So, the random thing about finding a bunch of video on your camcorder that you’ve done absolutely nothing with is you edit clips, upload them to YouTube, and they all pretty much pop up and become ready all at the same time. So, I’m going to blog about it now rather than later…mostly because I [...]
So, the random thing about finding a bunch of video on your camcorder that you’ve done absolutely nothing with is you edit clips, upload them to YouTube, and they all pretty much pop up and become ready all at the same time.
So, I’m going to blog about it now rather than later…mostly because I want to.
So, as you know, I shot with the beautiful Kaitlin back in January. She was amazing to shoot with…and we got some awesome weather too. Kait’s friend, Rinata, was also there at the shoot, so I passed off the video camera to her and she shot a little bit of video. The result is a 2-minute short of the shoot…mostly of Kaitlin getting baby oiled by makeup artist, Jazmin Strobelt…and some shots of the shoot with the amazing surf in the background. I’ll try and run more video at future shoots…I know, I slacked it up this time. But take my word that it was fun. Wish we would have had some video going during the sunset portion of the shoot…the colors were amazing. But, well, you can see the pictures yourself. :)
So my good friend Kimberly, whom I’ve shot with several times and known for a few years now, is getting back into modeling. She took some time off because of school and work and, well, life, basically. But she loves being in front of the camera…and being a successful model is one of her dreams…so [...]
So my good friend Kimberly, whom I’ve shot with several times and known for a few years now, is getting back into modeling. She took some time off because of school and work and, well, life, basically. But she loves being in front of the camera…and being a successful model is one of her dreams…so she’s really pursuing it and getting things done as of late.
One of the things she’s doing is working with as many different GOOD photographers as she possibly can that will really add to her portfolio.
One of the photographers she’s going to be working with is one who’s work I really admire. I was like, “yeah, you should definitely work with him.”
Now, I don’t expect people to know about me. It won’t bruise my ego to know that someone has never heard of Aaron Riveroll. I mean, it’s unlikely because I’m pretty much the man (just kidding…), but seriously, I won’t get offended. But when Kimberly met up with this photographer for the first time the other day to discuss the shoot, and the conversation went to past work, etc…she mentioned my name and asked this photographer if he had heard about me.
He had, in fact, heard of me. He was like, “yeah, doesn’t he shoot a lot of girls in bikinis?”
Ouch.
Yes, I do shoot a lot of girls in bikinis. But this was the first time I had ever been typecast before.
That can be a good thing and a bad thing. Here’s why it’s a good thing: people recognize your work, your style, your niche and the will go to you when they want that look.
Here’s why it’s bad: people will go to you when they want THAT look.
It’s great and all that I’m in business. People see the shots and they are like, “Wow, I want HIM to shoot me in a bikini.” So they come to me for that. And I’m not gonna turn them down. But eventually, that becomes all you do. Beach shots.
Believe it or not, I can shoot lingerie. I can shoot dramatic stuff, happy stuff, colorful stuff. I can shoot people in clothes too. I like to shoot everything…and I do.
But yes, people mostly come to me for beach shots.
This is why it’s important to think outside the box sometimes. And not just wardrobe-wise and style-wise…it’s important to stretch yourself as a photographer and be as versatile as you can possibly be.
I was having a conversation the other day with my friend, Jon, who is also a photographer. We were discussing commercial work…and I was telling him about how important diversity is. I tell all my models this…how they should have as diverse a portfolio as possible; and the same is true for photographers. Take for instance one of my idols, commercial photographer Nick Onken. He is known for his lifestyle images…but if you look at some of the ads he’s shot for, they look nothing like his usual style…but they are still amazing. He can shoot with natural light. He can shoot with artificial light. He is versatile. And I think as a commercial photographer, or any photographer for that matter, it makes you more marketable if you can shoot lots of different things.
So my word of advice is just to think outside the box.
And if you must shoot girls in bikinis…don’t limit yourself to the beach.
