Dennis Santarinala wrote:
There are only 2 photographers (Eddie Baute www.eddiebaute.com & Rich Markese www.markesephotography.com) that for me is the best in their field. I wanted to develop my own style through their methods as of how they do their lighting and composition. I only got 2 alienbees B-800s and its just hard when you dont know any photographers around that are willing to collaborate some work with especially for training. So there it is... How do you create such stunning artwork like their photos?

Dennis Santarinala wrote:
There are only 2 photographers (Eddie Baute www.eddiebaute.com & Rich Markese www.markesephotography.com) that for me is the best in their field. I wanted to develop my own style through their methods as of how they do their lighting and composition. I only got 2 alienbees B-800s and its just hard when you dont know any photographers around that are willing to collaborate some work with especially for training. So there it is... How do you create such stunning artwork like their photos?

Years of school, practice, and hard work.....and you have to be born with it........

re- photography wrote:

Years of school, practice, and hard work.....and you have to be born with it........

Born with it I agree.. Ive seen photographers whos been in the business for more than 20 years and still their photos look like crap. And whats funny is that other models and photographers acknowledge them in public.

I just wanna get better in studio. Find myself a great inspiration and off I go.

re- photography wrote:

Years of school, practice, and hard work.....and you have to be born with it........

I respectfully disagree.  Many of top photographers in the world (I won't name names here, but I've witnessed it first hand), Can't turn on a pack and don't know any F-stop from a bus stop.  They do however have one thing. An eye for composition and a plan for the shot that they can articulate. The rest can be hired.

SMN

Dennis Santarinala wrote:

Born with it I agree.. Ive seen photographers whos been in the business for more than 20 years and still their photos look like crap. And whats funny is that other models and photographers acknowledge them in public.

I just wanna get better in studio. Find myself a great inspiration and off I go.

Where/how did you learn studio lighting initially? Maybe you need to "unlearn" and then "relearn" for what you are trying to accomplish. I found initilally learning learning studio lighting with strobes very humbling at first because I had to drop all my natural light "seeing it" tendencies and learn to see what isn't there and then know how to create it before ever taking a photo. One of the best things for me was thinking back to highschool 3D computer animation courses where we would light imaginary objects with imaginary lights and considering how I learned that.

Scott Nathan wrote:

I respectfully disagree.  Many of top photographers in the world (I won't name names here, but I've witnessed it first hand), Can't turn on a pack and don't know any F-stop from a bus stop.  They do however have one thing. An eye for composition and a plan for the shot that they can articulate. The rest can be hired.

SMN

I like to do everything my self, mostly out of necessity though (low budgets). I would never take credit for a photo that I didn't light, expose, frame, etc. myself. I also like building sets......and sometimes I model for my own shots using timers and triggers, but not for paid shoots..........I'll agree with you that that is how many professionals may do things, but from my perspective, if you just want to arange/compose things become a stylist of some sort.

Dennis Santarinala wrote:
There are only 2 photographers (Eddie Baute www.eddiebaute.com & Rich Markese www.markesephotography.com) that for me is the best in their field. I wanted to develop my own style through their methods as of how they do their lighting and composition. I only got 2 alienbees B-800s and its just hard when you dont know any photographers around that are willing to collaborate some work with especially for training. So there it is... How do you create such stunning artwork like their photos?

You study their pictures, don’t just look at them. The eyes and skin in a photograph can tell you a lot and hold many secrets

re- photography wrote:

I like to do everything my self, mostly out of necessity though (low budgets). I would never take credit for a photo that I didn't light, expose, frame, etc. myself. I also like building sets......and sometimes I model for my own shots using timers and triggers, but not for paid shoots..........I'll agree with you that that is how many professionals may do things, but from my perspective, if you just want to arange/compose things become a stylist of some sort.

Everyone has their own method to the madness and there is no right (or wrong) way.  I spend a lot of time storyboarding shots.  Never believed in "winging it" in anyway.  I'll come in to a shoot with pages and pages of references.  Face lit like this, leg shadow like that, pose similar to this, backlights here. etc etc. etc.

Gilles Bensimmon once said, if you don't have the best of everything from talent, to hair, to makeup, to sets... You're just playing and wasting everyones time... Particularly your own.

