Personality Imaging

“You don't make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.”  - Ansel Adams

I'm Gary Grimes, the photographer of Personality Imaging.  My rates range from extremely cheap for fun and creative stuff to ridiculously high for pictures of girls in jeans and sweatshirts on park benches.  Although I am working on CD covers, calendar projects, print ads, display prints, and other projects, the focus of my work is on modeling, acting, and dancing portfolios.  I am particularly interested in fitness/sports/action shots, shots with pumped up female bodybuilders/fitness girls and outdoor fine art shots.  Also really like to work with so called alternative models, but kind of hate the term.  I also have some ideas for very humorous and slightly naughty shots if you want some fun stuff for your port.  I also have some high fashion nudes and outdoor lingerie shots planned.   I've been shooting photos seriously for over 50 years, and it just keeps getting more fun every year.  I've had two big transitions, from sheet film to roll film and from roll film to digital.  I do some TF now and then, but generally just for whacky and edgy stuff.

I usually prefer to shoot on location for more interesting shots even though I have the latest studio equipment with a nice seven light setup.  I am occasionally doing some TFCD work so don't be afraid to ask.  But please don't ask for TFCD if you want to shoot in cut offs and a T shirt in the park, ain't gonna happen.   I don't do TF or paid work with models who don't do TF, if you're in this just for the money I'm not going to work with you for free, for money, whatever. 

I mostly do portfolio shoots for models, dancers, actresses, and athletes, as well as ads, catalog, and magazine work.  Most of the outfits in my photos are mine and I have ten times as many totally new unworn ones - mostly fetish, swimsuits, and lingerie.  I like to help models communicate entire ideas, concepts, moods, etc., graphically with no words in ways that take a viewer on a special trip in a magical direction.  I'm way too old to care about awards, merit badges, rank, etc., just want to have fun and create art.  As you can see I love all styles of pictures, so it is a little hard to predict what we might come up with, but it's always fun.  If you don't intend to show up, please let me know a day ahead of time because at my age I enjoy a good nap as much as a great shoot.

I like to work with all talented models, but often actresses, dancers, and fitness ladies are the most fun.  I am limiting my shoots with juniors to those I have already shot with.   Although my shoots are always fun, I have the utmost respect for models and try hard to make everyone feel safe and comfortable during the shoots.  I will shoot just about anything but flip-flops and women on toilets and snakes.  It is questionable if I would shoot a wet hair flip in a lake with caution tape and angel wings.  If you want boring pictures those will be very expensive.  I love both traditional glamour and fine art/fetish pictures in abandoned buildings, graveyards, etc.  If you want pictures in jeans and a sweatshirt in the park you couldn't afford them.  I do bridal shoots, maternity shoots, engagement pictures, portfolios for male models and musicians but never for TFCD.  These shoots require a deposit and rates start at $350 for a two hour shoot with 4 retouched images and no MUA or prints.  Warren Buffet couldn't afford me for a wedding.

I shoot nudes and implieds, but I have never talked anyone into or out of anything.  Note to all the models who won't shoot nudes but will shoot bodypaint:  WTF???

I hire models for print ads, catalog, brochure work, etc.  When a client pays me, I pay the model.  I don't pay for mutual portfolio development, but generously share rights and images with models.  Pay is simple, if I'm getting paid you do too, if you're getting paid then I do too.  If neither of us is getting paid then we're just having fun.  My model release gives you full print and promotional rights.

I have multiple pictures of the same models in my portfolio - I have shot with many other models but tend to get the best pictures when I shoot with the same model multiple times and have a chance to see the results and find their best angles, etc.

I usually shoot with a female assistant to prevent major screw ups.

I don't really have a "style" like some do, so that you know how your pictures are going to turn out before you take them.  To me that's kind of a rut, but if there is something in particular you are looking for I can usually figure out how to do it.  The closest thing I have to a style is that female models usually look glamorous, intelligent, and in control in my shots.

I also have a professional three chip HD video camera, CW video lights and wireless mics if for some goofy reason you want videos.

