and daily updates. And of course, get to know the MODEL of the shoot Shelbi Lyn Castro.

Stage Hill 1 is one of our newest and brightest stages we currently offer. Facing the west side this stage gets lots of natural light in the afternoon and has amazing lighting conditions during the golden hour. Among included props are industrial wooden table with benches, two antique green chairs and white leather comfy chair. Besides, Hill 1 comes equipped with black, white and grey backdrops already installed and three strobe lights included in the hourly rate. Have a look at Hill 1 on our website for more information, prices and availability.

Page Thirty E-Commerce Photoshoot in Pro Stage III

Los Angeles based leather apparel called Page Thirty had a recent photoshoot in our e-commerce dedicated stage Pro III capturing new collection of top quality jackets. Directed by photographer Pablo Ravazanni and with digital tech assistance of Toma Kostygina, this photoshoot has fulfilled its purpose – showcasing premium outfits through the premium e-commerce photos. A few words about Susan Cho, the founder of Page Thirty.

“When I turned thirty, certain chance meetings and experiences led to a changed view on what I valued and who I wanted to be. This started the journey to create Page Thirty, a medium to share my creations and values with you.

After playing the wholesale game, I realized that we would struggle as a small business with aggressive production requirements, expensive mass marketing campaigns, and the desire to simply make what I wanted to make – classic, quality products. So we ditched the traditional industry roadmap to follow the wave of direct-to-consumer brands, brands that I myself admire and shop from. By offering our products directly to you, we avoid retail markups and delays, giving you a beautiful product for half of what a department store would charge.

I’m committed to being transparent and sincere, and building a business on quality goods for those who believe its worth it. So here’s to the good folks who believe in doing things differently, honestly, and (hopefully) right.”

Have a look at the collection that Page Thirty currently sells at its online store. Find out more about the photographer of the session, Pablo Ravazanni through his WEBSITE. To contact the digital tech of the shoot, Toma Kostygina have a look at her WEBSITE and INSTAGRAM pages.

Our Pro Stage III is one of our newest stages and is certainly on of a kind. Dedicated for the e-commerce photoshoot only this stage already comes pre setup with all strobe lights positioned in a way that provides best quality current standard e-commerce photos. All lights, 5 feet of white backdrop and grip are already included in the hourly rate for our client’s convenience. Have a look at stage Pro III on our WEBSITE for more information, prices and availability.

JJames + Morgan Dawson

Published photographer JJames has visited stage Hill 1 to capture the fitness model and inspirational person Morgan Dawson for series of sexy, sporty and natural lifestyle shots. The model, soaked in body oil shows us both the healthy lifestyle and a naughty mood. Make sure to check out JJames’s INSTAGRAM for more cool and sexy shots. The model, Morgan Dawson is killing it on INSTAGRAM with her fitness motivational videos and lifestyle. Choosing stage Hill 1 for your shoot is the great idea for multiple reasons. Firstly, the natural lighting conditions are amazing – bright direct light in the afternoon and soft light in the morning. Secondly, the space is of a comfortably big size that would fit both small and big crews. And thirdly, all perks that our studio is notorious about such as strobe equipment, grip, paper backdrop and excellent customer service are the part of the deal. Go ahead and check the stage Hill 1 on our website for the availability and photos.

How To Capture Good Pictures

Cover photo credit: balletzaida Dancer @ashleylewofficial

There is a common misconception among newcomers about why a professional photographer produces such amazing quality product. Mistakenly, the opinion of majority tends to think that the expensive gear is what makes a great picture. And the more expensive the gear the better the quality. No. Expensive cameras and lighting do enhance the quality of the picture (that is why it is more expensive). Yet the difference that it introduces is only about 10% of a quality. The first 90% is the priceless experience and skill that the camera man possesses. Regardless of your type of camera, if there is no skill, no time and effort put in, no technique developed, the outcome will be, simply put, utter crap. In this article we will focus on different habits that you as a photographer have to adapt in order to acquire that skill and 90% of the quality.

Take Your Camera With You.

What can come out of the camera if it sits on a shelf? You are right – nothing. So why wouldn’t you take it with you – just put in your backpack with a few extra batteries and a sd card. Nowadays, a great quality cameras have become so small and light that it should not be a problem to carry it around. There is a ton of unique moments and opportunities that surround you wherever you go so having the camera handy will help to catch it.

