Riva Designs: Internship with Danny Acres

Never in my life did I imagine how much work went into a photoshoot, nor did I realize how insanely hard I was going to work. Too bad it wasn't full time because, that would be one heck of a work out plan. The days started off very early and went until 7:30 at night. In this post are a few images to show the style of shoot, we weren't allowed to take pics.. Don't want any pesky idea stealers to have access to the designs any sooner than necessary.

Day One: Danny Acres Internship

Today was incredible! The day before the official photo shoot. We met Danny at the Riva Designs, his client has a warehouse in the back of their office and if I had to approximate the size, I would guess a football field. Today’s objective was to get everything prepared for shooting all the prom dresses for their upcoming catalogue. They have two looks: Sweet and Sassy and then Sweet and Sexy; Riva Designs and Dreams. We walked into a warehouse that was wall to wall prom dresses.

Two huge walls, paper floor, Plexiglas over the paper, huge Styrofoam shapes. Extra coat of paint, sanding the edges of the forms, scraping the Plexiglas to make sure the paint and marks didn’t show in the shot and then cleaning with Windex. The 4x10 Plexiglas sheets were layed 3 across and two in the back. The floor and “walls” were not level so I shimmed it with paint stirs that I had seen earlier.

The 1st day was set up: which included:

1) Painted large styrofoam props

2) Find a set of stairs to use as a prop

3) Buy batteries

4) Make coffee- He hated my strong coffee… Note to self!!

5) Act as a stylist for the models, pinning, fluffing, powder faces etc.

6) If you see him messing with his tripod- Help him

7) Grey card test

8) Make sure his lens stayed on 90mm to ensure good exposure etc.

9) Moving lights

10) Rearranging the set-to shoot different angles

11) Cleaning all the Plexiglas for the set: 6 4x10 sheets of Plexiglas for the floor.

12) Call PPR

13) Breaking down the set

14) Making lists for the photo rental company to let them know what equipment Danny used

Things to pay attention to:

Buying batteries, Danny wanted stairs so I went o GTC to get the stairs we used for Holiday Portraits, Painted the form.Test Shots for the client so he and Danny could select their picks. Danny worked very closely with his client to make sure he liked the lighting, pick the model’s, emailing images to client to make sure the color they print is the color they see.

Computer’s tethered together: the 1^st one uses capture one software to make sure everything looks ok, but the second computer wasn’t able to show high resolution images due to the differences in the computers. Mac Mini vs. standard Mac.

List difficulties and how you solved them.

1) He hates strong coffee… No biggie- just add water J Plus, he likes one ice cube so it doesn’t burn his mouth.

2) Calling PPR and discussing the difference between the Hasselblad H1 and the Canon 5D Mark II ie: pixel dimensions and check the sync speed so he could shoot full power with his ProPhoto Pack. Or if he needed to rent a Hasselblad for his next shoot or use his 5D. I felt uncomfortable at 1^st, but then he asked me to assist in Mississippi so I must not missed any information.

3) Not having everything I needed at my finger tips- Next time I assist him I am going to wear a tool belt for double sided tape, lotion, clips, powder, brushes etc. All the stuff you don’t think you will need until you feel like a doofus fumbling around for it!!

Describe any interesting experiences on the job and new knowledge, skill, or techniques learned.

*Laying glass over Plexiglass to reflect the background onto the floor!! Too Cool.

*Setting strobes/soft boxes on the floor to pick up detail in the dresses! Way Cool. *Using a strobe on the boom with a magnum.

* How Danny Interacted with the client and the models.

Danny wished he had another tripod head so he could flip back and forth between two different tripods and we use the same kind. I let him borrow mine for two days. He told his client… See, I (he) is saving him money already! That was a great feeling!

*Using Styrofoam shapes for the models to “work” and also the “fake” walls they had built. It made me think about taping white paper to a wall instead of draping it on the backdrop stands.

