Focus Factory Mag Issue #9

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WHAT’S INSIDE!

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6 Cover Model Michelle Scott Get Yourself Prepared To Shoot Swimwear Model Photography This Summer Nino Batista Chopped Salad

By Carolina Villalon Featured Model Morgan Hollie

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Get Yourself Prepared To Shoot Swimwear Model Photography This Summer Written by: Nino Batista - Credit article by: Fstoppers.com We’ve had one hell of a cold, long winter this year here in North America. On top of that, I live in Houston, Texas, so this business of freezing rain in March can go die in a fire already. I enjoyed shooting moody styles outside during this extended drabness in recent months, if I’m honest.

However, sunny days are coming and I couldn’t happier it because summer means outdoor swimwear projects begin, which is one of my favorite styles to shoot. However, having been so bleak for so long this winter, have you gotten yourself prepped for this most popular of fashion and glamour photography seasons?

I’ll preface all of this with acknowledging that there is nothing more stereotypical than a poorly shot photo of a model in a bikini. The bottom line is, that is something you see way too much in our industry, often so frequently that you end up getting a bad taste in your mouth for bikini

photos in general. But, it doesn’t have to be this way - you really can make your swimwear photos stand out above the crowd if you take the time and effort to plan and pre-envision what you want to do.

While it’s not quite warm enough, even here in south Texas, to start taking on outdoor swim projects, I reasoned this is the perfect time to go through my checklist of things to do to prepare for the season.

Location Scouting

Right off the bat, you need to know where your favorite locations are to shoot commercial swimwear work, be it in your city or town or anywhere in the world you travel to with any regularity. When the client calls on you, it’s always best to have a handful of locations already in mind that you can recommend. And since you’ll be shooting swimwear, your locations should ideally make sense with the world of bikinis and swimwear fashion pieces in general. Naturally, there are no hard and fast rules about locations for swimwear photography, necessarily, but having a varied set of options, up front, is always ideal since you sometimes don’t have tons of time to take advantage of that perfect summer weekend weather when it happens.

Lenses, etc.

To me, outdoor portraiture of any kind comes down to lenses. Specifically, primes. I admit it openly, I’m a prime snob, and make no apologies for being so. But the benefits of prime lenses for outdoor portrait work are so immense, I simply won’t choose zooms when shooting outdoor swimwear.

But why? Well, for one, prime lenses are far more along in their evolution than their zoom brethren. Some long-time photography veterans, such as my father (who started shooting professionally in 1972) will confidently pit their 1980’s era primes against any prime from today, claiming that prime lens technology hasn’t really changed much since then. In reality, this is, of course, not the case. But, all you need to do is spy a few medium format enlargements from 30 years ago, shot with top grade primes, and you will see intense sharpness, clarity, color and contrast that easily compares to today’s primes in every way that matters.

Not to mention, if you are setting up your shot, in full detail, why bother with a zoom? Select the focal lengths you want (say, 50, 85 and 135) and run with it. There will be a delightful consistency to your work, and you won’t get lazy on set.

When you have to work to get the shot set up so you can use your 85mm or 135mm, you generally think it through in far more detail AND you benefit from the flattering shots you’ll get. Why? Suffice to say, there is a reason 85mm and 135mm lenses exist - they just work so damn well in any type of portraiture.

Example: If you are in a cramped set up, but you really want to try to make it work somehow, you will end up thinking on your feet and coming up with creative ways to capture what you’re envisioning with that 135mm instead of simply opening up to 49mm because you were slinging your 24-70 2.8 at the time. The option to zoom in and out makes me, at least, lazy on set, and uninspired. In fact, a lot of times, the efforts and acrobatics I go through to make a prime focal Page

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FOCUS FACTORY length work for the shot I want often yield me images that make people say “How in the world did you shoot this??!”, which I love to hear. When I have a zoom on board, I tend to stand still and fiddle with the zoom ring, which is decidedly not hyper-creativity in the making.

Primes are sharper, more often, and at wider apertures than basically any zoom. And with primes, you can almost always open up more than ƒ2.8 (most portrait primes are ƒ1.2 to ƒ2.0), thus giving you far more flexibility with light control and depth of field options. And that is never, ever a bad thing.

Lighting

In recent months, when I shoot outdoors, I have been prioritizing natural light over mixed lighting as often as I can. I drag along various scrims and reflectors and explore positions, poses and locations that best suit a natural light shot whenever possible. I love large, thick scrims because of the softness they afford me, but I just have to consider the stop or two loss they cause when setting up sets. I also prefer white reflectors over silver ones most of the time, for the same reasons of softness.

Last summer I also shot part of a calendar and poster project for model Aneta Kowal while in Florida, and I worked hard to see how much I could do with natural light. I ended up strobing more than I planned on, but I simply had to improvise each set, each day, and craft the best shot I could envision based on location and conditions.

My dude John Voor holding a scrim for me while I was working with model Aneta Kowal in Florida last year. If I can get away with it for the look I want, this is my go-to set up for outdoor swimwear.

Additional lighting gear comes along on every outdoor shoot - just in case. For the most part, if I do use a strobe, I use only one and work with it and the sun for various two light setups. And when headed outdoors for swimwear work, I never leave without these modifiers: * White dish (18” to 22” or so), usually with the diffusion sock for it. * Small softbox, with grids. * 7” reflectors, with various grids, and sometimes diffusion socks for them as well.

That’s not to say that other modifiers never make an appearance. I’ve been known to bring a 86” parabolic umbrella, with diffuser, to a backyard pool (just needed some sure footed assistants to keep it in check outside.)

