Auti Kamal: MODEL and CHOREOGRAPHER

Nowadays the industry demands more and more multitalented artists to showcase their versatile expression in as many ways as possible to make a hit. While some artists faint under such overwhelming pressure, others like Auti Kamal succeed. Dancer, Choreographer and just a stunning Model Auti, has visited us in stages A and D to let other dancers shine but took a bit of the spotlight herself. Here is the dance video conceptualized by Auti and performed by Lindsey Sandri and Jonah Almanzar. The PHOTOGRAPHER for the shoot was Mila Zvereva.

DANCERS: Lindsey Sandri and Jonah Almanzar.

VOCALS: Chelsea Valesquez

CINEMATOGRAPHY: Carolyn DiLoreto

MODEL, CHOREOGRAPHER: Auti Kamal

Stage D is one of the most spacious and most affordable spaces we currently offer. Suitable for both large and small production teams, this stage is on always on a high demand. Lighting conditions are of supreme quality. If working with natural light, towards the sunset the studio gets plenty of great, warm light through large south-west facing frosted windows. There are three strobe lights always available within the stage. Have a look at our calendar for availability, prices and contacts on our WEBSITE.

by Wrong Ron

Kristina Boyko by Michael Woloszynowicz

How hard is it to shoot black and white? Will this genre ever go out of trend? We do not think so. Laying a solid foundation, Patrick Demarchelier has stapled the black and white nudity into high fashion making it an evergrowing and evergreen genre. Following his steps and developing new techniques many profound photographers had their takes on the b&w. This time photographer Michael Woloszynowicz in collaboration with Black and White Only magazine PSM has shoot a stunning model Kristina Boyko. Few words about the photographer, Michael Woloszynowicz:

“I’m a fashion, beauty and portrait photographer and retoucher based out of Toronto, Canada In addition to creating images, I have a love for teaching and do so through a variety avenues. I provide a comprehensive set of free tutorials on my YouTube channel and am also an instructor at Retouching Academy and RGG EDU, as well as a Staff Writer at Fstoppers. My work has been featured in a wide variety of international fashion and photography publications and syndicated TV shows including Maxim Mexico, Maxim Columbia, Maxim India, Maxim Indonesia, Factice, Point Seven Mach and many others.”

Find out more about the PHOTOGRAPHER via his WEBSITE, INSTAGRAM or FACEBOOK. The gorgeous MODEL for the shoot, Kristina Boyko is on INSTAGRAM as well.

Pro Stage I features a large seamless white cyc wall, as well as standard photo backdrops of black, white and grey color, and studio lighting for stills. Make sure to catch the perks of the space with your photo and video cameras and book with us NOW.

GOING PRO: Pro Stage III + New Toys

FD Photostudio is constantly on the move towards perfection and diversity. Our goal to deliver affordable yet high class stages is nothing short of self fulfilling prophecy. This year, we have already brought 4 more amazing spacious HILL stages that our clients have already fell in love with. Now it was time to level up our PRO stages. We did it. Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you all white. e-commerce ready stage PRO III.

PRO III

GOING PRO: Pro Stage III + New Toys -US flag, Studio Rentals, Studio News, Star spangled banner, Silver Fainting Couch, Rental Studio, Pro Stage 3, Pro Stage 2, Pro Stage 1, Photoshoot, Photo Blog, Old Glory Red Wall, Manfrotto, Los Angeles, LA Rental Studio, FD photo studio, DTLA, distressed US Flag, backdrop, Announcement, American flag

This stage comes with Manfrotto tri-pod and tether cords available for rental. So if you were in a hurry to get to the studio and happen to forgot that loosely rolled cable sitting on the top shelf, do not worry – we got you covered.

Stages Pro I and Pro II had alse undergone renovation.

PRO I

Pro I now has a huge Old Glory Red Wall with Silver Fainting Couch situated in the center for your fancy ideas and high quality Instagram Updates.

Don’t like the light and used to embrace the darkness?No problem, we installed the curtains so you could shut the windows and have your self a nice, big space with the controlled lighting environment.

2’x2’x2′ white cube available with Pro I photo studio rental.

PRO II

Pro II has become our most patriotic stage that proudly presents a large star-spangled banner stretched on one of its walls.

Take a look at stages Pro I, Pro II and Pro III and have your shoot scheduled today! As with any other stages, Pro’s come with three strobe lights, grip equipment, white, black and grey backdrops installed! Our studio administrator will be happy to address all your concerns and book the stage over the phone if you have a trouble booking online.

