India Sari

Fossa Studio India Sari Shoot, Model Julia Schurkamp. Location Courtesy Magnuson Hotels Properties! Thank you for your hospitality! Hair and Make Up Artist by Cassandra Carlson of SCC: You out did yourself and helped make my vision a reality!

After a grueling 3 hours of hair and makeup, countless bindi beads popping off no matter how much eyelash glue was applied, we finally got Julia dressed, and reinforced with safety pins and to our location site: Magnuson Hotels Properties.

The light was fading fast but the location lights worked to give the look I was going for. The wind even cooperated and gave movement in the sari. People were hooping and hollering giving congratulations to "the bride". It was hard for her to keep a straight face so the bindi would stay put.

Here is a closeup shot to highlight the makeup and bindi work. Just a note, eyelash glue works great most of the time, but spirit gum is more of a work horse in a situation like this.

~ Designer IPhone Case ~

I've been busy as a beaver working on new and exciting products to offer in my senior packages and add ons. One of the newest is this:

HOT OFF THE SHELF! Fossa Studio Photography Custom Designed IPhone 3G Case, IPod Touch Case, IPad Case, and Blackberry Storm II Trooper Shells! All custom designs with YOUR photo! 12 Designs to choose from and more introduced next month!

This is Jennifer one of my friends who is dying to get another Iphone, this just may inspire her to get it! This is what she wrote once she saw my design above. This rocks...a lot. Like I should schedule with you so I can get those. Even if I don't have an Iphone or an Ipod Touch or an IPad...I still want those.

Create a want? Yeah, I think I did! hehe

~ Tiny Dancer ~

This is the finished product from my Tiny Dancers Limited Edition Series that I will be offering through my studio. I had a trial run with three adorable little ballet dancers. I had interviews with parents and the children as I could not photograph every child from the class.

It was tremendous work and I was thankful that I already had client intake forms and folders ready to keep appointments and phone calls sorted. There were costume fittings, phone calls galore, emails, prop shopping, and I made three separate princess garlands with flowers and about 60 yards of ribbon on them total!

The mothers were concerned that the girls would be too nervous to "perform" but I assured them that it was the experience that I wanted them to have. The photographs were second.

Oh, we had a grand time! The girls and the mother's were able to relax right away as soon as they saw the tons of flowers and goodies lying around. I joked with them about goofy stories then I got serious about the fairies that live among the flowers. They listened intently for the tiny bells that signal they are flying around and they swore they saw them peeking around the corners of things!

I got calls afterward from the parents telling me that the girls did not want to leave and can't wait to come back. They enjoyed their session so much I even got hugs! Oh the feeling is priceless! I get to give that back with forever memories like this for the family and the child to enjoy for years and years to come!

The tri-photo I designed with patterns, overlays, brushes, text, and stroke styles.

Puppy Portraits!

I am offering Pet Portrait Sessions and I need to build my portfolio up in this area. This is my first shoot in this specialty and though it was extremely challenging it was so much fun!

This is Taz! He is a 3 month old pitbull puppy rescued from the Humane Society! His new parents are so lucky to have him! He loves rubber duckies and exploring!

Taz kept running around everywhere trying to explore everything at once and getting him to sit down and look at the camera was near impossible. Treats, a squeaky rubber duck, and a long walk to tire him out mid session worked wonders!

Urban Dance Ballet: Marta

THE PREPARATION

This shoot was many hours in the making. I made so many phone calls, went out scouting for locations, purchased props like the dress and rainbow legwarmers in the shots below, met the parents and Jonna - the ballet studio owner where I found my ballet stars, and of course getting props.

I had been putting off getting the rest of my location kit and ordered it for this and the following outdoor shoots. My portable battery is specially made for up to 6 of my lights and the wireless flash remotes (like pocket wizards but sooo much cheaper) worked like a charm! I was able to walk way down the walkway and the lights still were set off.

THE SHOOT

This shoot was completed in studio and downtown over a period of two days. It was EXACTLY what I envisioned in my proposal and is a gem! Marta used the stairs and set like a professional model and just had a blast. Her parents both were with me and helped me haul the gear and hold the stands. That was a God-send because the wind was blowing so hard the huge soft box almost took my daughter (assistant for the day) away!

Note to self: Bring latex gloves, baby wipes and hand sanitizer to move nasty rugs of unknown toxic filth away from the tiny alley.

This pose Marta came up with because the walls were so close together. I had her mom spot her until she got into the right position then rush out of the shot. Her ballet instructor is very happy with this shot and says "this captures the essence of Marta"

What a joy to not only have such a beautiful senior to be but also one so flexible and willing to try difficult poses then be able to make them look so easy! Wow, what a shoot!

This shot was in studio and we incorporated elements of the traditional ballet tutu and pointe shoes along with a more edgy fashion corset and scarf. The pose is modern dance influence as Marta is also taking classes for this. I had this idea as soon as I found the corset and it came out better than I hoped.

(The flooring is made up of 3 panels of 4x8 white sheets you can get at Lowes for about $12 each)