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ANNELISE MARIE

Photographer: Gary Miller Location Shoot: Las Vegas @annelisejr /AnneliseMarieModeling

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FEATURE MODEL

MORGAN HOLLIE

Photographer: Joel Flora Location Shoot: Los Angeles

Hometown: Kennesaw, Georgia City of Residence: Houston, Texas Age: 22 Height: 5’6” @morganhollie14 /holliemodel

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CHANTE FOX

What are some things you would like to accomplish?

I plan to accomplish my degree in marketing, travel to new countries and learn about new cultures and try to get published in as many magazines as I can!

Who inspires you?

My brother. He was a true inspiration to live life.

Where do you see your career in 5 years?

In 5 years, I see myself growing within this industry, finishing my college degree, and travel as much as@chantefox I can! @chantefox

What scares you the most? /chantefox Zombies.

I hate the thought of them and all movies and TV shows involving them. Just something about them scare the living life out of me!!

Photography By: Audrey Rock Hair Stylist: Anthony Vigil WhatArtist: quirky or fun Makeup Chante Fox talents do you have?

Location Shot: Papago Park, Phoenix Arizona I can pinch people with my toes... I know Waredrobe: Steve Madden

tion!!

weird. Haha but it’s pretty hilarious to see people’s reac-

What is your sexiest body part?

I guess I would say my eyes. I get compliments on them the most!

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FOCUS FACTORY COVER GIRL

PASHENCE MARIE

Age: 30 Height: 5’ 5” Weight: 120 lbs Hair color: Brunette Eye Color: Brown Measurements: 36DD 24 34 Ethnicity: Caucasian @pashence_marie @Pashence_Marie /PashenceMarieOfficial www.pashence.com Photography by: Inline Photography

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MICHELLE SCOTT COVER MODEL

Photographer: Gary Miller Location Shoot: Las Vegas

@missmichellescott @MichelleScottxo

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What do you think is the most challenging thing about modeling and what advice would you give to new models?

The most challenging thing for me about modeling is understanding you won’t always be happy personally with the results you get on and from a shoot, whether it’s your makeup, wardrobe, or the shots that come out. The best advice I can give in this situation is to just let it go and don’t get upset. The most important thing is that the client and/ or company you are shooting for is happy with the pictures, because that is who is paying you. If they aren’t happy with the results, chances are they will have your makeup fixed, or change your outfit, etc.

Everyone’s taste/style is different.You look amazing.

What do you recommend for those wanting to keep in shape?

Find an exercise that is enjoyable for you! It doesn’t always have to be going to the gym, that gets repetitive and boring. Take up dance lessons, martial arts, or horseback riding. Also I’d say minimize the carb intake at night time before you go to sleep.

What’s the craziest thing that happened to you while on set?

Oh man, that’s a tough one. The first thing that pops in to mind is I was shooting the look book for a clothing line, and the makeup artist AND the photographer were hitting on me separately, asking me to dinner and asking if I could see myself dating someone like them etc. Then while I was shooting the photographer and makeup artist started arguing which later escalated to a fist fight! Luckily there were other people there that broke it up, but later I found out that the photographer and makeup artist were actually seeing each other!!! Yes both were guys, so I’m assuming they swing both ways, and maybe they were trying to make each other jealous on set?! Who knows!

What’s the one thing everyone should know about you?

Everyone should know I am a snack-o-holic. I can’t live without chips and candy! My go to’s are Baked BBQ Lays, Hott Cheetos, Sour Patch Kids, and Caramel Apple Pops. Yummm!

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What did you want to be when you were growing up?

I wanted to be a doctor. I love helping people, but realized as I got older that in order to be a doctor you have to be super strong! I could never deal with any type of error on my part. I could never forgive myself!

What quirky or fun talents do you have?

Haha, I can flip my tongue all the way around both ways, and I can make it do waves, like someone belly dancing, but with my tongue.

What is your sexiest body part?

Hmm, I’d have to say my tatas. I have nothing against plastic surgery, but I take pride in being 100% all natural!

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

I grew up playing 4 instruments; clarinet, piano, alto and tenor saxophone. I’m a black belt in Taekwondo, so don’t act up or you might get a roundhouse kick to the head! I’m a big time true Pisces, so if you follow zodiac signs then you’ll understand me and my general characteristics. :)

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NADJA NO

There hasn’t been anything crazy that’s happened to me, per se. Maybe one of the craziest things I’ve done for a shoot so far would be when I crawled into an abandoned ranch hand’s house out in the middle of nowhere so the photographer could get a shot of me in the window. The roof was falling in and there really wasn’t any place to walk so I had to crawl across old suitcases and dressers to get to the window. The picture turned out stunningly, but I was terrified of what might be lurking in there!

Photographer: Flora What are some thingsJoel you would like Location Shoot: California to accomplish?

I would love to Europe be able to take my Hometown: modeling into a full time career and City of Residence: Australia eventually move toward the business @nadja_no /nadjanoo

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JENNY MARIE

Photographer: Joel Flora Location Shoot: Jamaica Hometown: Renton, Washington City of Residence: Los Angeles, California @jennymariebaby /jenny.blendermann

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Describe your first modeling shoot.

Oh my gaaaahh!! I was so nervous. It was actually with one of my favorite photographers Joe Damaso. He is such a talented individual with an amazing eye!! He gives awesome direction and I did NOT want to look like a complete amateur lol. I was stiff and had this deer in the headlight look on my face. But once I got comfortable, I was a natural and we killed it together!

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What’s the craziest thing that happened to you while on set?

We’ve all shot on the beach I’m sure and of course we get super sandy!! I had sand in places that nobody would want there, so I went into the water to rinse off. Not paying attention to anything swimming around, I came out with a mini fish in my bottoms!! I freaked out and I didn’t think twice about dropping my suit right where i stood. And OF COURSE it was during tourists season, so they definitely had a sight to see!!

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