First things first:
-I'll have limited availability until June as I'm getting married in May. Still feel free to contact me and if I can squeeze you in I will, otherwise we can get something scheduled for later. Thanks!
-Please do not fish for me to hire and pay you. If I'm not getting paid to begin with, how am I going to pay you?
-While I'm starting to move more towards paid gigs only, I'm open to doing a TF shoot a month, schedule permitting. I like having fresh faces in front of the camera. Generally I'll contact you for TF, and I'll have an idea for what I want shot. If you contact me for TF and only say "I' want to shoot" I probably won't respond. However if you come to me and say "I'd like to shoot, and this is the concept/idea I have for a shot" then I'll put the effort in and we'll make it happen.
-I usually insist on a MUA, because it makes the model look awesome, and it makes my (photoshop) job easier. I have a few MUAs that I use, but if you'd like to bring your own that's fine too.
-If you have received a friend request from me, please understand that I didn't just go down a list and hit add. It means I actually checked out your portfolio and what you had to say about yourself, and I liked what I saw. I might like to shoot with you one day in the future.
-Attention mua's: I'm looking to capture some headshots that can really show off your abilities. I'm looking for MAC style stuff that really has alot of color. Contact me for examples of what I'm looking for and we'll get something going. I wouldn't mind paying you a small fee to help cover materials, and if you don't have a friend that will model for you, I'm sure I can find someone!
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Now a little about me:
My name is James.
I have a day job, so I'm not starving for work. It means that I pick and choose who and what I want to shoot. It also means that I try to give each shoot all of my attention, especially in post processing.
I have a fiance, so I'm not on this site to try and get a date. We've been together for a few years. She's sometimes around when I shoot at my home studio or on location. She knows how to push my creative buttons and I love it when she's around.
I've been interested in photography for about the last 10 years. When I received my first programmable digital camera in 2001 I was definitely hooked. Since then I've learned so much, and continue to learn with every shot and shoot.
I generally shoot out of my home studio in Dallas, but I can bring my equipment to your location as well. If you're doing a shoot at my place you are encouraged to bring a friend/etc and they can sit behind the camera with me while I shoot. I find that this helps break the ice a little and will turn the shoot into something fun. No more than one or two people please.
My main focus is glamour and fashion style pictures, but that doesn't mean I won't attempt other types of shots.
While I wouldn't consider myself an "expert" in Photoshop and Lightroom when compared some, I would say I'm better than 80% of those that claim to be an expert. There are very few photos I take that do not get a least a little treatment in Lightroom and Photoshop. It's not that the pictures are bad out of the camera, I'm just a perfectionist and want them to look -awesome-. I skin smooth, remove any bags under the eyes, take out blemishes, clean up the hair line, bring out your eyes, and remove random things in the background to name a few. I also have my own post processing routines that really make the pictures pop.
I believe that a shoot shouldn't just be all photographer or all model. I believe it's a collaboration between both to produce a great picture. So while I might have the general idea for an image, I encourage other ideas that would make it a better shot.
I don't shoot playboy style nudes or implied shots. If you'd like those kinds of shots, I know a couple of good photogs that can help you with that. Artistic implied or nudes are on a case by case basis.
Check my availability on my website. If you are interested, please contact me here, or on my website:
http://www.thelabphotography.com
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