Go big or go home. Why even get in the game unless you plan to be at the top of the food chain?  I went from a previous career (and a rather comfortable life) to spending my entire life savings on a year of tests. And whille I'm certainly nowhere near where I'd like to be, I'm pleased with where I'm at for the beginning of my 3rd year in this career.  If you can stomach the bread and water diet of humble beginnings... I believe it can be done.

I also learned more from assisting shooters I respect than anything I learned in college.  I also believe that photo schools like Brooks produce great first assistants. Not great photographers.

Just my opinion... I could be wrong.
SMN

Dennis Santarinala wrote:
There are only 2 photographers (Eddie Baute www.eddiebaute.com & Rich Markese www.markesephotography.com) that for me is [sic] the best in their field.

Eddie, for example, have you asked him directly about his lighting techniques? I mean, he does maintain a port here at MM ----- # 25988 ...

re- photography wrote:
Years of school, practice, and hard work.....and you have to be born with it........

... but hmm,..., maybe it's the "vision" of which we're really speaking here. sure, can go to school & learn technique but "vision"? might can cultivate it?

F

Scott Nathan wrote:
I also learned more from assisting shooters I respect than anything I learned in college.  I also believe that photo schools like Brooks produce great first assistants. Not great photographers.

Just my opinion... I could be wrong.
SMN

All well put, but I disagree about Brooks putting out great first assistants. I've worked with a few brookies, and have had to deal with unsafe rigging, questionable set ettiquete, and poor business practices. (Nothing malicious, just noobish mistakes)
I believe that experienced assistants produce the best assistants....at least that is what worked for me.

Daniel_Bergeron wrote:

All well put, but I disagree about Brooks putting out great first assistants. I've worked with a few brookies, and have had to deal with unsafe rigging, questionable set ettiquete, and poor business practices. (Nothing malicious, just noobish mistakes)
I believe that experienced assistants produce the best assistants....at least that is what worked for me.

Agreed.  Great 2nd & third assitants.  To start anyway. Your 1st should forget more about phtography techinically, than you'll ever know.

Scott Nathan wrote:

Everyone has their own method to the madness and there is no right (or wrong) way.  I spend a lot of time storyboarding shots.  Never believed in "winging it" in anyway.  I'll come in to a shoot with pages and pages of references.  Face lit like this, leg shadow like that, pose similar to this, backlights here. etc etc. etc.

Gilles Bensimmon once said, if you don't have the best of everything from talent, to hair, to makeup, to sets... You're just playing and wasting everyones time... Particularly your own.

Go big or go home. Why even get in the game unless you plan to be at the top of the food chain?  I went from a previous career (and a rather comfortable life) to spending my entire life savings on a year of tests. And whille I'm certainly nowhere near where I'd like to be, I'm pleased with where I'm at for the beginning of my 3rd year in this career.  If you can stomach the bread and water diet of humble beginnings... I believe it can be done.

I also learned more from assisting shooters I respect than anything I learned in college.  I also believe that photo schools like Brooks produce great first assistants. Not great photographers.

Just my opinion... I could be wrong.
SMN

Respectfully I would disagree with Mr. Bensimmon.  I don't think you need the
best of anything to produce great work.  What is often missing in much of the
work seen on MM is vision and consistency.  There's talent all over this site
but many here aren't able to be consistent which is one of the hall marks of the
professional.  Another thing that is often spoken about is being able to work
freely with good people.  Having to always search out models and have them
disappear on you for shoots is not only a pisser but gets in the way of much of
the creative process.  One thing you are doing which is very smart is planning
shoots from sets to lighting.  There are two things I think that would help many
here, one is using a MUA if you can't afford to hire one have the model go to
a store but always try and have a MUA if possible.  The second is pratice with
friends if at all possible and produce work you can show with real models.  In other
words if you have a new ideal, work with it with a friend.  Get the lighting and
ideal together and when you have a solid model shoot her so that instead of
average results you get work that shines because you've worked all the kinks
out.  Now here's something that some may take me to task for.  Some of you
need to not offer TFP to every model willing to wear a mini dress or shed her
clothes.  Once you reach a certain level its time to step up your game.  Just
because a model wants to shoot with you means you shoot her.  Hobby or not.
Consider with care what a model will add or not to what you are doing.

Scott Nathan wrote:

Everyone has their own method to the madness and there is no right (or wrong) way.  I spend a lot of time storyboarding shots.  Never believed in "winging it" in anyway.  I'll come in to a shoot with pages and pages of references.  Face lit like this, leg shadow like that, pose similar to this, backlights here. etc etc. etc.

