Carl used to be an officer in the NYPD but had traveled across the country seeking  jobs as an actor in California, one of which was a role as Karl Sly on the TV show Trauma, a San Francisco based drama series.  Ilona, is of Hungarian descent, but pretty much grew up in San Francisco.  Also an actor herself, she easily caught Carl’s eye on a movie set and the two started dating soon after.   Ever since meeting her, he couldn’t stop talking about Ilona, making frequent phone calls to his brother in New York to tell him about the best thing that’s ever happened to him!

So how did I get chosen to be the photographer of this wedding?  I too, met Carl on a set, but I’m sure I didn’t catch his eye the same way that Ilona did.  He was a model for a commercial shoot I was working on for a ring company.  We had a great time doing the shoot together, and well, needless to say, I caught his eye enough to be chosen as his wedding photographer.  Thank you for giving me this opportunity to be a part of your wedding!

For years she has used photographs from her modeling gigs as her portfolio. But recently she decided to create a collection of pictures specifically for her. After canvassing websites of many, many photographers, Elizabeth found me; and she chose to drive eight hours all the way from Los Angeles to come here to Cupertino…TWICE!

We worked both days and had some fun setting up different categories of shots to create a complete portfolio: headshot, commercial, athletic, and business-style photos.

The collaboration brought us from the studio, to San Francisco downtown, to the garden in my backyard, to a local park. We really covered her comp card in more ways than one. Tiffany Chiang did the makeup wonderfully.

Being a model is about versatility and acting. By creating photographic situation for the model to act out her role will dramatically increase her chances of being cast into a role.

My best wishes follow Elizabeth back to Los Angeles, and I hope my photos will bring her great luck with her modeling career.

- Michael Soo

No, I don’t recommend to rush a 5 magnificent images in just 4 hours since some planning on the shots, the clothings, possibly makeup and hair styling will make the images look 10X as good! But for the time constraint ones, this is doable.

These images are all shot in a single condo complex, done with beautiful natural light, some with artificial light but just to compliment!

If you want great images for a full comp card, I highly recommend scheduling 2 sessions of at least 4 hours each. That way, you get a good break. Unless you want to look haggard, posing in front of a camera for 4 hours can make you look like you just ran a marathon.

Now, who says modeling is easy work?

- MS

I was working on a 4 days commercial work with iWin. One of the models who is also working in the project by the name of Chris was recommended by me. You see, he worked with me a year ago in a photoshoot to showcase a new bluetooth headset. Here’s Chris, in the 2006 photoshoot, on the right.

On the first day of the shoot, Chris approached me and requested that I take a good headshot for him. And since he has a tight budget and hence, he was hoping I would do it for, you guessed it, free.

The project we were both in has an incredibly tight deadline & budget. iWin expected me to shoot 46 perfect shots of their game imagery all across San Francisco (Pier39, beach, Palace of Fine Arts, Arboretum, Daly City Golf Club House, karate dojo in San Mateo), amongst other locations in within 3-4 days. In a perfect world, this type of shoots takes at least a week to accomplish due to several things such as herding 10 models around the city, finding the perfect spots, loading/unloading heavy lighting units/stands, working under harsh and difficult lighting conditions due to the constraints in time.

I was running around the sets, city, driving, loading, you name it, non-stop for 12 straight hours at a time. I like the guy but that’s just not the right time for this type of request. On top of that, I charge top dollars for a good headshot as it really does takes a good eye to bring out the personality of the person into the headshot.

The stars, however, seemed to shine on Chris’ path during Day 2 when I was hurrying along the corridor of the Daly City Golf Club house for the next set. I saw Chris, sitting on a red sofa with window light filling the room. I also had the right lens at the time. Taking one quick aim, and posing him the way I wanted it, I shot ONE frame and ran off to my next set. That single frame proved to be the most amazing time-stopping image I took for his career.

Chris has since started using that headshot for his modeling and acting career. He just sent me an email stating that his acting career took off like a rocket after that headshot went into circulation. He just accepted a 2 months film project in the east coast and is subletting his apartment in Los Angeles.

…and no, I didn’t charge him a dime for it. The satisfaction of a perfect moment captured sufficed.

1. Mastering different facets of photography has allowed me to apply my knowledge in one to another. For example, if I were to shoot an engagement session at a seemingly boring golf course, I can utilize my knowledge as a landscape photographer for composition; my discipline in fashion and glamour photography to pose my subject beautifully; my in depth experience with studio lighting to use bounce multiple light sources to the subjects to create a wonderful interplay of light and shadow.
2. It keeps me excited as a photographer and continually challenge my ability to improve. It is much more often to hear of, say a specialized wedding photographer to get bored of his craft due to lack of innovation, creativity and exciting work. He/She will tend to do the same style over and over again with overall little improvements. For me, however, I am never bored since I have been peaking my performance by learning everything I know from one area of photography to the next. What I thought about in one area of photography has constantly been applied to another.

However, in spite of the above, most clients tend to think of a photographer is best when he or she is specialized. Just think, a bride probably will be more apt to choose a photographer who is specialized in weddings versus one who does everything. How do you, as a photographer prove otherwise? Show them your portfolio. The images needs to speak and they will, if you are good.

- MS

Senior Editor, Pete Kolonia of Popular Photography sent me an email two weeks ago stating that their Work-the-Scene articles that I have been writing for them has mostly been published (in the publishing world, magazines get prepped to be published at least 3-4 months in advanced) and they need new material, and they need it NOW. “Sure!”, I said, let me run to the wand shop in Diagon Alley first.