I found this video the other day of Ennis and I scouting locations for the January Revolt Ten on 10. I was prepared to shoot this at the beach. It’s safe. It’s comfortable. I know how to light it. How to shoot it. It’s not a challenge. I know what the results will be. When I showed up at Emily’s house to shoot, she asked me where we were shooting. After thinking a bit, I knew we needed to be different than all the other beach shoots. Where could we shoot? A boardwalk? An alley? On a boat? Yes, yes, and yes.
In retrospect, shooting in a place you aren’t familiar with makes you think a little more about the shoot. You aren’t going through the motions anymore…you are actually putting your skills and knowledge to work to create that great image. And I like working sometimes. Because the harder you work, the more amazing that image will be. It will be a standout. And you walk away from the shoot feeling pretty damn good. I know I did. :)
No seriously, I think the burger IS hot. Spicy, actually. And the commercial is pretty spicy too. I don’t watch Top Chef all that much, but I think I might after watching host Padma Lakshmi eat a Western Bacon Cheeseburger. Damn…who knew a commercial for a burger could be so exciting??
Okay, so I know it ain’t spelled the same, but this girl has the same effect. :) Here are some shots that I took on Valentine’s Day with super hot gogo dancer Laleh. She’s from LA…and thought she’d spend Cupid’s day making pretty pictures with me. I’m not gonna complain…I would normally be alone on [...]
Okay, so I know it ain’t spelled the same, but this girl has the same effect. :)
Here are some shots that I took on Valentine’s Day with super hot gogo dancer Laleh. She’s from LA…and thought she’d spend Cupid’s day making pretty pictures with me. I’m not gonna complain…I would normally be alone on V-Day. :)
Anyway, here are some shots…
She definitely epitomizes the phrase “Bootylicious.”
Trying some new things in the studio. Inspired by Ennis and photographers like Mike Prado and Steve Cain, there is a lot to be said for messing around with different textures. A lot of times, shooting in the studio can be so limiting and lifeless because of trying to keep things simple and shooting against plain backgrounds. But what makes glamour photos interesting is playing with colors and textures. It’s been fun being creative and thinking of new things to throw behind the models to make the shots more interesting. I’ve also collected several samples in my ideas folder from other photographers and how they have incorporated different textures into the scene to make a boring studio shot more interesting. I’m going to be making some trips to Home Depot in the next few weeks…I seriously love that place. :)
But you can definitely achieve different looks with the same background just by the way you light it. You can incorporate gels and grids to set the scene or to play off what the model is wearing (or not wearing :) ) And if you get far enough away, you can still play with depth of field and making the model stand out.
And maybe I’ll pick up some Blue Steel while I’m at Home Depot? Wait…no need…got some right here…
I’m not sure what it is with country music and cute girls… but I’m definitely not complaining. :) I’ve had a thing for Dancing with the Stars’ Julianne Hough for the longest time. Not only can she dance, she can also sing. She gets double points on my talent crush list. :) And she’s super [...]
I’m not sure what it is with country music and cute girls… but I’m definitely not complaining. :)
I’ve had a thing for Dancing with the Stars’ Julianne Hough for the longest time. Not only can she dance, she can also sing. She gets double points on my talent crush list. :)
So I blame my sister for getting me hooked on Veronica Mars. A few years ago, during the bad wildfires that hit San Diego, my sister was displaced from our family’s house in Ramona…so she spent a few days down here at our grandma’s house. Along with her extensive shoe collection, she also brought all [...]
So I blame my sister for getting me hooked on Veronica Mars. A few years ago, during the bad wildfires that hit San Diego, my sister was displaced from our family’s house in Ramona…so she spent a few days down here at our grandma’s house. Along with her extensive shoe collection, she also brought all her DVDs, which included Veronica Mars.
Now, I had never even seen the show before. I knew it was filmed locally…Brian had gone to a casting for extras…and seriously, who could mistake such familiar landmarks as the main quad at San Diego State…or the seedy Body Shop and Les Girls in the Point Loma/Sports Arena area? But anyway, I started watching the show and was hooked. We watched an entire two seasons worth. It took a while too. :)
The show was cool…but damn, Kristen Bell who played Veronica was HOT. I’m surprised I hadn’t blogged about her until now. What is my problem?
