The shooting schedule has been very quiet for the last six months. Summer does that, and the holidays will likely hinder schedules in the near future. Although the bushes are rustling, I expect the schedule to pick up, so let’s hope.

Worry not. I put a sticky note on top of the camera showing which button to press to take a picture, so we should be good. I cleaned the camera, and all my batteries are charged.

As I’ve mentioned many times. What I enjoy most about a shoot is the bantering and interaction with the model and anyone else involved. The teasing, laughter, and hugs are the parts we get to enjoy as we start to make what will become art. We never know whether it’ll be a typical fun, creative shoot or if an epic piece of art will come from it. We always aim for epic. Epic comes from the model's talent, the lighting being just right for an idea, and sometimes a slight smile or the angle of an ankle. More often than you’d think, an epic shot comes from a “happy accident”. A light fails to flash, or the model is simply flipping her hair out of her mouth, and the shot is caught.

A typical shoot captures 300 to 600 images. Some are light tests. Some are simple changes on a look that is working. Tilting a head a little more toward the light or moving some hair over an eye for a dramatic version.

I think a large part of the enjoyment of doing a shoot is going in with everyone having different ideas, trying as many as we can, and doing whatever pops up during a shoot. And having no rules or limits other than physics. And even then, we have the license to take a picture and turn it on its side or upside down to make it work. Just having fun with the opportunity and seeing what happens.

I’m pretty sure I have the most fun from any shoot. When everyone else goes home, I get to upload the images and spend hours seeing what art I can create from them. Not just after the shoot, but for years to come, as I revisit and see our captures with a different eye and mood. Those later visits are almost like a new shoot for me, because of the whole different perspective.

I’m keeping an eye out for any single shoot that has a wide range of looks and enough edits to give us 30 for the gallery. This type of issue would highlight what all might come from a single shoot of a single model in a 2-4 hour time slot. You might be surprised.

I tend to get the most sets and different looks from models I don’t get to work with often. A few know how to plan for one of our shoots and bring several interesting bits of wardrobe or makeup techniques that give us more than the usual number of sets.

On another note, when I’m here in Chandler with the studio, I’m also here with my high-quality printer. I can print just about any of the work you see on 11x17 or 17x22 thick luster photo stock. 50% of the proceeds goes to the model(s) in the photos. Help support the arts.

The prints are $100 for the first print and $50 for each additional print. I cover shipping within the USA. Overseas shipping will be $10 off the shipping cost. And I accept any form of payment, including gold bars, in case you are wondering.

As always, feel free to comment, ask questions, or make suggestions. I’m at ai7r@mac.com

This week in this artist’s life…