Alexandra Edmo!

Well, I am elated to announce that the master graphic designer who created my website has agreed to sign on to design and create the calendar layout.  Scot Scott is THE MAN when it comes to creating kool and unique concepts, he picks-up on what your needs are and nails the design every time.  He even worked at Electronic Arts because – he’s that good… !   Check out his company website, BioHertz.com.

So far, I have seen some early stage mock-ups of the calendar and it is looking amazing!  Today I also picked an official UPC Barcode, to be placed into the design, so that I can sell the calendar to just about any retailer, small or large (i.e. Amazon.com, Walmart, etc.).  Here it is:

(A few digits blurred until it goes on sale June 1, 2011)

Another sample image from my last shoot… Selena!

Here are the first six models for the calendar:

NAME: Wileeta *** TRIBE: San Carlos Apache

NAME: Selena *** TRIBE: Navajo

NAME: Nicole *** TRIBE: Lakota Sioux and Delaware

NAME: Jacquelyn *** TRIBE: Navajo

NAME: Amber *** TRIBE: Hopi

NAME: Tracye *** TRIBE: Navajo

Ok, so I had been so busy lately shooting, that I barely had time for anything else – like my family!  I felt bad for not having enough time for my two little girls and wife, so I took a couple months off and spent some quality time with them.  I am back at it now and in process of coordinating my calendar shoots down in New Mexico and Arizona either at the end of this month or first week in November.  Also, I have decided to forgo the outdoors shooting because I just can’t risk flying somewhere and having bad weather.  More so, I thought about how I really don’t want to be stereotypical in my approach and what common stereotype is there than shooting Native Americans in the dessert, next to a frigin’ cactus or something.  Sooo… I am now looking to shoot inside, with some kool hip settings … with some super hot models and lighting.  Stay tuned…

In this industry, there are plenty of people that call themselves “models.”  However, most photographers will attest that there is a strikingly low percentage of models out there that can be deemed “high caliper” … or top-notch.  Of course, each photographer has his or her own criteria by which they rank the talent they shoot.  For me, there are three … in order of importance:

#1 Professionalism: I don’t care how stunning a model is in her looks, if she is not professional the beauty means nothing! What good is a model that is almost flawless in her body and looks, if she doesn’t show up on time or at all, is obnoxious, has a “diva” complex or is just down right rude and disrespectful to the people she works around? I have seen a few… and usually I try to cut them off at the pass and hopefully prevent them from even stepping foot into my studio.  If you consider the talent out there with “super model” status, you would be generally hard-pressed to find those bad traits I mentioned above in them.

#2 Complete Beauty: I wrote the word “complete” before beauty because I have found that most models will posses an amazing body and “ok” face, an amazing face and “ok” body or unfortunately neither.  My heart will usually skip a beat when I come across a model that has both of these qualities.  I was watching an HD show that had women in bikinis posing for a shoot on the beach.  I just laughed as they presented these women with hard bodies and blah-looking faces – complete with close-ups of their sad, blotchy, pimple and make-up covered faces.  Yuck! They even had one woman posing topless, which reminded me of another peeve of mine.  Sometimes women will automatically expect I will want to work with them because they are willing to pose nude.  I don’t blame them for this expectation, but rather the GWCs (Guy’s With Camera) that are so desperate to get a woman naked in front of them that they will accept and pay anything.  Doing so lowers the standards for everyone else in the industry, pushing photographers to hire someone who is lacking the “quality” because they will remove their clothing.  Some may think I am being too critical, but keep in mind when someone tags themselves as a “model” they are inviting a review and judgment from everyone and anyone.

#3 Open-mindedness: Ok, so I have managed to line up the most amazing model – the pre-shoot details are set, the shoot is scheduled, the model is booked… my creative juices are flowing like a river and ready to be captured on film.  Great!  Model shows up and then proceeds to lay down the law – I won’t do this, I don’t like this angle, that makeup is too much, I need 10 bathroom breaks, lots of this…lots of that… My creative license has been pretty much revoked or stifled before I even shoot my first frame.  Point is… if a model is not going to be open-minded enough to embrace my creativity and professional movement to ultimately create some fantastic images, I say “why the heck are we here?”

Fortunately, this industry is a scalable one, so there IS work for the masses and less than perfect specimen.

Scope:

The calendar will contain images of women who have Native American heritage.  I will be shooting on location, in different areas of the country.  I could have went the route of having each woman wear specific tribal accessories, but I decided against it.  There is enough media content, whether it be images or movies, that stereotype the “American Indian” and I prefer not to subscribe to it.  Instead, I’ll keep the intensity and focal point on the model’s beauty – presenting Native American women as sexy, strong and most of all empowered.

Charity:

I have decided to donate $1 for every calendar sold, to a Native American charity.  Still need to find a charity that will embrace my calendar and help to promote / sell it once completed (since they would have something to gain from the sale too).  If anyone out there wants to recommend their favorite charity, please let me know via my “about” page.

Casting Details:
Now shooting for 2012 glamour calendar featuring Native American women.   MUA and hair stylist definitely will be provided and present.

Requirements:

1. Must be between 18-27 years of age (w/ two forms of ID to prove it).

2. Have some Native American blood in you.

3. Please be somewhat height/weight proportionate.

4. Be comfy posing in at least lingerie, bikini, club-wear.

5. Where you live is not a problem, but model is responsible for getting herself to the shoot (travel not reimbursed).

NO EXPERIENCE NEED!!

Apply Here: http://www.tuabella.com/modeling

…from a recent shoot at the boutique class Alexis Hotel in Seattle.