James Anthony + Marvelous Crew

James Anthony has amazed us again with his extraordinary editorial fashion shoot. Bringing a squad of true masters of their craft the team was able to deliver futuristic, catchy and voguish photos.

James Anthony + Marvelous Crew -wrongron, Wrong Ron, Terrel Mullin, Studio Photography, shot at FD Photo Studio, rental stages, Photoshop, Photoshoot, photographer, photogenic model agency, Model, Miles Jeffries, Los Angeles, Jennifer Austin, James Anthony, Giavanna Whited, FD photo studio, DTLA, blog, !done

Whether it is plain grey backdrop or edited in striped background the up-stage and down-stage seem to have a conversation with each other, sometimes highlighting the model or on the contrary blurring her in. The affect intensified by vividness of each color definitely strikes and visually excites the viewer.

The MODEL for the shoot Giavanna Whited represents the Agency Photogenics. The STYLIST of this tremendous work was Jennifer Austin. The MAKE UP work was done by

Terrell Mullin. The HAIR STYLIST for the session was Miles Jeffries.

And of course, the PHOTOGRAPHER, James Anthony can be reached via his INSTAGRAM and WEBSITE.

Here at FD Photo Studio, we already have 16 stages plus the rooftop available for rent. While constantly expanding due to overwhelming demand of our stages we strive to bring not only the quantity but also the quality to our clients. Each of our spaces features specific advantages and perks, as we like to cater to certain needs – be it natural light, blackout, cyclorama walls, and different aesthetics offered by each of our stages. Every space has an independent calendar with up-to-date availability, as well as rates listed for each. Visit our website to browse our options!

4TH OF JULY IS COMING! We’ve got the flags!

Exclusive and Urgent! Hill 4 and PRO 2 only! The Independence Day is in a less than week period and your happy neighbor climbing up to the attic to get the carefully folded star-spangled banner and hand out front. Well, we are not that behind ourselves. For this major holiday we acquired amazing distressed US Flags available for your photoshoot at Hill 4 and Pro 2 stages. Are you ready to celebrate with us and get your victorious shots taken? Photos were taken by Toma Kostygina. Have a look at her INSTAGRAM and WEBSITE. The MODEL for the shoot was Faezie who can be contacted through INSTAGRAM or WEBSITE. Make Up work was done by Sana The MUA. Check out her INSTAGRAM and WEBSITE for more info. The STYLIST for the shoot was Jen Summers and the wardrobe was provided by SugarPuss. BOOK NOW stages HILL 4 and PRO 2 and let’s get it rolling for the big weekend!

Pro Tip: Muscle Memory

Cover Photo taken by @samgracemiller @diahannelise

Every master has a very important weapon in the arsenal called the muscle memory. In situations where a lot of repetitive action is involved, your brain learns to automate the process by remembering the movements of your body and hardwiring in the way that you do not have to think about it all and instead can focus on more thought demanding processes, such as creativity. Without muscle memory no pianist would be able to play the your favorite Bach opuses, no ballet dancer could do dozens of Pique turns in a row and no F1 race drivers would finish their rounds in a timely manner.

Photo taken by @balletzaida , @oliviatarchick

When it comes to photography, the muscle memory also plays the important role. In order to be fully emerged in the creative process you need to outsource changing your ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed to muscle memory. Up to the point when you do not have to take your eye of the viewfinder, practice changing these parameters constantly, even on the idle run. Practice shooting your camera daily. Have your eye locked on the viewfinder and locate your knobs with your fingers without looking at it. Take your camera to work, shoot it on a lunch break, inside the uber car or metro, just anywhere you can. Teach your muscles to know exactly where all the settings are the same way you can find where the snooze button on your phone is. When you can work your camera fluently like this, you’ll be able to stay in the moment with your subject much better. All it takes is practice.

Photo taken by @ladymehanphoto

Here are few tips of how to get the best out of each practice session:

