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. :)
Anyway, here are the endless ramblings of two photographers…and if you want to see the shots and the behind the scenes video with Emily, give it a look.