This allows the models to practice posing techniques and gives them great portfolio images to boot.

Even though modeling is a difficult business to break into there are many aspiring models these days who would like to try. I have been contacted by girls who would like to learn more about modeling and who ask for information. This is a great way to get their feet wet and to get started in order to see if it’s something they would like to pursue in the future.

This workshop was held in Kalkaska, Michigan.

Here are some images from the event.

One of the fun things I tried was having the model look at me through a plexi-glass panel that was covered in wax drippings.  Turned out pretty good.

The workshop was also open to women of all ages.

My friend, Brian, and I decided to attend along with scores of other photographers who wanted to gain some insight into Photoshop and various lighting techniques. The workshop was fun and informative although some of the material was better suited to beginners. I enjoyed myself and had fun watching Kelby work.

Brian and I rented some studio space after the seminar and convinced Liz Vang to join us. I met Liz last summer at a photography workshop I sponsored at the Cooley Gardens in Lansing. Liz is great at doing her own make-up and hair. She came ready for a shoot with several outfit changes and accessories.

We started with a few head shots and experimented with the lighting.

This photograph is shot with a technique Kelby demonstrated. He had the model standing in front of a softbox with the light aiming up at 45 degrees.

You can see the light on the side of Liz’s face. That light comes from directly behind. We also had a beauty dish in front aiming down at a 45 degree angle.

I had Liz pull her hair back in order for the light to come through and create a rim light on the side of her face.

This technique gives the model a glamorous look. Similar to what you see in a magazine.

We did a few head shots and then moved to some that were darker and more dramatic.

Liz stands out nicely against the dark background.  I like the black against black. That color scheme works well to accent the face.

Moving on, we decided to go back to a lighter background.

Brian and I had a great time over the weekend. He is from Traverse City and had never been to Lansing before. I took him exploring in Lansing and East Lansing. We checked out the MSU campus and ate at a great restaurant in downtown East Lansing. Unfortunately I don’t remember the name of the restaurant. We also took in the State Capitol building where Brian was impressed with the ornate decorations. To top it all off we had a fun studio session with a wonderful model.

This is a composite high dynamic range (HDR) image created in Photoshop. The background is a separate image taken at the Jim Bean factory in Lansing. Mohammad is superimposed over the background.

These are just a couple fun shots for your enjoyment

Barack Obama, 2008

Kyle and Samantha have a couple bulldogs named Jack and Annie. We recently pulled everyone into the studio for a fun session. The dogs were excited and nervous  but eventually settled down and let me take some photos.

The dogs loved this chair. They look like royalty sitting on a throne.

Here Annie was stealing a kiss from Jack.

Jack was the most playful of the two dogs. Here he is showing off his trick of giving Samantha a “high five.”

Later we dressed Annie up in a pirate costume. She seemed to wear it well.

We also were invited by Rob Diegel to come into his store, Eyes-4U to have Ashlyn model some glasses. Rob was a great guy and we had a lot of fun shooting in his store. We also met the cutest little bulldog named Dorothy Parker.

Gabrielle and Robert did an excellent job of modeling for the theme.

It’s been a slow transition but now that summer is finally approaching I am excited to get out and shoot more. I met Samantha on Facebook and asked her if she like to model as a way of testing new equipment and dusting off the cobwebs on the old equipment. She agreed.

Our first thought was to do a hippie theme but when Samantha mentioned her Mustang GT we changed our original idea to a James Bond theme instead. Samantha is the director of the Michigan Paranormal Research Association.

We set up our shoot date but unfortunately Sam had to cancel because she was attending a funeral. She suggested her friend Manuel stand in for her as a model instead. I decided to wait a week and have both of them model together. I am glad I did. Our shoot turned out wonderful! Instead of James Bond I sort of fashioned a movie theme based on the ghost hunters idea. It seems to fit the actors.