Life makes changes

One of the facilities I have used is closing down (at it's current location).

Creative Treehouse is located in a building in Bellevue PA. Recently Bellevue (either) hired a new Code enforcement Officer(s) or they are enforcing codes that haven't been enforced. Now they are working up a storm. Because of this, the building that Creative Treehouse is currently calling home, has been put under notice and is no longer available to artists.

Granted, I have only heard one side of the story. (still) The result is that Creative Treehouse has to find a new facility. The 7,500 sq feet of shooting space....and it was a sweet space....is no longer available for artistic adventures (at it's CURRENT location).

According to Jesse, the facility administrator, they are looking at a new space, albeit smaller, in Lawrenceville, PA.

Ohhh, it feels so good (to be shooting again)

When I decided to step into the realm of fashion photography, one of the things I knew I needed was a makeup artist.

Why?

Because they can sometimes make the model look better than the photographer. As a minimum, it's an enhancement of each others talents. I was astounded of the difference some professionally applied makeup can make. Now, I am a true believer of their talents. The first makeup artist that I met and got to know is Becca Bullet. Real first name, moniker second. Over the last several months, we have chatted and worked together. Last Saturday, I got the pleasure of meeting her boyfriend Dyer who is a painter/artist/poet in his own right. We scheduled a portrait shoot at the Creative TreeHouse in Bellevue PA.

It was a fun and challenging evening. Initially we were only going to shoot for about 2 hours. But since the TreeHouse was empty, we kept shooting until exhaustion set in. Well, Dyer was hungry too.

I had been so busy with the yard sale and working on the bathroom, I had ZERO time to put any thought into the shoot. So I went in with a blank mind. Becca didn't have any idea of what she wanted either, so we just went with what ever happened. This time at CTH I shot with two different background colors. We used white and red. Ironically, one of the walls of the studio is red, but it's more brick red (richer color) than pure red of background paper. I also tried my hand at a concept shot. The story line is a man wanting to be on the computer and the woman wanting more. She (Becca) uses the mouse to entice her man to her, rather than the computer. It looks a bit cheesy, but I had very little time and limited equipment to work with.

Of course, my ultimate goal was to get images of them interacting with each other. Their care and love for one another as well as any passion that might spill on to the scene. I think I was able to do that.

Here are quite a few images of the session (16 actually). We shot over 300 images in 4 hours.

Made some headway

I made it over to Head to Toes Salon today to start work on the 2nd floor. I will be trading work for usage. Basically, I finish the two remaining rooms and then I get to use them. Eventually I will have to pay rent, but for now, it's will-work-for-space.

On the second floor, is a bathroom, a small room currently (or more like in the past) used for massage, a medium room, that is actually a little small to use as a studio and the largest which is just barely big enough to use as a studio. Head shots will be fine, but full length body shots will be tough. I think I will have to buy a new lens to be able to use it with a little flexibility......

Anyway, I am putting up insulation and ceiling tiles. The suspended ceiling track has already been installed, but has a few pieces missing. Should be fun to figure that out.

I will put some pictures up later in the week of the new studio.

I still have space at Creative TreeHouse. With 7,000 square feet, I won't give that up.

The salon owner has been very helpful in my quest of becoming another small business owner. Of course, our businesses are symbiotic. She does hair and I do pictures. All we need is a regular makeup artist and wardrobe stylist and we could be a team. By the way, I am working on the fashion side.....stay tuned.

I am also working on the other people. I have a MUA, but she just started a daytime job so it will be tough to get her for M-F shoots. I got in touch with a couple of other MUA's. Unfortunately, most MUA's are all paid artists. I can't pay them...yet, so I have to find the ones that will work for my pay scale....FREE.

Speaking of shoots, Melissa and I have come up with a Valentine's Day shoot. It will be Feb 3rd and there are already 3 (possibly 4) people scheduled (for 8 time slots). We don't even have the ad in the paper yet. If the response is overwhelmingly positive, we will add people to Saturday Feb 2nd and also to the earlier and later time slots of the 3rd.

Saturday night

I ended up heading back down to Creative TreeHouse for the John Bodnar gallery show and concert.

John has some experience putting these shows on and several people kept telling me to go talk to him. There were about 8-12 photographers with images displayed at the show. A few I can remember is Jeff Zoet, Sarah Higgins, Chris Maverick, Dawn Zacharias, Sarah Hindman, Lucinda Wiebe, Michelle Mitchell, Michael Flaherty, Dustin McGrew, John Altdorfer, Tamara Barker, Christina Labrise, Marta Heberle and of course John Bodnar.