1. (Lots of) Practice Makes Perfect. The more you do something, the quicker your brain can instruct your muscles to carry out a task. Take typing, for instance. We all start out with the hunt-and-peck method but in time, we can lay down an unconscious stream of letters, words and symbols. Learning to shoot without watching your fingers’ every move utilizes the same process. You develop a “feel” for shoot by shooting a lot. Practice not only makes perfect, it makes permanent. 2. Long vs. short practice sessions. Understand that there is an optimal amount of time to spend on any given shoot or technical problem per practice session. Practice daily and twice a day when possible, though in shorter sessions. You should stop your practice before you start to tire and get sloppy in your execution because… 3. Muscle memory doesn’t discriminate between good and bad habits. Muscles remember mistakes in the exact same way they remember correct technique, so be sure to get it right. When you repeat mistakes again and again, you build a muscle memory with those mistakes, which makes them even harder to overcome later. Let me rephrase: Perfect practice makes perfect. 4. Muscle memory resides in the brain. Muscle memory doesn’t reside in the muscles as we might have been led to believe; instead, as with all memory, it lives in the brain. Muscle memory is memory for muscles, rather than memory in muscles. Repetition creates new neural pathways in the brain, which literally becomes hardwired to perform the practiced activity. The brain no longer has to work hard to make it happen, so the activity feels easy to you. You just do it automatically, without having to think about it. 5. Be patient. Building muscle memory is a process that demands patience and persistence. The more you try to rush the process, the greater your chances are that bad habits and ultimately frustration will set in. Some researchers believe it takes between 1000 and 30,000 repetitions of an activity for it to become second nature to you. When building muscle memory, commit to it for the long haul. Your ability as a player will grow in leaps and bounds for it.

Photo taken by @lolagraphy_photo

by Wrong Ron

How To Sell Your Images In Galleries

Cover Photo Taken by Ballet Zaida

Getting into a gallery is a goal and dream of many photographers as it manifests the confidence in their skill as both – the photographer and the artist. Of course, exhibiting your work at the gallery is not the only way to sell photos. Yet it is one of the most satisfying and prestigious ones! Even if it is a shared gallery, you will still get a good amount of wall space to present your collection, have it hung on the wall and nicely framed; your name will be labeled on each exhibit and if luck permits, the red dot will be pierced on the side indicating that this work is sold.

Photo from Fahey/Klein Gallery

RIGHT GALLERY FOR RIGHT PHOTOGRAPHERS

Applying to have your work presented at the gallery might seem quite intimidating as it seems to be fairly forbidding place. Spacious minimalistic rooms with large prints appear to be only accessible by certain established artists with already gained reputation, the name and the following behind them. For the most part, that’s fairly true. Gallery owners prefer to choose the work not only of the good quality but also based on artist’s reputation. They have to make sure that the images they put on their walls sell — so they have to choose carefully, minimizing the risk of lost income. This means that access to galleries is very competitive. That said, photographers with the right talent and the right portfolio can still get their foot in the door and their images on the walls. Depending on the location of the gallery and owner’s preferences there are certain types of images that certain galleries prefer. Whatever your type of photography, you should be able to find a gallery out there somewhere that matches it. Your local galleries would be good places to browse for starters, but if you can’t find anything locally that matches your photography, look further afield. Do not follow the trend of galleries before following your own taste. Shoot the images that excite you, and when you find a gallery open to exhibiting them, listen to the advice they provide about creating images within that niche that are most likely to sell.

Photo From Annenberg Photography Space

IT IS TIME TO APPROACH

Starting with no experience might be tough. At this stage you cannot approach big name galleries without getting a denial. Instead, have a practice of putting up your shows in local restaurants and cafes. Organizing your own exhibitions — and inviting local gallery owners — can also help to put you in touch with the people that matter and show them your images. Once you have mastered your local exhibitions, it is time to shoot big. Create a resume and Artist’s Statement Galleries will also often demand resumes and artist’s statements. The resume you show a gallery owner isn’t the same as the resume you’d show the HR department of a computer company. It’s intended to show the gallery owner that even if you’re an emerging photographer rather than an established one, you are at least on the way to becoming established. So it should include any shows you’ve already held — even if they weren’t held at major galleries or were held with other artists — and any prizes and awards you might have won. Your artist’s statement should be easier. This simply describes the sort of work you produce and explains why you choose to produce it. It helps the gallery owner to understand exactly what you’re offering. Create a Portfolio And, of course, you’ll need an impressive and well-organized portfolio of images that shows the sort of art you’d like the gallery to exhibit. Next, visit local galleries and make appointments with those that look promising. To persuade a gallery owner that you are indeed a good bet, there are a number of things you can do: Read the Rules Most galleries these days have Web sites where they describe how they want artists to approach them. Make sure you read those submission requirements and stick to them. Few things are likely to irritate a gallery owner more — and cut short the meeting — than someone who visits unprepared to show their work. Make an Appointment As you look at the submission requirements for different galleries, you should find that they vary at least slightly from gallery to gallery. One requirement that turns up frequently, though — and it’s one that many photographers tend to ignore — is the need to make an appointment. Few galleries appreciate walk-ins. Call ahead and make an appointment so that the gallery owner knows what to expect.