After a week or so of sitting around being a bum cracking my brains off for a concept and trying to schedule session with a Angelina Rika, whom I’ve shot before, I figured that Angelina isn’t really that serious about modeling. Right at the same time, I got a message from Libby over myspace. Libby probably got my info from Paul Ferradas. I absolutely loved her images that Paul took of her a while back by Alviso. Libby is a natural beauty, gorgeous and has a great personality. We booked off a time for a shoot in a within a day or so. One of the fastest, come-shoot-with-me-right-away type of request. She got all excited and we’re off to a great start.

I decided that we should shoot in 2 locations in the South Bay, around the region of Mountain View, Sunnyvale, San Jose downtown, maybe more depending on the mood and situation. The first location is shot for the magazine and in order to compensate her for her time, I’ll shoot her a strong portfolio in the 2nd location, a rooftop.

You can find the images in the Fashion and Glamour Gallery.

- Michael Soo

About the Contest
Show the world just how beautiful 40+ can be!Enter the 2006 MORE®/Wilhelmina 40+ Model Search. In addition to the dazzling events, incredible exposure, and tremendous fun, selected Finalists receive nearly $85,000 in total prizes, including:

Contracts with Wilhelmina Modeling Agency ($15,000)

A three-day trip to New York City

A glamorous magazine photo shoot (includes hair & makeup sessions and press appearances)

Participation in Finals Judging Event (with prominent MORE editors and Wilhelmina agents)

Finals Gala (where the contract prize winners will be announced)

Celebratory photo layout in an upcoming issue of MORE

A possible appearance on national TV

Wilhelmina Model Agency merchandise

Fabulous shopping sprees and limited edition “jet-set” travel bags from Talbots
Premium gift baskets from RoC® Skin Care

A year’s supply of Garnier Nutrisse haircolor and haircare accessories

A fun-filled vacation for two

A glamorous dress from designer Carmen Marc Valvo

A fashionable ladies wristwatch

She and her family collected over a THOUSAND tennis balls from a local court for the concept that we agreed upon. It took a week and my golly, a thousand balls was barely enough. I had to do some photoshop magic to make it look more than it appears. All in all, a fun shoot. We finalized on 10 images that look freaking fantastic. Good luck in the contest, Ava!

- Michael Soo

One of my objective of this shoot is to help “pave a pathway”, if you will, for these new models-to-be, into the world of commercial modeling. I’m hoping to help create a starting point with at least 1 out of 5 shots that they can use for their comp card, should they choose to do so. The other part of this shoot, done most gracefully by Paul are glamour shots for the girls. Paul has a style in photography that few has managed to achieve, much less, duplicate. It is no secret that many photographers tried to have him divulge his techniques. However, it’s my belief that if it isn’t their style to begin with, it will never be their style to end with. Paul, if you’re reading this, you can share your techniques with me. I’ll keep it a secret.

We also had Bryan videotape an hour worth of fun. The video footage is amazingly well done (thanks to Paul and…me, haha!) and if you have not watched it, it can be found in youtube as well as MySpace. Do NOT miss it. It’s good clean fun and if Nicole can have her way, she’ll dance her way through the entire shoot.

Nicole on the right was fooling around when I shot this. What she does not realize, most of the time is that she has the innate ability to extend her character across the room when she is relaxed. That’s her personality and her great selling point in a portfolio. Nicole rocks. I keep telling her that and it may diluted the effects. Bah, who cares. Nicole Rocks!

I do have to admit that the best shot that I did that day is actually a ultra hot glamour shot for Celeste. If you want to see that image, you’ll have to talk to Celeste. But let’s push glamour aside for a minute and talk about modeling portfolio. What do the commercial agencies really want? Modeling is really about acting and if you send them a comp card with 5 images of identical expression, it’ll get them uninterested really fast. You need to prove that you have the ability to be an actor(ess) in a different scene, different products and different use case.

I first took Celeste to the fireplace for my first session of the day. Celeste took a bit of time to warm up but when she did, she really glowed with her full ability to showcase herself. She is also a bit more seasoned as a model as she has done work with a few other photographers. I really wanted to showcase her “wild side” and she has the body to show off. We did my best glamour shot that day and right after, this shot on the left. Her hair flying sideways looked incredibly dynamic. In addition to that, Jorge’s wonderful makeup on her just spiced it up a big notch. The hardest makeups are the ones that you can’t tell there’s a makeup but makes the model look incredible at the same time. That’s a fact! Keep that in mind for your search for the best makeup artists out there. Jorge did a phenomenal job here. I also found the perfect crop for this hot image. Yup, I’m the Crop King!

Melina coyly admitted that she’s not the typical glamour girl. However, that’s not really an issue here. As I stated earlier, it’s really about personalities and how a model can fit into a role and, not the other way round. Her gorgeous blue eyes is the main attraction and rightfully so. I had Bryan and Ken hold her arms while she gave me an intense stare. What came out from it is perfectly slated for this mock ad, Delirium on the right.

Angelina has one of the most perfect skin and beautiful face one can lay eyes on. She’s a cutie. If there is a commercial for skin products, she is the perfect choice. She only had red lipsticks on at the time. Of course, I could just shoot her plain and she would look incredible. But to give it a unique twist, I had her hold two torn pieces of translum and got the shot on the left. The additional make-up was done by yours truly. As you can tell, I only smooth out skin when necessary and skin texture can be a great friend and gives an image a real feel to it.

For a model to jump into the modeling business, he/she needs to start with CRS (Critically High Standard). What does that mean? You need to be able to impressed the agent with just one glance. One look is all it takes for you to get in. You folks have it easier than actors. Actors sends in one headshot and that’s their one chance. Models have a comp card that shows 5 shots. You are as strong as your weakest link and it’s true. Your worse + worst image will be branded into the minds of Art Directors, agencies and photographers. This really is a First Impression business.

- Michael Soo