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.

The sandy beaches of Traverse City are a photographer’s dream!

When I recently got the opportunity to visit Traverse City I jumped at the offer.  Meg Howard was interested in getting some swimwear shots so my friend Joe and I packed up our gear and headed north. We arrived at the beach on old Mission Peninsula at around 1:30 p.m. for the 2:30 shoot. I was a little nervous of the weather. Meg had called while we were driving up and asked if we were still planning to shoot. The lower half of the State was sunny but Traverse City had an early morning storm. When we arrived at the beach the wind was chilly and threatening. I thought our equipment would end up getting blown into the lake.  But then, while  we were setting up,  the sun  came out and the wind died down. It was as if the Grand Traverse Bay was welcoming us for the shoot. The rest of the day was beautiful. The hot Michigan sun finally made its appearance.

Meg arrived a little late but that was okay. We set up our equipment on the beach and suddenly a family showed up with their kids. They took over our little plot of paradise. Joe and I, along with my good friend Terry Clark, decided to move everything down the beach where we could be more private. We didn’t want Meg to become a public spectacle or the shoot to be interrupted by children. There were only a few people on that beach so we found a place where we could stake out a spot of our own.

We packed all the gear and started walking down the beach. We went back and forth until we finally had everything. Meg showed up just as we finished the move. Perfect timing.

Meg is incredibly beautiful as you will see from the photographs. I feel privileged that she chose me as her favorite photographer. We are both hoping that she will be “discovered” and move on in the world of modeling. I think she has a chance.

You can see more of the shoot on my Flickr account

Michael Moore and Jeff Garlin recently announced the Traverse City comedy festival. I have volunteered as a photographer for the past three years at the film festival and I have seen it grow considerably in that amount of time. I will also volunteer to photograph the comedy festival.

I have always enjoyed watching movies and enjoy the excitement of the film festival during the summer.  Hopefully the comedy festival will have a similar amount of energy.

February in Northern Michigan is usually very cold and desolate. But no matter how cold and snowy it gets  the climate on Front Street in downtown Traverse City always seems warm and friendly. A comedy festival may be just what the doctor ordered for this time of year. Michael has talked about setting this up for the past couple years so it is nice to see it finally come to pass. He has also mentioned hosting a book event similar to the ones you see on booktv. Not sure when that is going to happen though.

The banner above is not the official banner of the festival. I created that myself just playing around with some of my film festival photos from last year.

If you are planning to come to Traverse City to attend the festival be sure to look for me and my camera. Stop and say hi if you get the chance. I love to meet new people and I would enjoy the chance to meet you.

See you there.

[UPDATE]

The schedule’s been announced. Here is a link for more information: