Once again I had the privilege of shooting Inna Clothing’s latest designs for a lookbook. This was the third lookbook and again Inna and Kirill brought not only their patented chic retro style in their dresses, they also brought their professionalism and cool relaxed vibe. The day was long incorporating ten pieces plus two very stylish vinyl jackets, two different backdrops and a couple of pieces of retro furniture. We had scouted a retro furniture store originally to shoot in to get more of an editorial feel but we encountered several challenges and decided that the studio would be better. Alex L from Ford Model was stunningly beautiful in these dresses and my favourite shot of the day is the one of her in the white dress against the white background and the white prop. I love the clinical look and feel of this image.

Thank you to Lindsay Angela Martin for the awesome job with make up.

Thanks to Theo for the hairstyling.

Thanks to Colette for the BTS shots and her assistance.

Special thanks to Kirill and Inna for selecting me once again to shoot their fabulous designs!

Music for the day was mainly all three albums from The Weeknd plus an assorted mix courtesy of Theo.

Visit www.innacc.com for more information on Inna and Kirill and their designs.

Another gorgeous shot of Colette at the home studio. Besides Simone, Colette probably gets the most shots from my cameras. Having shot thousands of images of her we pretty much can bang off these types of photos within a couple of minutes. Natural light using my Nikon 50mm 1.4G.

Music for this quick snap was Destroyer’s latest album Kaputt. One of my faves of 2011!

Fantastic day shooting Bravomoda’s latest designs for his lookbook. The cool beach wear and accessories were worn by two extremely funny models who were also very easy to work with. Anastasia and Brandon (Model Management Group) worked really well together and I haven’t laughed that much at the studio on a shoot in a long time! The atmosphere was so chilled and relaxed it actually felt like we were all on a beach having a good time. This and the fact that I love Seun’s designs made for a great shoot. Here are a few of my favourites from the day.

Thanks to Cassandra G Forrester for the splendid job with make up.

Thanks to Colette for her assistance.

Music for today’s shoot was Anastasia’s dance/R&B/Hip Hop playlist from her iPod.

Check out www.bravo-moda.com for more info on Seun and his designs.

I know you photographers know what I’m talking about when I say I have that itchy finger and I just need to get out and shoot. Well I definitely had that feeling this Saturday and after contemplating what to shoot, I unfortunately jumped back into bed with my iPad and logged on to Facebook and Twitter. Good thing I did since my friends at Spellbound Hair Design had posted a fashion event that they were sponsoring at Splendid China Mall in Toronto. The Dazzle Me Fashion Show was showcasing several designers and after some quick research I decided to check out the scene. There was no mention of media passes or accreditation so I knew I would have no problems, my last minute decision to attend not withstanding. For the same reason I also thought I would easily get a good spot. My photographer friend Ryan came along for the adventure and we arrived about ten minutes before the event was to begin. There was a designated media pit area and many people had media passes hanging from their necks. Doh! I wasn’t too worried about the passes (some did not have passes and we would not be standing in the pit) but I was definitely worried about getting a decent spot in front of the runway. There was no way to get a good angle due to the number of photographers and videographers so I snagged a couple of the fold up chairs that were for the spectators and Ryan and I placed ourselves just right of centre behind everyone in the pit. Just before the show was about to start a security guard sternly informed us that we could not stand on the chairs for safety reasons and would not leave until we were off the chairs. Now what?! I had already cursed myself fifty times for not bringing my Pelican case (travelling light not knowing what to expect) which would have solved this problem since standing on it would have given me the height needed to shoot over everyone in the pit. A videographer mentioned to me and Ryan that there was a small table that we could use and with no other options we placed the 3 foot in diameter table behind everyone and balanced ourselves ready for the fashion show to begin. From where I was standing there was no way I was going to get a full body shot but at least at the end of the runway, I had a clean 3/4 shot of the model. The two photographers that were directly in front of me didn’t have the best pit etiquette and I had to battle their elbows, lens movements and head movements caused by their constant chimping. I also had to battle my 70-200 VRll which needs to be fixed badly since I used it last at the studio. Not sure exactly what is wrong with it but let’s just say the VR and focusing is a tad erratic. Lastly, I also had to battle infinite flash bombing from many of the other photographers. Feeling sorry for me yet? Because I could go on.
Anyway, I was able to get some good shots and enjoyed many of the designs from Angela Phung, Leanne Ramnarine and Cecilia Pan. Overall a great day and most importantly I solved the problem of the itchy finger.

Thanks to Ryan for hanging out with a junkie who needed to get his fix. Hope you were able to get some clear shots from your spot.

All of the photos from this fashion event can be viewed here.

I know I take too many pictures of my cat but I just can’t help myself. Here is another set I took on this morning while listening to Joe Henry’s album Tiny Voices.

WHAT TYPE OF PHOTOGRAPHY ARE YOU CURRENTLY FOCUSING ON AND WHY?

I focused on wedding photography for the majority of 2011 for three reasons. 1) Shooting weddings is not an easy thing to do. After talking to many seasoned, professional photographers out there I found a lot of them agree with me and some chose not to shoot weddings at all. I look at this as a challenge and a way to improve my skills as an artist. A wedding photographer must be able to produce excellent images in all sorts of lighting conditions, is always pressed for time due to the unforeseen and sometimes unreasonable timelines, be a director in charge due to the necessity of managing people with a wide variety of personalities…the list could go on. Long story short, wedding photography forces a photographer to use all of his/her skills and there is no room for errors or weaknesses. 2) To be in the presence of family and friends all gathered to celebrate two people in love. Yes, it sounds cheesy but to be a part of the celebration is a very rewarding experience especially when you know you play a big part in the bride and groom’s special day and also in their future years when they look back to remember the event through your work. 3) Shooting weddings can also pay very well as long as you charge your proper worth. Having said all that focusing again on shooting fashion and editorials is one of my goals for 2012.

TELL ME ABOUT A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO INSPIRES YOU

It is hard for me to name just one. Sometimes I like to research some of the great photographers before our time. When I look at their work I see a common thread in that the images they produce are timeless. For portraiture some of my favourites are Yosuf Karsh, Irving Penn, Alfred Stieglitz and Richard Avedon. For fashion I admire the work of Steven Meisel, Peter Lindbergh, Mario Testino and Russell James.

FOR YOU, WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST PARTS OF PHOTOGRAPHY?

The best part of photography for me is that there are so many different types of photography out there. If I start to get bored with one genre I can always pick something else to shoot. The worst part of photography is that it is very expensive! I’m not saying every photographer needs all the latest and greatest toys but if you want the good stuff then you have to have deep pockets…if you know what I mean.

WHAT IS THE LATEST PIECE OF PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT THAT YOU HAVE ACQUIRED AND HOW IS IT USED FOR THE TYPE OF PHOTOGRAPHY YOU DO?

The latest photographic equipment I purchased was a pair of Photoflex StarFire flash units. For situations where you need portable lighting to shoot outdoors it is not always feasible or convenient to bring strobe light heads. I already own two Nikon Speedlights, however if I wanted to buy two more it would cost me almost $1000. The Photoflex StarFire flashes are great especially when using them as off camera light sources. The reason they are more affordable is that they do not have TTL functionality but if you are the type of shooter that likes to control the power manually then its hard to pass these up. I’ve used them to shoot portraits outside the studio as well as weddings.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN PHOTOGRAPHY AND WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAMERA?

Being the son of a photojournalist there was always a camera within reach at home. When my father came to Canada he started to shoot weddings and I tagged along as his assistant. That planted the seed and the rest is history. My first camera was a Yashica Electro GX. Basically it was a small 35mm rangefinder type camera.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE LENS IN YOUR BAG?

My go to lens is a Nikon AF-S 24-70 f/2.8 and its on my camera body most of the time. My favourite lens however is my Nikon AF-S 70-200 f/2.8 VRll. Its sharp, focuses extremely fast and it truly is a workhorse of a lens.

WHAT, WHO OR WHERE WAS YOUR ULTIMATE PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE?

Time was November 2005. Place was Italy. It was my first time in Europe and everywhere I turned there was always something worth shooting. The country, the people, the food…everything was beautiful! I couldn’t put my camera down and I filled so many memory cards. Yes, that was the ultimate experience alright but the sad part was that I was on my honeymoon and to this day I have never heard the end of it.

WHAT, WHO OR WHERE WOULD BE YOUR ULTIMATE PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE?

I would love to shoot beside Russell James photographing the Victoria Secret Angels all around the globe. I would ask him to teach me the ropes and then I would work my butt off to impress everyone in the hopes that VS would hire me as one of their regular photographers! LOL

WHAT MUSIC ARE YOU CURRENTLY LISTENING TO?

Compilation of classic house anthems.

THANK YOU AND KEEP SHOOTING!

www.floresfoto.com

Another great day shooting some creatives at the studio with Jenna, a model from Toronto. I met Jenna about a year ago during a shoot for a local designer and it was great to reconnect. I continued with the same theme and look as yesterday (see previous post) and kept the lighting pretty much the same.

Thanks to Cassandra Forrester for the fantastic job with hair and make up.

Thanks again to Colette for her assistance, the BTS shots and for controlling the wind machine.

Today’s music for the shoot included Soundgarden’s album Superunknown and The Black Keys’ album El Camino.

I was feeling a little Rock’n Roll this festive season and wanted to shoot some creatives incorporating high fashion with a rock’n roll edge. Tabitha, a model from Hamilton was up for the shoot and she rocked it! On a technical note, I had two different light set ups for this shoot. One set up had an Elinchrom deep octa soft box as key and a Elinchrom 7″ reflector with a 10 degree grid for added fill. The other set up was with an Opus soft box as the only light source.

Thanks to Jeffrey Ng for the awesome job with hair and make up.

Thanks also to Colette for her assistance, the BTS shots and for wrestling with the wind machine.

Soundtrack for the shoot included Florence + the Machine’s album Lungs, Silversun Pickup’s album Swoon and PJ Harvey’s album Let England Shake.

WHAT  TYPE OF PHOTOGRAPHY ARE YOU CURRENTLY FOCUSING ON AND WHY?

I enjoy all types of photography, but I tend to be most active on the fashion runway. Like they say, the grass is always greener on the other side, and compared to my day-job, the fashion scene offers a unique and exciting experience.

TELL ME ABOUT A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO INSPIRES YOU

I am no academic when it comes to photography. If something is pleasing to the eye, then that is good enough for me. My early inspirations came from viewing online photoblogs, and one blog I periodically revisit is that of Kathleen Connally. Her site A Walk Through Durham Township is a mix of beautifully captured landscapes and portraits that give this city slicker a glimpse into a different pace of life.

FOR YOU, WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST PARTS OF PHOTOGRAPHY?

The best part of photography is at the end of the whole process when I have made my image selections and posted them on the web for people to see. The worst part of photography is having to heavily post-process a huge batch of photos because of poor event lighting.

WHAT IS THE LATEST PIECE OF PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT THAT YOU HAVE ACQUIRED AND HOW IS IT USED FOR THE TYPE OF PHOTOGRAPHY YOU DO?

The last piece of gear I purchased was the 1560 Pelican Case. It is an absolute advantage to own one of these things. In addition to protecting my equipment, it can be used as something to stand on if I need the extra height. In a pinch, I can stand on the case vertically and gain an additional two feet to see over the photographers in front of me!

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN PHOTOGRAPHY AND WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAMERA?

My first camera was a Kodak T550 which used the APS film system. In retrospect, I am not happy with the film format, but I just wanted something to take pictures of my friends and family. My first SLR was the Canon EOS 20D and it opened up a new world of possibilities to me. Armed with this new camera, I started a photoblog and was constantly looking for new subject matter to capture. I searched online for events to photograph, and eventually, through this process, I made my way onto the fashion scene.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE LENS IN YOUR BAG?

I am always bragging about my Canon EF 135mm f/2.0 lens. The focal length can be tricky to work with, but its fast-focusing and sharpness at f/2.0 make it a joy to use.

WHAT, WHO OR WHERE WAS YOUR ULTIMATE PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE?

This fall I joined the crowds at the Toronto International Film Festival in the hopes of photographing some celebrities. I knew Brad Pitt would be there, but the moment Angelina Jolie emerged from the car, I directed all my energy to photographing her since this was my first time seeing her. These events always involve hours of waiting, and when the moment comes it is sheer panic as you fight off the crowds for a clear shot. To get one or two shots that I like form the thirty seconds of chaos was very rewarding for me.

WHAT, WHO OR WHERE WOULD BE YOUR ULTIMATE PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE?

Some day, SOME HOW, I hope I can acquire enough credentials to photograph the Victoria Secret runway show. That would just be pure awesome.

WHAT MUSIC ARE YOU CURRENTLY LISTENING TO?

Right at THIS moment? U2.

THANK YOU AND KEEP SHOOTING!

www.canadawears.ca

Sunday was a lazy day for everyone in the house and Simone decided to take up my spot on the bed. She loves it under the covers and it was a good thing I checked before jumping back into bed at 3 in the afternoon. It has been a quiet November for me shooting wise and with no gigs or editing work to be done, I find myself doing the usual maintenance with equipment and upkeep of administrative tasks. Always, at this time of year, I start to evaluate my blog, websites and general on line presence and make changes if necessary in order to attract more visitors and give them a more satisfying viewing experience. It is also a time to review the year and to start preparing for 2012, determining expectations and establishing goals on which to focus. As tedious as this might sound, it is extremely important to work on the business side of photography in order to continually improve and be successful. But on this lazy day, Simone had the right idea and I spent most of it in my pyjamas, lying in bed with my iPad while I played a stack of cd’s that I bought during the week. Best cd this week is Kate Bush’s new album 50 Words for Snow.

Starting this month of November, I will do a monthly post focusing on photographers. Over the years I have been lucky enough to meet and work with amazing photographers working in many genres. I also find or read about fantastic photographers on the internet that I would love to know a little more about. I guess you can say that this is a small token of my appreciation for their inspiration. These posts will always have the same 9 questions and can be viewed in the Photographer In Focus category displayed in the right widget. So, without further ado, our first Photographer In Focus is Colette Stevenson.

WHAT  TYPE OF PHOTOGRAPHY ARE YOU CURRENTLY FOCUSING ON AND WHY?

I am currently working on portrait photography. People’s faces. Its something I avoided for a time, perhaps because I was intimidated by the intimacy of it but now I’m learning to embrace that intimacy.

TELL ME ABOUT A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO INSPIRES YOU

I love Diane Arbus. She doesn’t shy away from her subjects. Her work is direct and honest.

FOR YOU, WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST PARTS OF PHOTOGRAPHY?

The best part would be when the picture I saw in my mind becomes a reality. The first time I look at it and say “yes that’s what I saw” is thrilling. The worst part? Easy, lugging equipment.

WHAT IS THE LATEST PIECE OF PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT THAT YOU HAVE ACQUIRED AND HOW IS IT USED FOR THE TYPE OF PHOTOGRAPHY YOU DO?

A macro lens. I like to get right in close to the subject and this lens helps me do that. Of course I am not using it for portrait photography…yet.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN PHOTOGRAPHY AND WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAMERA?

I’ve always had a camera and I’ve always loved photography although I seem to have spent a lot of my life on the other side of the camera. My first camera was a Nikon F-601. You can still get film so maybe soon I’ll dust it off and take it out for a spin.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE LENS IN YOUR BAG?

Nikon 50mm 1.4G. Great portrait lens.

WHAT, WHO OR WHERE WAS YOUR ULTIMATE PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE?

I think the ultimate so far was wandering through the streets of Havana very early in the morning when the city was just waking up and some folks were just going home.

WHAT, WHO OR WHERE WOULD BE YOUR ULTIMATE PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE?

That’s a tough one! I would like to go back to Dublin. Its a beautiful city. I love Dublin.

WHAT MUSIC ARE YOU CURRENTLY LISTENING TO?

Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and Vic Chesnutt. There’s a constant stream of new music into my home and into my life and these are the latest discoveries for me.

THANK YOU AND KEEP SHOOTING!

www.colettestevensonphotography.com

Fun morning shooting some new headshots for Ian Alden, an actor from Toronto. We started the morning shooting on location then settled nicely at the home studio with some natural light (and reflector) shots. This was the final image we chose.

Soundtrack in the studio for this morning shoot was Coldplay’s new album Mylo Xyloto.

Thanks to Colette for her assistance.

A couple of months ago I was contacted by designer Kirill to discuss shooting a lookbook for Inna Clothing’s latest designs. Previously, when I had shot a lookbook for their design company, Kirill was in Australia. So it was great to meet him, connect with Inna again and collaborate with them both on their latest lookbook. Leading up to the shoot Kirill and I discussed lighting, possible locations and models that might best suit their designs. The studio shoot was easy to figure out but we had some challenges regarding the location shoot. We were shooting studio and location on the same day thus rendering time our biggest challenge while taking into account budget and weather. Kirill had done a model search and narrowed it down to three possibilities and we eventually chose Ksenia M from Elite Model Management. She’s stunningly beautiful and she suited the image of Inna Clothing.

We started in the studio and I pretty much had my lighting set up before everyone arrived. I used my four light set up with the Elinchrom Rotalux soft box for key. We were charged up and excited as we went over the designs and preferred sequence for shooting. Kirill is not only a very interesting person with a great passion for what he does but his overall creative and enthusiastic vibe is contagious. Both he and Inna were on the ball and had a sharp eye for every detail. After hair and make up were done we got straight down to shooting and the shoot went fairly quickly. Actually, I could have done the required shots in less time but I shot extra frames because I loved the designs and our fabulous model.  All good.

We decided to shoot the black coat outside for a more editorial feel. For our location we had found an alley way within walking distance of the studio. I had to work fast because it was cold and we had limited time with Ksenia. I had my one Elinchrom Ranger head with a beauty dish for my lighting and in spite of the challenges of the location and time restraints, we got the shots we needed.

An overall great time once again shooting designs for Inna Clothing Company. Inna and Kirill are fabulous designers and two really great people. Always a pleasure to work with them and thanks for selecting me to help bring your vision to light.

Special thanks to Lindsay Angela Martin for the awesome job for hair and make up.

Big thanks to Colette for her assistance, muscle (power packs get very heavy after walking a couple of blocks) and for some excellent behind the scenes shots.

Soundtrack for this day was Garbage’s self titled album and the Version 2.0 album.

Visit www.innacc.com for more information on Inna Clothing Company.

Second night of this great event featured Jean-Pierre Braganza and my favourite designer from both nights, Todd Lynn.  These are some of my favourites from the evening.  Btw, I love the shoes, all by Anastasia Radevich.

Overall a great two days and an awesome job by show producer Paola Fullerton.

Thanks to Desia from Brill Communications.

Special thanks to Steve Alkok (house photographer) for adjusting the lighting before the show.

All images from the Jean-Pierre Braganza runway show can be viewed here.

All images from the Todd Lynn runway show can be viewed here.

To the people that attended, can you really smoke that thing?

One of the exciting events during Rogue Fashion Week in Toronto was The shOws which was held at The Ritz Carlton in downtown Toronto. Hosted by Coco Rocha, it was a two day event featuring four canadian designers for an intimate, invitation only runway show featuring their new Spring/Summer 2012 designs. Day one featured Thomas Tait and Calla Haynes and these images are of some of my favourite designs from the runway show.
It was great to see some familiar faces in the pit (Ron, Raymond and Dickson) from past runway shows in Toronto and also great to meet new photographers as well. My spot in the pit was just right of the runway on top of the platform and I found my D700/70-200 2.8 VRII combo a bit short of what I thought would be the sweet spot in shooting with the lighting and my position in relation to the runway.  I had my D300 and probably should have used it for the extra reach and at ISO 500, with which I was shooting, I wouldn’t have a problem with noise. Regardless, I was able to get some great images.

All images from the Thomas Tait runway show can be viewed here.

All images from the Calla Haynes show can be viewed here.

I love this shot! Not only was I able to capture that little something in her eyes but I was trying to emulate some great black and white images from some old Vanity Fair magazines I was looking through. I was trying to keep the set up simple and I feel like this photo has that film like quality. Okay, Colette is beautiful and I really can’t miss a great shot of her, but still…

Soundtrack to the shoot was Roxy Music’s album Siren.

Quick shot of Colette just before attending a wedding. The massive soft box (7 feet by 5 feet window x 5) from our loft has that amazing light and I have been trying of late to utilize it for portrait and fashion work. Now only if we could eat in the kitchen without the 9 foot seamless hanging…

Music for the quickest photo shoot ever was Tony Bennett’s new album Duets II.

This is the second time I shot some backstage images before the runway shows. Its always great to see the organized chaos and the transformation to the runway show. It is also a good time to talk candidly with the models, make up artists and hairstylists.  Once again I used my 35mm F2 lens for all of these shots (wide open) and it definitely helped with not getting in the way as the make up room was a hundred degrees and we were cramped like sardines.  All good though and a great job done by all artists on both Saturday and Sunday.

All backstage image from both days can be viewed here.

Well it’s another season and once again I am the Official Photographer for the Clothing Show.  Excellent showcasing of new designers and some fantastic repeats from last time.  I missed Friday’s show since I had obligations out of the city that I couldn’t reschedule but I did shoot on Saturday and Sunday.  A couple of changes for the runway shows this season and I think they were for the better.  First was the lighting which was ten times better than last season.  The big spot lights were turned off and the runway was moved slightly to better accommodate the existing lighting in the building.  Definitely an improvement with the light consistency.  Next was the number of shows.  Instead of doing the usual three fashion shows twice in the day, it was changed to just one set of the three fashion shows for Saturday and Sunday.  This was requested by the designers and it definitely helped with building the crowds for the shows.  The only drawback for us photographers was the long wait between shows.  Anyway it was a nice change and I utilized the time between shows to network and meet new photographers.  Another significant change was that I requested to The Clothing Show that all photographers do not use flash in the pit.  The majority  of the photographers agreed with this before I asked and Clayton from the Clothing Show agreed to give it a go on the last runway show of the day on Saturday.  We also continued this “no flash” on Sunday for the 2nd and 3rd runway shows, with a few newbies in disbelief and angered by the announcement.  Thanks Clayton!!  Let’s see how it goes next season…

All runway images from September 24th can be viewed here.

All runway images from September 25th can be viewed here.

Designers included:

The Fairies Pyjamas, Melanie Dubuc, Bravomoda, Cecilia Pan, Diane Kroe, Ashaki Charles Designs, Dotty, Tetiana K Clothing, Espiritu Folk, Ariel Fu, Leave Nothing But Footprints, Carys Belle, Rosred Fashion Design, Palazotto Designs, C-Virtue, Yes World Boutique, Glyfada Dress Designs, Olio Studio, Naila’s Fashion and Plastik Wrap

Thanks to Clayton, Bonnie and Heather!

Awesome night shooting Seether, Three Days Grace and Avenged Sevenfold at the Molson Ampitheater for the Rockstar Uproar Festival. It has been a while since I shot a concert and afterwards I realized just how much I missed doing so. I get such a buzz from the energy of the crowd and the drive of the music. There was a full day of bands but with other commitments at the Festival, I only had a chance to shoot the last three and in my opinion the best three of the day.  As usual we photographers were only allowed to shoot the first three songs and were not allowed flash. All images were shot with my D700 at ISO 2000 with a Nikon 24-70 2.8.  These are my favourite five from the night.

All images can be viewed here.

Thanks to Emily and Tom.