Lots, LOTS Of Pictures

With every picture taken comes the learning and understanding of mechanics of your camera as well as physics of light and good framing. So take a lot of pictures everywhere and at any time. Do not miss the sunrise and the sunset – golden hour will give a head start with and amazing light. Each bad photo will motivate you to research and find out why it did not come out great.

Go Local: Zoos, Gardens, Beaches.

Capturing wild life might have some implications. First of all you would need a telephoto lens which usually does not have in a standard camera+lens kit. Secondly, it is not always possible to get close to the wildlife. Visiting local zoos or gardens or beaches might the right solution! It should not be a problem to photograph animals through the fence and some zoo section might be pretty spacious which creates great opportunity for you. Going to the beach is also a great opportunity to take photos of various birds who always fly closer to shore scavenging for food. Besides animals, there is a lot of flare that you can get your eye on. Everybody likes vivid flowers. Why not to take a picture?

Go Local: Photography Clubs

The help of the community is the best help you can get. That is why it is very important to involve oneself into a local community of photographers. Search online closest photography clubs and get enrolled. Many of them are free and some have a very small initiation fee. Get to know local professionals and their style. Many of them would be inspirational to you and would be eager to share some tips and techniques which will eventually skyrocket your learning curve.

Photography Workshops

Either online courses or local events, photography workshops are a great source to learn fast and solid from the professional who served the industry for many years. Most workshops would cost $15-40 which a great investment on a grand scheme of progress. Here at FD PhotoStudio we have monthly workshops dedicated to a studio equipment basics and hands on experience. It is a great opportunity for you to get prepared for the studio shoot.

Change Positions.

Shooting while standing upright is the easiest and the laziest approach a newcomer might have. Professional photographers are never in the same position twice. Getting down on your knees, laying down, leaning forward, left and write is a common routine for the photographer. Depending on the position and the angle, the feel of the photo changes tremendously. If you shoot from above, the subject on the picture seems minimized and inferior. Shooting from below gives the subject authority, bravery and power.

Use A Tipod

A tripod like a lens or a camera body must considered a must have tool in any photographer’s arsenal. Without it, taking a long exposure shots becomes impossible as it introduces a lot of blur caused by shaking. Also, if you work with HDR it is important to have the same exact frame and angle for multiple photos with different aperture so you later can pile them together and get stunning results.

Shoot in RAW

Even the entry level DSLR should have the option of shooting images in a raw format. Shooting in this format gives you an advantage later in post processing. With raw format you will have advantage to manipulate exposure, saturation and other parameters without introducing to many unwanted artifacts such as noise/grain.

Travel

Once all local options are exhausted it is time to pack up for an adventure! Here is California, we have a truly unique opportunity to change landscapes of extreme range within a day of driving. Spending time in deserts, forests, beaches, mountains brings a great opportunity, to exercise, and engage in personal development and recreational activity. And of course take amazing photos!

Unknown Brain – Forgive Me (feat. Harley Bird)

Lara Aslanian, a freelance filmmaker, recently released a music video shot in the Hill 2 location for the artists Unknown Brain and Harley Bird’s new song “Forgive Me”. This sexy dance video stars the incredibly talented Chelsea Seaward!

Take a look at Lara Aslanian’s INSTAGRAM for more exciting projects. The dancer of the session was Chelsea Seaward! And the singer, the owner of the amazing voice, Harley Bird is also on INSTAGRAM, Stage Hill 2 is among our clients’ most favorite stages. Of course, what is it not to like in Hill 2? Spacious, all dark stage provides one of a kind environment that is perfect for video production, portrait and fashion shoots. Nicely ventilated, this stage is a convenient location for both big and small crews. Want to shoot against the backdrop? We have black, grey and white backdrops ready for you and three strobe lights already preinstalled. Have a look at stage Hill 2 on our website for photos, prices and availability.

5 Ways To Light A Portrait

Cover photo credit: @shopmidnightrider David Bowie Collection, MUA: @prettyfreshbeauty, 
Stylist: @katiecollinsstyle , Photographer: @ramon_felix_

For the photographer to understand how the light works and how to use it to your advantage is a crucial knowledge. Contrary to popular belief, lighting a portrait is not a rocket science and does not require a lot of expensive equipment. All you need is time to understand proper levels of exposure, angles and experiment a bit. Here are some examples our portrait photography clients use to capture beautiful headshots.