Kristen: Upholstered MUA: Freakishly Beautiful

Kristen: Emerald Teddy MUA: Freakishly Beautiful

Today we launched our new photo touch-up service.  Started advertising on Facebook Ads. I am interested to see if this will be of interest to people.  Typically I automatically do these enhancements for clients when I am looking at their final proofs.  However, I think now it makes sense to start charging for these services since it eats up a lot of my time per photo. I have kept the pricing very low to accommodate the type of audience and purpose prospective customers will be using the service.  Direct clients of the studio will be receiving a more complex and comprehensive touch-up service and therefore will see a higher fee.

Ciao, Michael

In my line of work I have seen probably thousands of naked breasts over the past 15 years – big, small, medium, perky, saggy, disproportional, real and fake.  I have been asked by my clients numerous times whether I think they should get breast implants.  My answer is the same every time: “if you are considering getting breast implants, you should do it because YOU want them and NOT because you’re being pressured into it by someone.”  I have found that roughly 75% of the reasons given for wanting implants is related to a husband, boyfriend, girlfriend(s), talent agent etc. putting pressure on them.  The remainder are doing it because they are very insecure about their chest and its affects on how they interact socially and personally.  Myself, I always gravitate towards natural breasts on a woman, regardless of size or shape, and can’t see myself ever changing my opinion.

What makes me sad is a lot of times, the woman asking me whether she should go under the knife, actually has beautiful and shapely breasts [not flat or saggy by any definition]!  In that situation I will add, ” you have breasts people are PAYING for when they go to get implants.”  You should see their reaction, usually one of enlightenment, because nobody had ever offered this observation to them.  Of course, not everyone takes my advice, but I would like to think I was responsible for keeping a few from parting with their money for the procedure.

For the ones that still plan on going to get the work done, my only input to them would be to make sure you ask around and get many references from other women that have taken the same path.  Granted, most women are not going to be models or ever pose nude, but still you don’t want to be on the wrong end of the knife.  I have seen some amazing breast jobs and some major train wrecks.

The really good ones are the results of a surgeon who can make those fakes sit on your body in a way that they look almost natural.  Even the perkiest natural breasts droop slightly on the chest and good results can mimic this look.  Surgeons that approach their work almost as artists can even hide the scar tissue in a way so that it is completely invisible, unless you know where to look.

Unfortunately, I have seen some real train wrecks and the women who are pretty much scarred for life.  I have seen lop-sided breasts, asymmetrical nipples, hard breasts, breasts spread too wide, scars that would put a war veteran to shame.  Even with clothes on, a bad job can still be detected – for example sometimes breasts look like a shelf sitting on the chest.

Fake breasts can look ridiculous on a woman, when they are not proportional to her body shape and size.  I blame the surgeon again for not dissuading a patient from getting breasts that are way too big for her.  For example, one of the criteria that defines a great breast job is the size of the breast / cup as they relate to the size and height of the woman.   In my opinion, a petite woman (say 5,0″) will almost NEVER look good with fake breasts that are 38DD, for example.  However, if she opted for breasts that match her frame, say for example going from 32A to 34C they can look amazing and very natural.

I know some reading this will say this is all subjective, and I agree, but I am just saying there is a point where the breasts look stupidly freakish.

I get a lot of inquires about I how I met London Levi.  So, here it goes….It was May of 2008 and my photo assistant Kevin Luster, and I had hopped on a plane to shoot four models over the weekend in Dallas, TX.  I had booked the best suite in the house at the W Dallas – Victory Hotel because I wanted to ensure I had enough room and the best floor plan available.  These models were all relatively amateurs and I was looking forward to getting some great, non-contrived shots.   Honestly, I can’t remember the details too well, but I know that two of the originally booked models showed up and the other two were “flakes.” All par for the course when it comes to working in this industry.

London was actually a last minute alternate, thanks to the make-up artist I had hired.  She said she knew a woman that was probably available and was always looking to add images to her portfolio. She called her up, gave her the details and a few minutes later I met London down in the lobby.  Upon meeting her, the first visual impression I had of her was that she was stunning and had such beautiful skin, not to mention those amazing eyes.  Since my time was limited, my assistant got the legal formalities out of the way, such as checking her IDs (to verify she was at least 18 years of age) and having her read and sign the model release.

She then went into make-up and hair, while I sifted through some of the wardrobe she had brought.  After about 75 minutes, we started shooting in the great sunlight hitting the balcony.  It was a hot afternoon in Dallas and boy was I sweating from moving around to get the shots I wanted.  I had London in a white, spaghetti-strapped silk blouse and black skirt.  London was great, very composed and casual about the whole scene.

The nude component was not planned, but more of an optional direction we could take – based on how London was feeling.  If it makes sense, I will generally offer it to the model / client and let them decide.  She had never posed nude before, but after working with me for a while she obviously felt comfy enough to give it a whirl.  She was overall confident with her body, though I could tell one particular area she was a little self-conscious (which I made sure to not focus on too much).

A few months later I learned she had been selected to appear on Tyra Banks‘ America’s Next Top Model (ANTM), Cycle 12.  I was so happy for her, considering the odds, she kicked ass!

Below is one of my two favorite nude shots of her, interestingly neither one was of interest to Playboy Magazine because both breasts were not exposed – hmm, I guess they know what sells.

London Levi - America's Next Top Model ( ANTM )

This next one was shot over her shoulder, capturing the reflection in the mirror.  I decided to keep the round magnifying mirror in the shot to add a little intrigue..

London Levi - America's Next Top Model ( ANTM )

London Levi - Playboy Magazine ( NYSE: PLA )

This shot above is the one that Playboy Magazine decided to publish.

London Levi - Playboy Magazine ( NYSE: PLA )