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We were contacted by a model training school, Getting Started Acting/Modeling Workshops, to provide headshots for one of their clients. They found us by a Google search and admired our work.
Lindsey contacted us for a country/western-themed portrait shot. We’ve done many shoots in the past, always creating great images.
Professional photographers love to do personal work, also called self-assignments. It allows us to push ourselves creatively. One of my favorite things subject for personal work is vintage styled images, especially from the 1920s to the 1950s. In this case, I was inspired by the work of Mark Shaw for Christian Dior in Paris in the 1950s. Shaw was a photographer for Life magazine, also known for his photographs of Audrey Hepburn and John Kennedy and his family.
Lindsey and Emily have both modeled for me in the past. They are best friends. They love to hang out together. However, as they are both in college, different colleges, they don’t get to see each other except during breaks from school.
Lindsey is another beautiful young lady that we have had the pleasure to photograph over the last few years. We have wanted to shoot at this location in the Ocean View section of Norfolk.
Word spread on Facebook that there was a field of sunflowers in full bloom in Smithfield, Virginia. It seems that just about every photographer in the area made the drive to Windsor Castle Park in Smithfield to photograph these flowers. I just had to take my turn there. Jessica Smith is a former intern and assistant photographer with Hampton Roads Photography. We’ve done many shoots together, but not many recently. Grad school, marriage and now, pregnancy has not given her much time to assist or model.
This last session with Jessica developed from her mother’s idea. Christine used her costuming and prop skills to create a dramatically styled portrait of Jessica. Fabric, ribbons, plastic jewels and a liberal application of powder transformed Jessica into a unique character. Christine even created a crown with plastic water bottles. We had a blast creating these images. I can’t wait for Jessica to return from China so that we can do more photo sessions.
Hurricane Maria was a terrible storm. Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands were leveled by it. Fortunately, by the time Maria reached our latitude, she had weakened and stayed offshore. The results for our area were higher than normal tides, rough surf, and blustery winds. Conditions like this are unusual. We decided to take advantage of it to create these amazing images of Jessica. We first did a fashion look. The gown caught the wind making beautiful lines in the fabric. After that, Jessica went to one of her dance costumes, also with a flowing skirt. In this case, we both went into the surf which became a challenge trying not to get knocked over by the powerful undertow. Cameras and salt water don’t mix. We finished with a long flowy length of fabric that mimicked the color of the surf foam and a few photos in the nearby dunes. We both had so much fun on this shoot. I hated to see it end.
Jessica and I have been shooting together for many years. She is always ready for a photo shoot, whether it be dance photos or fashion style images. We have been all over eastern Virginia over the years, always looking for interesting locations.
This is our third shoot in Smithfield, obviously a favorite of ours. We also love the shrimp and grits at the nearby Smithfield Inn! We began at the Historic St. Luke’s Church, just south of Smithfield. Historic St. Luke’s is the oldest surviving church building in Virginia. The 17th-Century structure was originally an Anglican Church.
From there we went to Windsor Castle Park which also has the grape vines for the recently established Smithfield Winery. he park is fast becoming a favorite of locals and visitors to Smithfield. It is definitely a beautiful location for photography.
I always look forward to our shoots together. I only hope I can do justice to her beauty. Jessica makes my job so easy.