Love your family......

This is year old news except for the end, but still. For those of you that may not know: My dad has stage 4 Lymphoma, diabetes, cardio-myopothy and heart failure- Can't think of the official words at this moment.

My dad tells me the news from the doctor about how his cancer is unimpressive. We finish our conversations and hang up. A few minutes later the phone rings and it's my dad calling back to clear something up.

My dad says the word the doctors use to describe his cancer is unimpressive, but they really meant that it was unremarkable to them. Dad says, I know that doesn’t make you feel better to know that and I said. Dad. I know it makes you feel better because there is a difference between unimpressive and unremarkable. Knowing that he was correcting his own story.

We both laugh, he says goodbye and I love you. These phone calls are less than 20 seconds. I Love my dad and never thought I would be able to laugh between the crappy news but I somehow do. Please never, ever, forsake your family. They are all you have. You will never have another. Love them for everything that gets on your nerves and everything you cherish!!!!!!

I was honored to have images selected in an art exhibition. The crowning moment was meeting a lady at the artist reception that fell in love with this photograph and hearing why she loved the image. She had visited Germany when she was 11 saw a mime doll with a ruffled collar, a huge feather on top and red lips. Her mom hated it, but because she loved it so much, her mom bought it. She had it for approx 20 plus years and just recently threw it away because it had lost its feathers and ruffles (it had seen better days). She said when she saw the photo she remembered that trip, her mom and the wonderful doll that she loved so much. The title of the photograph is "Oh Vey" and is a favorite saying of hers. She love, love, loved it! I was so glad to have the chance to speak with her and share in her wonderful memory.

Chad and Laina Curtis

I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with newly weds Chad and Laina. Their love in undeniable; what a gorgeous and fun couple.

Key West State of Mind

Just passing MM 82 in Islamorada and on the right is my favorite little dive that serves "The Platter".... Too many great nibbles to mention them all and then to wash it down with a Bushwacker.... Yum..... A must stop next time you are traveling this way. No time for us to stop because we are Key West or Bust baby!!! The mood in the RV has definitely slowed down a bit and a wave of relaxation is coming over us.... Not too hard to do when you are flanked by two gorgeous bodies of water. We just passed a lady on her bike with a mild crate for a basket, tinsel wrapped the top for decoration and streamers flappy in the wind off the handle bars...... Oh, I have missed this place.

Ok, I haven't blogged since June..... Loser!! Isn't that the key to a successful blog? I am currently in the 5th quarter of the Commercial Photography Program and opted to take math instead of Multi Media 2 which requires students to blog, tweet etc to get their names out there. Remember earlier when I mentioned taking math....... It's like 3rd grade math and as sad as it sounds. It's tough. No, Mr. Redneck Comedian... Not only am I not smarter than a 5th grader, I am finding it challenging to keep up with a 3rd grader. Thank goodness remembering how n relates to x and how to convert all that into a mixed fraction doesn't make a hill of beans to my ultimate goal of being a fabulous photographer. Photojournalism class however may just be the death of me. Anyway, I digress. My other classmates are now blogging and tweeting and it has inspired me to get back at it.

2010 SkillsUSA Competiton Day Two

Orientation is today and we dropped off our images. The images will be on display for everyone to view until the end of the competition and Friday all the students/contestants place their vote for which image gets the title of "Best in Show". We have been told that no advisers are to be treated as "stranger danger" while the competitions are in session. No cheating allowed! Hello, recognize. We are required to format all our memory cards prior to the session and they will check them to make sure there are no images stored in the camera or on the cards. We must label all our items with our competition #'s. From here on out you may call me 504. That's Ms. 504 if you're nasty. (sorry, couldn't help it!!)
9AM we are meeting in the designated photography area and will be told what the theme is for our photoshoot. We should end sometime around 2ish and lunch is being catered.
The dress code is casual and considering it will be 96 degrees......I am thankful :)