Photo From The G2 Gallery

YOUR WORTH AND THEIR PRICE

Getting accepted into the gallery walls means much more than just selling your work. You will receive a good share of guidance, career advice and pricing strategies that will make you not only a photographer that takes beautiful pictures but the photographer who can sell it.

Undoubtedly, good galleries charge as high as 50% of your pay for the services they provide. While it might seem unfair and super pricey, in a long run you will benefit from reputation, freedom and financial dividends that your gallery will bring.

It is time to sell.

by Wrong Ron

Blogging for Photographers: Why you need it!

Cover Photo taken from Blog of David Martin Jr.

With current Instagram trends you might have probably already heard about the necessity and coolness of having your blog running. You have seen so many photographers blogging about their work, and so many of your friends talking about staring one. But do you know why you need to have a blog and how you need to run it to make sure it’s worth the time? We are here to help you figure it out!

Taken from Blog of Kulish Photography.

Blogging For Photographers and why you need it!

The specifics of photography as a business spin around personal relationship of the photographer with their clients. Your service is not only the photos but the attitude treat your clients with, and the more you show your clients how comfortable they can be with you the better. Here is where your blog comes in handy. Through blog you can show readers who you are, how you’ve become a photographer and what you value the most in providing the service for the client. Highlighting your motivations, workflow and ideas aids your clients to make a faster and firmer decision of hiring. You probably already have a portfolio posted a few years ago that is sitting without any updates and merely converts visitors into clients. With blog your portfolio will revive, as you will constantly post your latest and probably the best work! Especially during first years of developing your career the skill and quality of photos will improve exponentially. Your future clients have to see the up to date product in order to make a right decision supported by right expectations.

Blogging for Photographers: Why you need it! -wrongron, Wrong Ron, Tutorial, tips, Studio Photography, shot at FD Photo Studio, rental stages, Photoshop, Photoshoot, Photography blog, photographer blog, paid photography, modeling, Los Angeles, History of photography, gear, FD photo studio, fashion photographer, DTLA, blog

Taken from Blog of NikkRich Photography

Thirdly, your blog is a marketing tool to promote not only you but also your clients. When you are sharing images with your clients captured on it, it is almost certain but it will be reposted by them. People love to see themselves on other internet sites and on your blog. Especially if you mention how great it was to work with them and how fun the experience was. Little did you know, your posts will start making rounds on client’s timelines and open up the door to peer to peer marketing! Your SEO will go through the roof if your blog is constantly updating with new fresh material. In the world where the best place to hide a criminal is leave him on the second page of Google search, taking care of improving the SEO of the website becomes a crucial process. Posting new fresh material ranks your website higher by Google’a algorithms thus pushing you towards the top of their search engine.

Taken from Blog of Ajani Photography

Writing a blog helps you to figure out your personal brand. Nothings is more productive at establishing your own style than writing and photographing it through. As you going through documenting the journey your niche will be as clear as on a paper. Last but not least, A blog is easy to start, easy to maintain, often cheaper than a dedicated website, and more effective in getting sales!

Taken from Blog of Anna Lee

Many WordPress websites already have the blog section built in so upgrading your website with the blog section is a no brainer. Write about your passions, your best #tbt work, your best current projects, adventures, answers and FAQs. If you happen to have any tips on how to create a successful photography blog, share it with us, leave a comment!

JunAn for Love and Freedom

Shooting on the rooftop at times might seem difficult due to weather and lighting condition yet very rewarding. Nothing gives you better perception of unbound space than the elevated wall-less stage. Photographer JunAn has chosen the rooftop to advance the notion of “Love and Freedom” – the fashion studio.

The Philosophy of LNF Studio goes:

“Established in 2015, LNF (Love and Freedom) aims to bring a full range of basics built around effortlessly chic, never-take-off essentials with a dream-like quality and at a reasonable cost. Until now, LNF has launched three lines LNF BASIC, LNF STUDIO and LNF CASHMERE. Our designers set out to create perfect basic essentials that are impeccably cut, made from the most touchable fabrics and with great attention to details. LNF is not only the core philosophy of the brand but also the lifestyle that we pursue. They are the fundamentals demanded of us as well as the only luxuries in life, just like the basics in fashion. Bring your life a little more quality. Start with our basics”

Find Out more about the PHOTOGRAPHER JunAn and LNFStudio.

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