I recently photographed a different kind a session for me...a dancer. His name is Quron and he is very talented. He has been dancing for 10 years and it shows.
I look forward to hearing about his performances in a large, successful dance company in the near future.
- Ke
It's been quite a few years since Marina's been in front of the camera. The last time I shot her I was shooting in my aunt's garage/my studio and I was shooting with the first Digital Rebel.
I asked Marina if I could shoot her. I'm working on polishing the ol' skill set and I knew she'd be a perfect candidate. Turned out that she'd just been talking about how she needed new shots. Well, would you look at that.
A few things are different these days. I gave up shootig in the garage (SCA-RY decision), and the Rebel is pretty much just a paperweight now. Amongst a few other things. I also know a fabtastic make up artist now. Rhonda, AKA, ROXY. There is one thing that didn't change though. Just like the last time, she brought "it".
Marina, ya made me look good! And shout out to Rhonda who did the fantabulous make up for the session. You guys are wonderful!
- Ke
Ms. Isha has a birthday coming up. Earlier this month a mutual friend of ours phoned me up a pitched an idea. A list of places that Isha likes to go. Her favs. The number of things match the number of her upcoming birthday. I LOVE the idea.
One of her favorite places is Cerritos. She grew up there and still likes to do things in the area. So Sunday, off to Cerritos we went.
This alley way represents the place she used to live.
And then there's this place. Who doesn't LOVE "The Red Boutique"?
Some years ago, Isha got active and shed some pounds. She made a great deal of progress and she wanted to visit the bridge she walked to make it all happen.
As we drove along, I thought, "why not get her driving?".
Now, the location in these last couple of shots have no sentimental value. They DO however represent Isha's willingness to take risks. I noticed that the fence on the side of the bridge had an opening and I liked the tall...grass (I suppose) in the area and asked if we could get some shots there before calling it a day. She agreed. It was...an adventure. LOL! First, there was no pedestrian crossing per a sign and the lack of a crosswalk. When we noticed that it didn't stop me from wanted to go. We stood there. Looking around. I was hoping the fact that she didn't immediately walk back to the car meant that she was at least considering taking the risk. She asked, "Do you still want to go?" I smiled. "YES!" We waited until traffic cleared and darted across the street. I'm SO glad we did.
The image below is my favorite of the day.
Isha, THANK YOU for taking the risk and doing so with a smile. It was a pleasure.
- Ke
Tagged along with my buddy Khedra of Khaptures during a session at the park. At the end of the session, my son was jumping on some benches. Being a boy. He said that he wondered if I could. "I bet I can!" I put down my cam, my key, my shades, my phone and proceeded to jump up on one of the benches. There were two rows of them. Jumping from bench to bench in one row wasn't a big deal. The problem came when it was time for me to jump from one ROW to the other. "Ummm..." LOL! He made it look so easy!
I couldn't go through with it. I imagined slipping the second my foot landed on the other side, and BAM! There goes my back! How could I continue with my photography career if I can't walk?? How can I walk down the isle if I can't walk?! So, Khedra gives it a try. First go 'round she understood my fear. "It looks scary from up there, right?" She agreed. Low and behold she jumped! Like 3 times! :O Ms. Tiffany watched. She thought I was a scardy cat until she got up to jump. LOL! My son, being the AWESOME guy that he is decide to offer some encouragement and a pep talk...and threw in a hug.
This was turning into a MUCH bigger deal that I anticipated. I jumped, but didn't go all the way across. I did that several times as my son went back to jumping.
Khedra offered to jump with me. No good. I couldn't. Fear had gotten the best of me. "I should have just done it the first time I tried." I finally admitted, "I'm afraid." LOL! We laughed. Khedra encouraged me to jump across just once. I repeated, "I'm afraid." Tiffany watched. Isaiah was in his own 3-year-old world. Singing. Dancing. HE couldn't jump because his legs were too short. I wanted to use that excuse but my baby was jumping. He's at least a head shorter than I am. DANG! I couldn't. I just couldn't. I came to terms with it and just laid down on the bench. Khedra took this picture.
She called it "Shoes of Shame". ROFL! I didn't care. I wasn't going to throw away my career and my chance at WALKing down the isle. How can my husband find/recognize me if I can't walk? He'd have to be the surgeon that performs the surgery on my back and get to know me and discover how awesome I am during my recovery. I can't let THAT happen. True it would mean that my husband would be some brilliant, talented, filthy rich surgeon and we'd have a wonderfully touching story to share during the reception, but no. So, you see, it was best that I didn't jump. Don't you agree?
Before we got too far away I took a picture of those BLASTED benches. One last look.
- Ke
Yesterday my son and I went to see my cousin off to prom. It's been a VERY long time since I've seen her. I have snapsots of her when she was about a year old. It's was SO good to see her. She's growing into a beautiful young woman.
Ms. Charae.
I was glad that, though I'm practically a stranger she had absolutely NO guards up. She was herself. Her wonderful self.
Her date/boyrfriend, Myron, is a cool dude. Charae is pretty good with this here posing deal. I asked her if she practices in the mirror. She said, "No. I'm just naturally awesome!" LOL!
"Charae. Give me one over your shoulder." BAM!
I'm very glad that I got the chance to be there. Charae, we've GOTTA do this again some time!
- Ke
It's been YEARS sinc eI've been to Venice Beach. And when I did go, the 1 time I've been it was ONLY to test out the inline skates I was buying. Today, Venice was exactly what I expected it to be.
Part of my Venice experience.
This gentleman asked me to take his picture. While I adjusted my camera settings he said, "Come closer!" Umm, Sir, I know what I'm doing. LOL!
And I LOVE ketchup! It was SO necessary to get a shot if this t-shirt.
And now for Mr. Ameer. I met Ameer at a wedding that I photographed. He and the groom, Gabe, are good friends. I'm posting these because Ameer asked me to. LOL!
Ameer is 6'8". If I didn't detest being in front of the camera I would have asked Gabe to take a picture just to show how this guy TOWERS over my 4'11 1/2" self. With height liek that I wondered if he played basketball. But I didn't wanna assume. He does. And we found someone who was kind enough to share the b-ball for a few shots. Thank you kind sir.
Ameer's also a photographer so I was WAY nervous before the session. Ameer, hopefully I didn't disappoint ya.
P.S. Have an awesome birthday weekend!
- Ke
Erin will soon be a college graduate! I remember when she was a high school graduate. I had to remember she wasn't a girl anymore. Time goes by so quickly. She's still a sweetheat though.
P.S. The rainboots weren't just because. It was suposed to rain that day.
- Ke
Facebook is known for reuniting folks. A few months ago I ran into a high school classmate. Percy. Took about another month before he agreed to let me shoot him. I don't know what it is about men that makes them not want pictures. I need the practice because you can't pose a guy like you would a girl. And here he is.
It worked out. Thanks Percy!
- Ke
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