Studio day, helping to direct Hiram.
When working with pharma, there are often a number of legal restrictions. In this case, our talent had to be HIV positive. Through an epic effort on the part of my casting director, Martha Lazar, we were able to put together a pool of people to present to the client. This required considerable sensitivity. Not everyone wants the world to know they are HIV positive. For the people we chose, our shoot was them making a statement to the world about how they saw themselves. It can not be understated how dramatic this was for them. Photo shoots for non-pro talent are a big deal, but in this case it was huge.
My feeling is that in order to take good photos you have to really care about the people you are photographing. My approach to the shoot from the very beginning was that we absolutely had to work around the our talent, we had to make the shoot as easy and gradual for them as possible. That meant that we started the first day with simple lifestyle shots, where they could just be themselves. On the final day, we did the hero shots in studio. But you don’t want to put someone who is insecure about how they look in front of a white cyc first thing. You can tell them they look great, but they are not going to believe you.
I have worked in Paris, I’ve shot for V, for Bazaar, for GQ, all big fashion magazines. I know how to make models look great. I use all those same lighting and beauty skills when I worked for Reyataz. There was a moment when Shin, our client, was looking at the monitor during the big hero shots in studio, and he goes silent, his mouth drops open. I ask him if everything is ok. He turns to Zully Ortiz, our wonderful agency producer, and tells her he never imagined that our people would look so great. This is one of those moments that makes my year. That he can feel that way, that our very brave talent can feel like they are super star models, that makes me proud to be a photographer. Thank you Zully for asking me to do this job. It was an amazing experience.
Guys, beach, dog, whats not to like? Well, some real sun would be nice.
Preparing to make night time at the theater with 16x16 black frames.
Its pouring rain outside, but when we are done, it will look great.
Rain in Miami. Here is our fake sun for the cafe shot.
Giving direction on the hair. This is Jeff on set.
At the capture station with Shin, our client, and Zully our agency producer.
Studio with iPad monitor for the Hassy.
Soft box through 1/2 silk on frame as fill in the front. Single head hard light as the main.
Helping Hydeai to feel 6ft tall.
Zully Oritz, agency producer, with our star at the wrap dinner at Tap Tap.
16x16 negative fill on our black out tent. CTO on the main lights. Canon 1DSIII, 35 1.4 at f4
A very brave 4-11 Hydeai as seen in the final take.
Hiram, having never done anything like this before, looking great and feeling great.
