niagara region

Oct

2024

Haunt Manor Niagara Falls – Actor’s Make-up

Haunt Manor Make-Up

Here is a bit of a tease. I'll be setting up studio to take photos of the actors at Haunt Manor in full costume starting next weekend. I managed to get a few getting their make-up done this evening. The process is amazing. Costumes, make-up. You can't even have a normal conversation with these actors once they are in character. (What it should be really!) They are great and really have a blast entertaining the customers. I'm probably looking forward to the upcoming photoshoots as much as the actors.

Check out more portraits at Photo-photo.com

Jul

2024

Boudoir Photo Sessions – Niagara Falls, Ontario

Boudoir Photography in Niagara Falls
My ultimate goal in shooting boudoir with you (besides give you some great photos) is to make the experience as comfortable and safe for you as possible. It should be an enjoyable experience. I have a studio (rental) in St Catherines, Ontario.
I suggest also to bring a friend. They are welcome to be in the space and read a book or something.
Not a husband or boyfriend or mother.
Any of these three will invariably make you uncomfortable.

Boudoir def.: A boudoir (/buːˈdwɑːr/; French: [bu.dwaʁ]) is a woman's private sitting room or salon in a furnished residence, usually between the dining room and the bedroom, but can also refer to a woman's private bedroom. The term derives from the French verb bouder (to sulk or pout)

Some of the photos I display are done in a studio setting and some at the client’s home. And one, here, is obviously taken outdoors.

In majority of instances hair and makeup were done by the clients themselves. Sometimes with a little help from a friend. These are not ‘makeover’ type sessions.

Have a look through these and some of the other blog posts. There are more images at the main website as well:
Photo-Photo

And then, give me a call or email me.
And we’ll chat. Ideally,

I find it often best to meet with you first.
Make sure we like each other.

Jun

2024

Photographing Nudes

: Fine Art Nude with Teacup

: In The Water

: Warrior with Bow

: Bath

: Nude In The Dark

Photographing the Nude

Your safety and comfort are of paramount importance.

Growing up and as I started creating with photography, if I wanted to find decent inspiration, I had to look in bookstores and magazines.
There were many, good and bad, but two fantastic artists come to mind that had wonderfully artistic eye.

Robert Farber

and

Steve Hanks

Robert Farber was and still is amazing.
I have a book of his from 1991 (I purchased around that time) subtitled ’20 years of Farber Nudes’ or something like that.
So, he has been doing this for a while.
Real art, not just naked bodies. Definitely someone to emulate.

Steve Hanks, who passed away in 2015, was a renowned watercolour artist.
I poured over his early nudes and have in the past tried to emulate some of his work.
He painted a lot of other material besides nudes, all of it otherworldly.

The majority, well, all of the women that I’ve photographed nude have been friends or acquaintances.
{At great embarrassment to other friends and relatives}

I was never interested in just shooting a naked body.
More interested in what shadows could hide and make mysterious.

I know many photographers have very exact ideas of what they want as a product when shooting nudes with you.
Not so much me.

I often will take an idea from a painting or another artist to start.
And consult with you the model as well for ideas.

But from there I will bend the light and form into different patterns.
A lot of what I shoot doesn’t always work.
But as they say, Babe Ruth swung out more than anyone else.
And that is likely why he got more home runs than anyone.

Working with Models

The most important thing I have found working with models is being respectful.
Make sure they are comfortable with whatever you are asking them to do.
Tell them what you are doing and why, with lights etc.

Reassure and validate your model. Be calm. Be as confident as you can.
Serve your model tea, water or wine. (But only a little of the last.)
Have a cloak for them to wear and place for them to change.

And, very important: try and make it fun.

Jun

2024

Recent Boudoir Photoshoot at TellTale Studios, St. Catherines

: At The Piano

: Colours

Boudoir Photography - Niagara Region, Ontario

These images are from a recent boudoir photoshoot I did in St Catherines, Ontario.

These were for a client that wanted to keep them private.
I asked if I could post these painterly images and she said yes.

She had never done anything like this before; a friend suggested it might be fun to do.
Something different.

We used a new studio in St. Catherines (Ontario) called Tell Tale Studios.

It’s run by McKenzie Katsmar. Very helpful young gentleman.
He is also a photographer so knows what is needed.

The studio itself is perfect. Great soft window light.
Ceilings, I think, are at least 14 feet high. Hardwood floor.
Enough props and room to get lots of different angles and backgrounds. Very reasonable rates.

The photos were edited with Lightroom then Photoshop.
Using Photoshop AI and various brushes and other tools.
(I’m learning.)

The model was an acquaintance and had seen my portfolio.
I asked her to bring a friend which she did.
This is always a good idea - for both parties.
Though, if you are a male photographer and you are photographing a female,
I generally suggest a female model not bring a boyfriend or husband.
Creates an uncomfortable vibe.
Moms are not the best either as they try and run the show.

A girlfriend or female sibling is always best.
They can sit and read or some such.
Or occasionally help hold a reflector! 🙂