WINDOW LIGHT

Let’s start simple. No strobe lights needed. Throughout a history photography from its very beginning cameramen used natural light because, well, it was all they had. The light that worked best on models was northern light – soft yes great defining light. It is the northern light that the softbox strobe lights later were trying to imitate. So to underestimate what the natural light could do for the portrait is a mistake. In our studios we have a plenty of natural light so let’s experiment. Place the model against the window and see what the best angle is to highlight her/his features. Notice the nice gradient that can be achieved on the photo where it gradually goes from lit to dark.

Photo Credit: @lolagraphy_photo
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Location – Stage Art 4
Model – @hunterg32

NATURAL LIGHT + 1 STROBE

A natural light at its best is used at “golden hour” – the time at the sunrise and before the sunset when the light hits your from a very low angle. It is not harsh or over intensified. It has warm and pleasant condition. The only adjustment that can help you enhance the golden hour lighting is adding a strobe light to bring more definition of the model on its other side. Working in pair as a key light and a fill light makes it a classic duo setup.

Photo Credit: Photographer: @kscatesstudios
Makeup: @withlovebyk
Wardrobe: @bridgettedenise
Hair: @raelynnhairstudio
Model: @_annamcclain @nousmodels

1 STROBE LIGHT

Decided to work with artificial lighting only? No problem. Let’s start small using only 1 light for now. In many cases you would not need more. The most important aspect of the photography is not the lighting it has but the idea behind the lighting and the mood that the creator wants to achieve. Using one light only gives the photo intimate, dramatic look. The balance between the bright and the dark parts of the photo keep it a balance pleasant to the eye while highlighting the key features of the model. As Albert Einstein once said “genius is simple”, I would advise you avoid going after all available lights you have in the studio and start with just one good strobe.

Photo Credit: @aestheteandderive
Model @artgazmz

2 STROBE LIGHTS

Utilizing two studio lights might also be a good idea when you want to add extra features on the photo to create more sophisticated image. There are several scenarios of how one may implement two lights. First scenario is to have one light from the side turned on the model and the second light from the opposite side turned on the backdrop. In this setup both the foreground and the background are emphasized resulting in a particular mood of the photo. The second scenario is to have two lights looking on the model from the front and back. While the front light will accentuate main facial features of the model, the back light will bring up the contour of the silhouette, highlight the hair and shoulders.

Photo Credit: ✂️ : @raelynnhairstudio
📸 : @kscatesstudios @theurbangypsyla 👗 : @bridgettedenise 👑 : @kaprihsun @wilhelminamodels 💄 : @withlovebyk @kingkelsie

3 STROBE LIGHTS

Three lights expand the possible amount of setup even more. One of the most classic setups for three lights would be to have two lights positioned from each side of the camera at 45 degree angle facing the model. These two lights can act like a key light and a fill light (different power levels) or two identically lit strobes. Be careful with the later as with two identically powerful strobes there will be no shadows on models features and or any variety of light intensity which usually results in a very dull and shallow photo. So having two lights at different power level usually gives a more interesting result. The third light might be either on a backdrop or hitting the model from the back as it was discussed in the “2 STROBE LIGHTS” scenario.

Photo Credit: @tiararkelly
@shopmidnightrider David Bowie Collection
MUA: @prettyfreshbeauty
Stylist: @katiecollinsstyle
Photographer: @ramon_felix_

Last 2 cents

Besides the natural and strobe lights there are other light shaping tools available to use such as reflectors, V-flats, patterns, etc. In photography as in any other light experiment and the idea are the main driving forces of advancement. So do not limit yourself to just these examples but instead try other variations of the light setup. The more attempts to create something new you will have the less is left to achieve the unique style and distinguish your brand of photography.

THE CONTRACT Thriller – The Must Watch

For connoisseurs of crime plots and tense thrillers we present to you THE CONTRACT. Shot at our blackout stage B, this movie harnessed the darkness of the interior and spilled it out in an intense play of actors solving crime mysteries. The main plot of the movies goes as follows:

“Financier Nick (Robert Fucilla) has returned to his multi-million pound house to find it infested with squatters. In his own bedroom, he discovers Erika (Sarah Armstrong), an injured woman with amnesia and his address tattooed on her arm. Nick’s attempts to help her unravel the past only embroil him in her seedy, violent world. The ability to buy himself out of trouble cannot save Nick from the violence of small-time gangsters determined to recover their property at any cost. Nick will have to rely on his wits to save both their lives and finally overcome a threat which comes shockingly close to home.”

Order THE CONTRACT DVD through Britflix 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.

by Wrong Ron