Сообщения

1

General discussion / Re: Introducing Vegas Vision Studios

« : Января 04, 2008, 04:32:47 am »

Definately worth looking into though the timing might be a little fast for me as I am really pouring the funding into the studio at the moment

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General discussion / Re: Introducing Vegas Vision Studios

« : Января 04, 2008, 01:55:51 am »

Well, SA is def. on my must visit list. Maybe we can put together some kind of joint workshop Safari venture and do something really cool!

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General discussion / Re: Introducing Vegas Vision Studios

« : Января 03, 2008, 10:21:31 pm »

Sounds good to me

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General discussion / Re: Introducing Vegas Vision Studios

« : Января 03, 2008, 08:53:09 pm »

Awesome! Totally awesome!

One day when I grow up, I will also have a big studio! 

I think I should send my students to you!

Sean, that would be cool but talk about travel expense YIKES!
I have no doubt that you will have a great studio in the not so distant future then we can set up a photographer exchange program :-)

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Photography / Re: Working with a model

« : Декабря 26, 2007, 10:41:39 pm »

Ah but see Lev, a handshake or a hug are all actions that the other person acknowledges and agrees to before the contact is made. You extend your hand, I accept it and we shake hands. You open your arms, I open mine and accept the hug. So you see in those situations the permission is there, even if not verbal.

With Barbers, Doctors etc. I know going in that they need to touch me and again my agreement to the contact is implied by my very presence. The touch is absolutely necessary in order for them to do their jobs. As a photographer though the same is not true. I can make a photograph without you having any reasonable expectation that I will need to touch you. That is not to say that you won't need to touch me but unless I know it going in I would not anticipate that it would be required.

With a model for me again it is more about respecting the personal space then anything else. While I do make it known to the model in advance that I may need to touch her to communicate a pose or adjust her hair or wardrobe, I still feel that for me it is appropriate to simply ask permission before touching her. For me it is a show of respect.

Like you a lot of the girls I work with while of legal age are still quite young and I don't want them to leave my studio misunderstanding anything that occurred while they were there. Unlike you I often work with models who are absolute strangers to me. Oftentimes I have only seen a few photos of her and exchanged a few emails to arrange the shoot. In most cases I do not actually meet the model until she walks through the doors of the studio so the trust factor is not already inherently in place. I have to build it from the moment I meet my model.

Don't get me wrong, I m not saying that the way you work with your models is wrong, as you have already said, you already know your model by the time she gets to the studio. For most of us though that is not the case. I as a general rule only book my shoot calendar 30 days in advance because I don't like to fill it up with TFP shoots and then have to cancel them because a paid shoot came along. Even at 30 days in advance I sometimes will have to cancel in favor of a paid assignment so I keep the scheduling as short as possible.

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Photography / Re: Working with a model

« : Декабря 26, 2007, 09:56:28 pm »

For me the No Touch without permission is first and foremost simply about respect.

Lev I would never presume that you would be agreeable to my touching you in the course of a normal conversation or even in the course of a photoshoot. I have a respect for ones personal space and will not as a general rule of conduct violate or enter that personal space in any way without prior permission. Where a model is concerned I ask that permission each and every time I need to touch her. If I have worked with her many times I may only ask the firsttime duruing the session but as it has become habitual for me to ask it is most likely I would still ask "May I?" each and everytime I needed to touch her. Again it is simply about respect and because I show the model that respect I have never had one refuse to allow me to make any adjustments I felt were needed to obtain the shot I wanted.

All the legal issues are of course very much true, especially here in the US where society is so litigious. Here I don't need to be guilty of doing anything wrong to find myself in a situation where I have to defend myself against accusations. So the more bases I keep covered to protect myself the better.

A model may full well understand the way I work and my expectations, rules etc. when she comes into the studio but nothing is to say that she can not become upset during or after the shoot and if she does there is nothing to prevent her from making claims, be they true or false does not matter, they then have to be defended. So if I am never alone with a model and do not touch her without verbal permission and have witnesses to the same then I am better able to defend myself should the need arise. So far it never has but I must as a business person always be ready for the day that some model goes Bat Shit crazy on me.

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Photography / Re: Working with a model

« : Декабря 26, 2007, 08:11:38 pm »

Working with models is just like working with other people in any other situation. It all boils down to communication and respect. If those things are present in the working relationship it will all come together.

There are lots of variables in how to handle individual situations that may arise but in the end if you are respectfully communicating with your model you will find the working environment agreeable to both of you.

Personally I am with Forgiss in the way I choose to work in the studio. I have a strict no touch policy. I only touch a model after asking for permission, unless of course the model is someone I have worked with before and I already have the permission for simple pose, hair, wardrobe adjustments that might require me to touch her. I prefer to have a female assistant or make up artist on the set with me and have her make the adjustments in most cases. Having the 3rd party in the room also disallows any possibility of the he said / she said situation should a dispute arise from the session.

I will allow a model of legal age to have a drink if she desires one but only one if she is driving herself and never will I allow a model to become intoxicated in the studio. I do not allow smoking in the studio unless it is a key element in a commercial shot.