For better or worse, this is an original portfolio, not a portfolio on training wheels taken at workshops.  That's like shooting fish in a barrel.  I also do all my own post work.

I am totally fascinated with the technology of photography.  I have 73 U.S. Patents, mostly in the fields of optics, photography, and video, with lots more in the works.  But I still enjoy just getting together with models, MUA's, stylists, other photographers etc. and creating some fun pictures more than the technology.

I'm on here to meet fun and creative people.  I have never entered a contest on here and don't intend to.  Just not on here for that.  I honestly don't give a rats ass about awards, etc. except for maybe the ones I can eat.  And I'm not going to irritate my friends by asking them to vote for me.   I'm here for collaborating and taking it to the next level, not competing.  If you want to win a prize more power to you.  Models, MUAs, stylists etc. are welcome to use our pics to enter contests so long as entering or winning doesn't require a transfer of copyright or a license under the copyright.

I don't forget to give models and makeup artists credits on here, if there is no credit they are not on here.  Hint to models:  if a photographer doesn't have any model credits on his/her port, you know whether the photographer respects models as creative collaborators or whether they are just mannequins.

I don't see the attraction for pinup.  I lived through the 1950's and it was an extremely repressive time for the creative arts.

I am an old retired Bell Labs scientist and retired university professor, but photography has always been my first love.

I do fun shoots with other area photographers so if you see almost identical images on our ports that's why, nobody is stealing images. 

You are definitely worth $150/hr.  So am I.  When the shoot is over, you're done, I still have 90%+ of the work to do.  So when we call if even, you win!  My normal rate is $350 for a two hour shoot that includes 6 retouched images, or $250 plus 50 cents an hour for retouching, which usually ends up to be more.

My current focus areas are fine art nudes, fetish nudes, high fashion nudes, alternative and whacky. 

I never been a professional photographer.  That would ruin everything.  If I were making a living at this I would be far more difficult and expensive to work with.  It's great to be able to concentrate on creative concepts and not worry about making a buck.  On the other hand my Social Security check doesn't allow me to pay models unless I'm getting paid or have some way to recover the investment.

I'm not an agency but I do have some contacts and I have gotten some of the models I have worked with paying modeling jobs.  Definitely not guaranteed though.

I do not post professional pictures on facebook and google+, but models are welcome to post the shots on facebook or on other social media sites.  I could get gobs of business by posting pics on facebook like most photographers do, but I just don't want models to worry about having pics on facebook that aren't their favorites or that they don't want seen outside the photography/modeling world.  Besides, at facebook maximum resolution the pictures look like crap anyway.  Facebook is not conducive to free expression and quality - kind of like the iTunes of graphics.  Images on here don't look great here either, but it's important to share with other artists.  And Instagram has stolen people's pictures without permission and then sued them for not having a proper model release!  NO Instagram posting of my pictures!!  Besides, they aren't square.

I am not interested in shooting with a whole bunch of models.  I am interested in shooting with a few models multiple times and getting better together every time.

Every single model I have shot trade with has promptly gotten ALL the images we shot, had a chance to pick out some for editing herself, and has gotten ALL of the full res edits.

I will travel in the USA with expenses paid if I feel like getting off my dead ass.  However I am a freedom loving person and I don't travel to places where large sugary drinks, Happy Meals, handguns, handcuffs, large magazines, plastic foam packaging, and plastic bags are illegal, which includes NYC, San Francisco, Chicago, Portland, NJ, and LA, and regrettably, some other places.

If you want to be my friend on here you don't have to jump thru hoops, leave comments, cook me breakfast (I barely make it up in time for lunch), or anything, all friends welcome.  If making art isn't your primary goal you aren't worth my time and energy.  And sorry there isn't a Reader's Digest version of this.  If you want professional quality pictures without the professional stress and drama please message me on here.

"When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs.  When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence."  - Ansel Adams

"There are no rules for great pictures.  Only great pictures."  - Ansel Andams


take care,
Gary Grimes