So…I now blame my brother for letting me borrow his copy of Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
Because not only could I lust after Kristen Bell in a bikini, I could ALSO drool over the sexy and completely adorable Mila Kunis. You may remember her from That 70s show…which is another show that I never used to watch…and dude, I am so bumming over that decision. Mila is SUCH a fox, I am without speech.
So there you have it. Kristen and Mila. Mila and Kristen. And that’s all I have to say about that.
Last month, we headed up to the snow with Revolt to shoot the cover and the Ten on 10. We got delayed a little bit…but happy to report that the issue is now out…. And our Ten on 10, Hope… If you haven’t checked it out yet, check out the behind the scenes video by [...]
So, I just had to share this little gem from Brian’s blog… Apparently, my best friend and his lady have stumbled upon this street in Ensenada. Yes, it is my relative. My great, great grandfather was quite the balla back in the day and owned quite a bit of property down in Meh-hee-coh. So yeah, [...]
So, I just had to share this little gem from Brian’s blog…
Apparently, my best friend and his lady have stumbled upon this street in Ensenada.
Yes, it is my relative.
My great, great grandfather was quite the balla back in the day and owned quite a bit of property down in Meh-hee-coh. So yeah, I guess it’s pretty cool having a street named after me.
That’s pretty cool. We found the road because it was identified on the cruise ship walking map of the tourist district there at downtown Ensenada. I guess everyone getting off the ships see this road at some point… cool to know that it’s the treasure trove of my good friends upper-class Mexican relatives. :) BTW: They sell good watered down tequila about a block away from this intersection at a place called Restaurant Tequila’s Bar and Grill in case you’re in the neighborhood… hopefully your family doesn’t own that joint. :)
I think I’ve mentioned it more than once, but it is SO important to think outside the box sometimes and stretch your limits. It’s great to perfect your craft and hone your style…but if that’s all you do and you don’t venture and grow, things can become boring very quickly. And that is why I [...]
I think I’ve mentioned it more than once, but it is SO important to think outside the box sometimes and stretch your limits. It’s great to perfect your craft and hone your style…but if that’s all you do and you don’t venture and grow, things can become boring very quickly.
And that is why I love working with models that are creative, fun, and challenging. Models that have awesome ideas. Models that can pose. If you look at my portfolio, there are ladies that I consistently photograph…but it is because they challenge me as a photographer…they make me think about things differently each time we shoot. And I love the challenge.
I recently shot with one of my gogo girls, Natalie…and I just have to say she kept me on my toes the ENTIRE shoot. First of all, she brought several amazing ideas to the shoot…so it wasn’t just another beach shoot. Fun wardrobe, props, and concepts make for interesting photographs.
Another thing is that she’s a dancer…so she can pose her little booty off. And she did. Having a model that knows her body and knows how to pose herself in ways that are flattering is really helpful as a photographer because it lets you think about other things…technique, composition, lighting, etc. One thing I noticed while shooting with her is that she was actually making me THINK about those things…and I ended up with some great shots that were a little different than the norm.
Anyway, here are some of the photos from the shoot.
UjENA makes some of the hottest swimwear around. The name has been synonymous with hot bikinis, hot models, and their famous Bikini Jams, where models and photographers from all over congregate for a week and take pictures, party, and network in places like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Spain. One of their staff models is a [...]
UjENA makes some of the hottest swimwear around. The name has been synonymous with hot bikinis, hot models, and their famous Bikini Jams, where models and photographers from all over congregate for a week and take pictures, party, and network in places like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Spain.
One of their staff models is a gal by the name of Crystal Milana…and I’m just going to come out and say that she is HOT.
There you have it…but in the words of Levar Burton…don’t take my word for it.
That’s pretty cool. We found the road because it was identified on the cruise ship walking map of the tourist district there at downtown Ensenada. I guess everyone getting off the ships see this road at some point… cool to know that it’s the treasure trove of my good friends upper-class Mexican relatives. :) BTW: They sell good watered down tequila about a block away from this intersection at a place called Restaurant Tequila’s Bar and Grill in case you’re in the neighborhood… hopefully your family doesn’t own that joint. :)