Above all else I maintain the control in the shoot while in the studio. After all the model is there to work for me so I maintain the relationship on an employee / employee basis and find that this helps a great deal.

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General discussion / Re: Introducing Vegas Vision Studios

« : Декабря 22, 2007, 07:34:48 am »

Thanks Sy, we are hoping to help a lot of photographers have a prosperous 2008

9

General discussion / Introducing Vegas Vision Studios

« : Декабря 22, 2007, 03:54:23 am »

The day has come at last that I can formally introduce

VEGAS VISION STUDIOS

VVS is our new 6,000 square foot FULLY AIR CONDITIONED Commercial Photography and Broadcast Studios located just minutes from the heart of the Las Vegas strip.

I will be opening the doors for business on January 15th and am excited to officially announce that Becky Abell will be joining our staff as the Manager of our 28'x30' Members Studio.

The members studio will offer emerging Las Vegas based photographers the opportunity to work in a professional studio environment with ready access to advice and personal tutelage from several working Professional Photographers. The environment of VVS is one in which you as a photographer can professionally present your own company brand to clients without all the expense and overhead of maintaining your own full time studio and store front. Oh and speaking of Environment did we mention that ALL STAGES ARE FULLY AIR CONDITIONED!

Members of Vegas Vision Studios will have the following great studio and business benefits available to them.

* A minimum of 20 hours of studio access a month with 8 hours of that guaranteed to be available on a weekend.

* Use of a 3 strobe studio light kit with soft boxes,(Sm, med, lg and 5' Octagon) reflectors, umbrellas and all the other typical light modifiers needed to produce pro quality commercial work.

* All the background stands and grip equipment you would need for most shoots. If there is specialty grip equipment you need we will find it for you at a reasonable rental price. A wide selection of colored seamless paper in 4', 9' and 12' widths available. First 10' pull of seamless per studio session is free. Additional pulls are $12.00 per 10' pull.

* Make up and wardrobe room - the members studio makeup and wardrobe room is fully equipped with mirror, counters, lights and wardrobe closet.

* Professional and Certified In house MUA's available at reasonable fees

* Use of Production office and Conference room for client meetings and talent interviews

* Use of Client Lounge #1 including PC based Workstation.

* Use of Kitchen facilities

* FREE With Membership 250 Full Color, Double Sided UV Coated Business cards printed by Overnightprints.com

* Mailing address for your Photography business. Now you can have your business mail sent to the studio in your business name, we will provide all members with their own personal mailbox.

* Scheduled access to other stages in the facility when available.

* Priority registration and member discounts for all workshops, seminars and classes that will be offered at VVS throughout the year.

* VIP Status at VVS quarterly Industry Networking parties.

* And possibly the greatest Membership benefit of all is the sharing of knowledge that is inherent in such a community driven facility. Membership in VVS gives you a place to call home for your business. Not only do you get a physical address for your business but you are free to hangout and network with all the other members.

There will also be many opportunities for members to work alongside myself and Becky and assist us with shoots. We will also always look first to our membership when Paid Opportunities to assist us on shoots arise.

Membership is limited to 15 photographers and a minimum commitment of 6 months is required. Don't fret though if you don't need all the access and benefits of full membership because daily and hourly studio space and equipment rental will also be available.

For more information on how you can join Vegas Vision Studios simply contact me via email at
bobby at realdealphoto.com
and I will get you all the details.


Here is a floor plan of the studios.

10

General discussion / Re: fotolia 7 days rank seems to be back

« : Ноября 28, 2007, 08:09:57 pm »

Fotolia has always been a consistient producer for me, I really should spend more time on my portfolio there.

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General discussion / Re: Corbis key word guide

« : Ноября 28, 2007, 08:06:26 pm »

Great resource Sy, thanks for the link.

12

General discussion / Re: Poll-Do you do weddings?

« : Ноября 28, 2007, 01:42:52 am »

Nope, no way, not even for family.

13

General discussion / Re: How is Crestock doing for everybody?

« : Ноября 27, 2007, 11:03:13 am »

A handful of sales a day but nothing to write home about. Horribly picky about what they accept but I really don't worry to much about that, In this game every sale adds up and with no more effort then it take to upload there I just add them as I have a chance.

14

Photography / Re: What is your most favorite/ least favorite subject to photograph?

« : Ноября 27, 2007, 10:55:28 am »

Oh I don't think there can be any doubt that I prefer to shoot beautiful women. Preferably under studio conditions but outdoors is fun too. I also love to shoot editorial style street life and love to take long photo walks in places like the Venice Beach boardwalk and capture the life I see through a 400mm lens.

My least favorite and really the only thing I actually refuse to shoot is Weddings, for all the reasons Sean listed. It simply is not my cup of tea.

15

General discussion / Re: Welcome everybody, who is already here?

« : Ноября 27, 2007, 10:47:56 am »

Hi, I am Bobby and thanks Lev for the invite to join here. I look forward to looking around and kicking the tires and checking out the portfolios of the few names I have seen that I am not already familiar with.  Those that may not know me can find my work at RealDealPhoto