The bands that played are Music provided by Andrew James formerly of Dodging August, the Shutouts, the Jim Dandies, and the Dream Intended.

But the primary reason I was there was to network with photographers and potential models. Plus I wanted to see how the shows are run so I can put on my own show in the near future.

It was a bit strange. Almost like I was at a bar back in the days of dating. The uncomfortable portion was that the other people there are all just out of college or still in college. So they are twentysomethings and I am an almost fourtysomething. Heck, some of those kids might have been in diapers when I was graduating high school......sigh.....

The tough part was trying to talk to some of the people and HOPE they didn't think I was trying to pick them up. That part SUCKED.

There were two highlights to the night. First was to meet face to face Jeff Zoet. I have admired his photography for about a year or two. I was also pleased to have met his fiance, Monica. They were so pleasant to have spent time with.

The second highlight was to have met and talked with a woman that initially caught my eye visually. She is a very petite, beautiful woman. But she wasn't anyone that I would have normally approached to talk to unless she made it appear she was open to conversation. Honestly, I would have thought she was out of my league and anything I would have said would have sounded like a pick up line. But I was out talking to John Bodnar, and she came out to talk to him about Creative TreeHouse and what it's all about. When she mentioned that she was involved in fashion and is a painter herself. I took that as the sign I was waiting for. I gave her a card and was able to talk to her for a few minutes until Jesse, the Creative TreeHouse operator, was available for an introduction.

So, again, I saw an opportunity and made sure I capitalized on it. Hopefully, she will get in touch with me or Jesse and we can complete the circle. The need I have is to get a contact in the fashion world. I need to have access to clothes and possibly catalog contracts as well as possible high fashion models and their needs.

It's another piece of the pie.

Patience is a virtue

Since we have been at the new house (since July), I have been enjoying a little local flavor. We have this small burger joint chain that I eat at whenever I can. This week, it's been about 3 or 4 times. But I don't think I have eaten there since mid December. Anyway, I have made friends with a few of the staff. One in particular has really beautiful eyes and I mentioned that I would like to take pictures of her someday.

Well, over the past month or so, she was for it, then against it, then for it....I felt like I was on a see-saw. We made plans to shoot for today (Tuesday) and the confirmation phone call wasn't made last Sunday. So I was like "this isn't worth it" too much trouble for no pay......

Well, we finally made it today. But for her to shoot, she had to bring her boyfriend along as a chaperone.

Red flag one.

She even said he was the jealous type.

Red flag two.

Well, today I called this morning and said we are on for today. She called back a bit later and we arranged a time and location for me to pick them up.

I was there WAY early. Of course, everyone was a bit nervous. He wholly admintted his concern for wondering who is looking at his girl. Her because she's getting pictures taken, and me because I had to deal with a jealous type boyfriend.

Arghhghgh

Of course, I was just plain ol' me. Talking up a storm and spilling my story to help put them at ease the whole ride to the studio.

But as we were heading down to the studio, which is about 35 min away, the BF said, "where are we going?"

I said "down to Bellevue to the studio."

Long, tension filled pause........

Of course, there was a mis-communication. I could see it. They thought we were shooting "in town". I thought I told them it would be at the studio because of the weather.

Red flag???

The shoot almost ended right there.

Luckily I was able to talk them into going. Then again, I was driving.

We made it to the studio, drug up my gear and quickly set up the lights and I went to work.

She was really very nervous. I could hear it in her voice and see it in her demeanor. I talked a lot to help ease her mind. After about 20-30 minutes, she turned. I could see it in her eyes and her facial expressions. She was beginning to warm to the camera.

But for me, a few minutes into the shoot. I was taking a head shot and I was able to see her eyes. So very clearly. I actually had to pause and tell her how incredible her eyes are.

So without any further adieu, here is "K" (and BF) in her(their) world debut.

One step closer

I had a meeting for a studio space this evening. It looks like I'm in.....

What ever that means.

I should get the info soon then once payment is made I will get keys. It's not MY studio, but a shared artist space. It's the 2nd floor of a "loft style" building.

Here is a link to their web site: Creative TreeHouse. The current "studio backdrop" setup/location is a bit different than in the pictures from the web site. I will use all my own equip, but they have a dozen + rolls of seamless paper and stands. Their hot-lights will work too but I can use my strobes as well.

I'm excited!!!!!