Wake Up, Sleeper
Final images revealed from my personal project, "Wake Up, Sleeper" in collaboration with makeup artist Alyssa Emigh and my friend Victoria Venskoske. Script from a class also included that I have integrated with this short series.
One of my favorite images, and the final image I used in my print portfolio.
I've been debating the way I should go about sharing this group of images for several months now. This photo shoot was put together in April when I began drawing inspiration images for my print portfolio to first be shown at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh's quarterly Portfolio Show when I graduated. I wanted to collaborate with another artist specifically for this shoot, and special effects makeup was the way I decided I would go. I knew I had wanted to do a "mermaid" themed shoot with my friend Victoria for quite a while. When your friend has purple and blue hair and your a photographer, there's no question about who to use for a model. Funny enough, I first got the idea to have her model for me because she wore a shirt to school that said something along the lines of "I'm a Mermaid". Later I pulled inspiration from Ephesians 5:14, "This is why it is said, 'Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.'" I wanted the shoot to have this idea of a "mermaid" turning away from her life that was not what she wanted and not where she was supposed to be. The crystals on her face would represent the time that she had been in that stagnant place and almost appeared to be dead (rise from the dead). She then "wakes up" and realizes where she not only wants to be, but where she is meant to be.
I ended up using a single image from this shoot for my print portfolio, but I enjoyed the images so much as a whole that I wanted to do something bigger to share them. It didn't dawn on me until a couple weeks ago that I had written a short script for my Conceptual Storytelling class at The Art Institute. This was actually a filmmaking elective rather than a photography class, but I took it to have enough credits to graduate on time. I also thought it would be a neat opportunity to work on developing a story for each of my series, and would help me to see movies (which is where I draw a lot of my inspiration) in another way, as far as the way the story is told.
In the first planning stages, the way I develop a photograph in my head is really like a mini movie trailer, literally playing like a scene of a film rather than just still images. Then in the following planning steps, I'll decide on makeup, hair, location, lighting, etc. I work on this entire process all while trying to figure out who the character is, where they came from, what their motivation is, and what is driving the story.
This script was an in-class assignment, assigned at 8:00 AM and due before class was over at noon. Trying to figure out what the heck I should write about, and never having experience writing a script or really any story that wasn't totally lame or in third grade (especially at 8 in the morning), I kept going back to the idea behind this "mermaid" themed shoot that I had been editing on and off the last several weeks. I kept thinking how amazing it would be to know what was going through this character's mind and why she was where she was and what her expressions meant. The script was written in early June, so the shoot, which took place in early May, had already been completed, meaning the images don't align in complete perfection. However, I think I've found an awesome process to use in order to do a creative shoot like this in the future and have the viewers try to see this "movie trailer" or "short film" using their imagination between the script and the photos I use together.
>>Side note: I really can't believe I'm posting this script for the general public to read because honest to goodness, I've never been so self-conscious about a piece of writing I've ever done in my life. But it's all for a good cause. Below is the script, followed by the images, followed by some behind the scenes. Enjoy!
Behind the Scenes
A very special thanks to the people who made this shoot possible...
Model: Victoria Venskoske
Special Effects & Makeup: Alyssa Emigh
Assistant: Camille Madison
Location: Jeannie Werner
Live by faith & share through fotos.
Internship with Kaela Speicher: Week 3 (Part 2)
Reveal of Kaela's shoot in collaboration with Mt. Lebanon Floral that I assisted in retouching.
The second part of Week 3 was spent assisting retouching images for a recent collaboration Kaela shot for Mt. Lebanon Floral. From the first intro to retouching she demonstrated, we went over her retouching workflow from start to finish, and techniques that allows her images to look flawless and, ironically, untouched when it comes to editing.
I am so in awe to have been a part of editing a shoot so absolutely breathtaking! Wonderful work and an incredible shoot to everyone involved. Below is a look book created by Kaela with the final images made by an amazing team, listed below as well.
Team Credits:
Floral Design: Mt. Lebanon Floral
Photography and Wardrobe: Kaela Speicher
Retouching Assistance: Leah Schonauer
Hair: Natosha Durr
Makeup: Shana Lohr
Model: Grace Hogan
Live by faith & share through fotos.
Internship with Kaela Speicher: Week 1
My first week interning with Kaela Speicher, and a recently retouched image from a past shoot of mine, edited with retouching techniques taught by Kaela.
This past Monday was my last, first day of a new quarter as a photo student at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Oddly enough, I woke up bright and earlier with a huge smile on my face and excited to go to school. Which, in the rule book of a senior college student, I'm assuming that breaks all of them. Needless to say, I was more than excited to start learning one-on-one with Kaela beforehand. We met for our first official internship meeting Monday morning, covering Lightroom workflow and the beginning of retouching.
Retouching and post-production work 'makes my heart happy' if I can put it that way. I love the complete process of making a photo into another that's entirely new. I like to think that I can see the potential a photo has after I've shot it- not because it's a bad photo, but just how much more it can be elevated with post-editing. Retouching is a long process. And when I say it's a long process, I mean a while back I had to go to the chiropractor to get my wrists adjusted because I spent that much time at my computer. As some people dread the editing process, I highly enjoy having endless possibilities of altering a photo, literally at your fingertips. It can get very extensive at times, but seeing the difference from before to after is so rewarding.
