Teaser... Shoot with Oeil and MissPhom

I love a challenged.

Sometimes they scare me, but I still love them.

This week I had the fantastic and scary challenge of creating a set in my house for the first time… ever.

By set, I mean - setting up a ton of cool props and making it look like something... Hey Im no pro ;-)

It was really a wonderful opportunity since I got to work with the fabulous Michelle again who invited MissPhom who is a complete delight.

Both gave me all creative freedom over the project.

I totally put together not only the sets but the creative for my wardrobe and hair.

Sonia Garza took my idea and ran with it… I’m pleased to say that even with setbacks what came out was better than I expected.

These ladies really did a wonderful job.

Here are a few teasers courtesy of MissPhom…. in record time no less!

I’ll post more about the shoot tomorrow, but for now I have to get some beauty sleep before my laptop turns into a pumpkin ;-)

Update:

Michelle with Oeil posted her own teaser on shoot

Again, everyone was really awesome to work with, I always feel very fortunate to be surrounded by such talent!

Running on Fumes

But at least I’m running! I had a job in West Palm yesterday, had to be there at 10am – which meant I was up at 4am getting ready.

4 hour drive since I went a wee bit over the speed limit and then I had the opportunity to work with Neil van Niekerk, modeling for a group of talented photographers in a lighting course he was teaching.

It was a very last minute job, so last minute that I doubted its authenticity and I spent about a half hour researching him, checking out his phone number, calling the hotel where the seminar was being held.

“Yes… I understand he has a room there… but what kind of room?”

If theres a bed involved... I'm not interested.

Expecting a sham, I was surprised and everything checked out.

There is very little I dislike about modeling, but those things, I dislike strongly. Like working 24 hour days, driving 4-6 hours for a job and doing all over again before having the chance to re-coop because the work is there and who knows when more will come…

When it rains it pours, sometimes there’s nothing then all the sudden everyone wants you. It’s crazy.

I know, I’m so big time ;-)

Anyway.

The job was way more fun than I expected.

I’m no photographer, but if I was, I would want to take one of Neil’s courses. He was fun, interacting with the class, he really cared about what he was teaching.

If he saw someone falling behind, he took special time with that person and caught them up.

I have done several seminars, and he was by far the best.

I mean…. I learned stuff.

Until he started going on about ISO’s and all that I was right there.

Then of course there was the part where I worked.

It was a mixture of being in one position just to illustrate a technique and playing around, which is always fun and I enjoy more and more.

Something that I am surprised at.

I would have thought, before I started modeling, that having a face full of photographers would intimidate me, make me feel overwhelmed, shy, something bad I don’t know.

But the exact opposite happens.

I’m on like a light switch. Flashes going off one after another in my face, directions coming from everywhere, something that would seem so completely confusing does not bother me at all.

I don’t know why.

It’s curious to me really.

But I guess it doesn’t matter because at the end of the day, it’s all about doing a job.

I’m always glad when I get smiles from the photographers, reassuring me that I’m doing the right thing. It can be a little disconcerting at times when your there to do a job and you just not sure if they are getting what they need.

The silent photog.

What a killer.

So that’s my story.

I’m waiting for a bunch of work to come back, you know when you get paid, the turnaround time is very slow if not nonexistent.

My blog will probably be flooded all at once with work when I get it in.

Right now, I’m going to get back to my glass of wine and my hubby.

From a Photo Shoot...

Shooting the Wind

Had a wonderful shoot with Andy from Black Box Imagery. The wind was horrible and so what was perfect hair was turned into a perfect rats nests in less than a minute of being of outside.

But towards the end I threw it up in some bobby pins and we tried to make it work.

We definitely had fun.

We were trying to get some commercial looks – but the wind kept attacking my hair and I was eating lip gloss flavored hairspray like nobody’s business.

So in many of them I have a wicked comb over going on.

Then I wised up and pulled out the bobby pins... which helped a little.

I just like this one which is more about composition, but I thought it was really pretty...

The best stuff we got was at the end of the day when we were ‘done’ Andy suggested shooting at the beach. Photographers usually know what they are doing…

And this one is my fav, because its so me. Goofy.

A few Updates...

Ok I’m back….

Things have been more than a little nutty around here...

Lets see, where to begin???

Well, for starters, hubby hubster and I are lifting from the ground the massive launch of a line of handmade toys, the brain child (is that how you say it??) Of my dearest husband…

Coming to a store near you….

I have been interviewing craftsmen and organizing our game plan…. Plus working a crazy crazy modeling schedule and trying to take care of my household too.

I know what your thinking.

I cannot do all of this, and your right.

Something has to give.

I must hire a maid and a personal chef IMMIDENTIALLY!

Sadly, that’s not the case.