Kaela sent me several photos she had shot, to practice her retouching technique. So much effort and time goes into editing, but the results aren't technically even noticeable, because the goal of retouching is to make it look like the photo wasn't touched. The file she had sent me as a reference she had edited had both before and after, and my jaw literally dropped when I saw how much work had been put into the photo. Her editing is so flawless that it's difficult to find the hours invested in such a beautiful image.
Through the week I have been working on different images, practicing the retouching technique that Kaela taught me. There is oh so much more to learn, and many more hours of practice to come. I came across a shoot from just over a year ago I had done with my sister when I first got my Alien Bee, and wanted to rework the editing and style I had previously. Below are the before and after shots- the straight out of camera image and my recently retouched image.
Internship with Kaela Speicher
An overview of my upcoming quarter interning with Pittsburgh photographer, Kaela Speicher.
Photo by Kaela Speicher
Yesterday afternoon I had the opportunity to meet with Kaela Speicher, a highly talented photographer based in Pittsburgh, PA with a passion in her styled fashion photography. Her personal work shows her many skills ranging from envisioning a shoot stylistically to the final retouching in post-production. I met with Kaela to finalize working as an intern with her my final quarter at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, going over schedules, itinerary, and goals for this exciting opportunity.
When I first saw Kaela's work, I was very interested in her editing style; her retouching is so clean and hides the many hours of post-production in its natural appearance. Looking at her work, you can see the eye she has not only for each shot itself, but for the vision, styling, and location scouting that comes along with each shoot. Even though there is so much work before, during, and hours of editing after shooting for the final image, she enjoys what she does, and it shows.
See Kaela's fashion work on her website: www.kaelaspeicher.com.
Internship Goals
Over the next several months, I will be sharing updates about the Internship process with a look at what I'm learning, behind the scenes, and current projects. With the knowledge that Kaela has in a photography career, I have many goals for this time in working with her.
1. Retouching. Phlearn is an amazing site that has taught me everything I know about retouching and post-production, but I know I can always improve my skills and learn different methods. With the endless possibilities in Photoshop, there are countless ways to approach editing. My goal is to learn to new ways to retouch for a natural and an "unedited" look. Along with this, getting an effective workflow down would benefit my working process.
2. Reviewing technical skills and marketing strategies. Reviewing the basics are never a bad idea, and sometimes you can learn something that you missed the first round. I want to work my way up in reviewing from the basics of photography to business and marketing strategies, as well as building SEO. Some additional steps I would like to cover are what types of jobs are ideal for my personal style in work.
3. Transitioning from the label "student" to "professional". It's the curse of a photo student. People tend to look down on students and not consider them professional until they have degrees. As we are told by our professors, we are to look at our work and ourselves as professionals, as this is the only way we can be viewed as one. However, the actual transition to the real world from student life is harsh and sudden. It's a huge reality check and will make or break you. Upon graduation, I hope to push myself to use my learned skills in a career setting and keep working to find the job for my work.
4. Keeping organized and scheduling shoots in a successful way. It's easy to become bombarded when dealing with multiple sides of a business by yourself and coordinating shoots between a model, makeup artist, hair stylist, and personal schedules. It's a necessity that I learn how to keep this balanced and keeping some sanity along the way.
5. Developing my final portfolio in my style. I feel that often it's difficult to shoot specifically for a personal portfolio. When you are shooting for other people and their visions, it's easy to push your personal work aside. As I am graduating at the end of the Internship, I would like to gear everything I produce to my final portfolio that reveals my personal style.
Internship Final Project
Kaela also introduced the idea for the end of my Internship to shoot a project, and have her as my assistant in the shooting process. This would serve as a final project to showcase my improved skills over the three month period and shot specifically as a personal projects. Highly inspired by the work of Brooke Shaden, a fine art photographer, and Kirsty Mitchell, a fine art and fashion photographer well known for her Wonderland series, I want to develop a conceptual shoot with the intricate details to produce a surreal and styled environment and look. This will also push me to work with other artists for styling and allow me to use composite and retouching techniques as well.
Next week I'll be sharing more about my Internship with Kaela as it officially begins in the new and my final quarter at The Art Institute. Thanks for reading!
Live by faith & share through fotos.
Laying Framework for "Boundaries"
Behind the scenes of framing the YPA "Boundaries" images in collaboration with my Dad.
A few weeks ago, I shared photos from the YPA "Boundaries" Gallery that took place at Studio 3702 in Lawrenceville, downtown Pittsburgh. What you may or may not know is that the frames that displayed my photos were a side art project for my Dad and I to complete together.
You're probably wondering why I wouldn't have just bought frames. When looking at the images of these people, I wanted the frame to resemble looking through a window into this little world of "wisdom". (To read more on my series, visit my previous blog post or gallery on my home page). Plus, I love collaborating in DIY projects, and this was right up Dad's alley. And I can't forget the deal breaker- building something yourself can save a heck of a lot of cash, just don't forget the amount of time you're exchanging.
The frames were handmade from simple barnwood found in my grandparents barn. My Dad had glass cut for each frame and rigged a system that lit my images from behind, which unexpectedly created an effect that made the characters in the photos become much more real and 3D. Something that can be simply put into words doesn't always give credit for the amount of time spent working on a given project.
Thank goodness Dad is a genius when it comes to building things. With my own doing, the frames probably would have been hanging upside down. Being grateful only begins what I am for having Dad and others that support me and my art, let alone collaborate with me! Thank you times a million!!
Dad holding the final product after a full week of work on the five frames we designed and he built from scratch.
Live by faith & share through fotos.