Things are actually going pretty well, considering how busy I am – every day something gives a little, but its working for right now.

We will see.

I have to say, it’s good to be busy and I’m making money modeling so what can be wrong with that?

I am busy for sure… sometimes I sit down for a minute just to gather my thoughts and try to figure out what to do next.

I live by my planner and though I have held out for a very long time, I think that I am going to be forced into getting a Blackberry or something.....

The internet function on my cell phone just isn’t cutting it.

I had lunch yesterday with a new friend. Another actress/model.

Yay!

It was fun and she has been doing this for about 8 years, so had lots of great advice for me.

It was really great to be able to talk to someone about what I’m doing and get feedback about my plans.

I encourage anyone starting out to seek out someone they can talk to, its really helpful.

I always do this in any new endeavor I take on.

Well Girls and Boys, that’s all I have for today…

I have a bunch of stuff to do… you know.

WORK.

Before hubby hubster and I take off for Tampa to see U2 rock out… YAY!

Very exciting….

Photo Shoot - Michelle with Oeil

There were so many great shots from the shoot with Michelle, it was had to pick out my favorites…

But I tried anyway...

This one... I love, love, love.

Taken while trotting past her after chashing down thoes seagulls.

What fun.

And I love this one, though I dont know why... it just seems sweet... lostish' and girlish' to me...

Finally... this one.

Because it is so dramatic.

Related Links:

http://www.rocknrollbride.com/2009/09/neo-realism/

http://oeilphotography.blogspot.com/2009/09/megan-jacksonville-fl-couture-bridal.html

Video from the Bridal shoot with Oeil

Michelle is so good at what she does.

I love how the dress bounces up and down when Im running...So fairy tale like...




Related Links:

http://www.rocknrollbride.com/2009/09/neo-realism/

http://oeilphotography.blogspot.com/2009/09/megan-jacksonville-fl-couture-bridal.html

If you haven’t chased Seagulls in a wedding dress, you haven’t lived…

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood!

I had another cancellation so I’m using the time to network, return calls, (blog) among other things…

And I’m doing all of this from my lovely back porch…

Ahhhh….

It’s truly a beautiful thing.

I had a shoot yesterday with a wedding photographer, Michelle at Oeil

Who’s work I adore.....

We had a lot of fun… we both were on a limited amount of time so we got the shoot done in less than an hour, but I felt like we still did a lot.

I’m anxious to see how they turned out.

Michelle’s concept was pretty cool, we shot at the beach on some big rocks (big for Florida) I did my hair kinda messy updo and painted my nails black and wore dark lipstick.

It was different, A little Edgy. Interesting... veryvery.

Michelle was very cool down to earth.

As usual, I talked too much and was the total dork that I am.

But I had a great time.

And I got to chase some seagulls in my wedding dress which was tons of fun.

And stand up on rocks and pretend to be a diva.

It was definitely some of the most fun I’ve had, mostly because I got to play, it was so out of the box…. I loved that.

I can’t wait to see the pictures, of and Michelle took some kind of video of me running down the beach, my veil flew off while I was doing this so I don’t know if she will use it or not, or if it even turned out.

But the recorder she used was cool; it was a tiny little thing, something I’ve never seen before….

Unrelated to the world of fashion… I was taking a shower before the shoot yesterday morning and the bathtub fixture flew right out of the wall, spraying water everywhere.
So yesterday after the shoot, I came home and repaired my bathtub/shower.

Yes…. I rock.

The only reason I did it was because I pictured my poor hubby getting home from work at 7pm and having to go into the bathroom and work on the shower for 3 hours.

I went to Lowes, got the parts (I took the broken part and they gave me everything I needed)and fixed it myself.

I am awesome.

Haha.

I was actually really scared I was going to screw it up, because there were a lot of little parts and cement, and o rings and other stuff involved.

And I had to saw a piece of PVC and I only had one chance to get the measurements right.

But the shower works now.

And Hubby hubster was very surprised and happy.

Yay Me.

If modeling doesn’t work out, I can be a plumber.

;-)

Photo Shoot - David Wilson - Journey Photography

David and Amy Wilson make up the incredibly talented Journey Photography.

I really cannot say enough great things about their work, I just love what they do.

If you are not familiar with them, please do yourself a favor and go check out the website, my special favorites are their pieces where they collaborate with Lauren Rossi and create some awesome work.

Here are the shots that I got with David when we worked together…

(Click on each photo to enlarge)

I think it goes without saying…

We all remember.

We cherish the people who fight for our freedom, and the lives that have been lost.

I always think about 9/11 and realize how very important it is to live each day as if it were your last.




What a terrible loss for our country.

It is one of the few things that really leave me.....

Speechless.