Gilles Bensimmon once said, if you don't have the best of everything from talent, to hair, to makeup, to sets... You're just playing and wasting everyones time... Particularly your own.

Go big or go home. Why even get in the game unless you plan to be at the top of the food chain?  I went from a previous career (and a rather comfortable life) to spending my entire life savings on a year of tests. And whille I'm certainly nowhere near where I'd like to be, I'm pleased with where I'm at for the beginning of my 3rd year in this career.  If you can stomach the bread and water diet of humble beginnings... I believe it can be done.

I also learned more from assisting shooters I respect than anything I learned in college.  I also believe that photo schools like Brooks produce great first assistants. Not great photographers.

Just my opinion... I could be wrong.
SMN

Respectfully I would disagree with Mr. Bensimmon.  I don't think you need the
best of anything to produce great work.  What is often missing in much of the
work seen on MM is vision and consistency.  There's talent all over this site
but many here aren't able to be consistent which is one of the hall marks of the
professional.  Another thing that is often spoken about is being able to work
freely with good people.  Having to always search out models and have them
disappear on you for shoots is not only a pisser but gets in the way of much of
the creative process.  One thing you are doing which is very smart is planning
shoots from sets to lighting.  There are two things I think that would help many
here, one is using a MUA if you can't afford to hire one have the model go to
a store but always try and have a MUA if possible.  The second is pratice with
friends if at all possible and produce work you can show with real models.  In other
words if you have a new ideal, work with it with a friend.  Get the lighting and
ideal together and when you have a solid model shoot her so that instead of
average results you get work that shines because you've worked all the kinks
out.  Now here's something that some may take me to task for.  Some of you
need to not offer TFP to every model willing to wear a mini dress or shed her
clothes.  Once you reach a certain level its time to step up your game.  Just
because a model wants to shoot with you means you shoot her.  Hobby or not.
Consider with care what a model will add or not to what you are doing.

Photos By Davian wrote:
it's not hard to get great photos when you got good subject matter. try making whoopi goldberg look hot.

i've read comments like this one all through this thread. i've shot with LOTS of photographers, many of them established pros and many of those "pros" i wouldn't want to shoot with again.  but when eddie calls, i can't get to his studio fast enough.  i've seen my unretouched images with him, and it's not that he goes crazy with photoshop.  if you think it's that he only shoots with gorgeous girls, take a close look at the other shots of those girls in their own portfolios.  eddie's not afraid to try crazy poses and have fun with what he's doing.  if it doesn't work, it just doesn't work and you move on to the next idea.  he's had me do things that seemed totally insane, but i completely trust him and never fail to be amazed by the images we get.  his lighting is simple, and you CAN'T hire the crew who sets up for him because there is no crew.  it's all him and it's his unbelievable talent that makes those shots.  damn!  just thinking about it makes me wanna run over to his studio and PLAY!!!

fashion industry inc wrote:
How about this guy..his name i think is Johnny Crosslin, somebody could explain to me how his pictures look like that?...he spray-tan all the models before the shoot?...light?...etc thanks

Pam cooking spray.

fashion industry inc wrote:
How about this guy..his name i think is Johnny Crosslin, somebody could explain to me how his pictures look like that?...he spray-tan all the models before the shoot?...light?...etc thanks

from what i've been told, it's post production.  lots and lots of it.  i've heard of girls being fired when they showed up for jobs and didn't look like they did in his shots.  that said, he's still an amazing photographer.

Eddie Baute wrote:
Okay, here's what I think...but before I say anything let me give you guys a little inside on my background.

- Pickup a camera 4 yrs ago...yes, I didn't know any of the technical side of photography.
- I love photoshop, but I'm not an illustrator. I don't do alot photoshop. 5mins per image tops. I do the same things to all my images wether the model is 18 or 50. I spend enough time as it is answering emails and don't need to spend more time on post processing...sorry, no magic here either!!! I'm nonewhere near masters of PS like Jeffrey Scott, Michael Rosen & Max V...which I admire for their talent and vision.
- I can't recommend any books, workshops or classes because the thruth is I have never read a book(ADD maybe), I have never being to a class or workshop.

Ok with that said...here's what I think.

Although there are amazing photographers like Jerry Avenaim(Yes, you misspelled it Mgaphoto) and many others, when I first got into photography I wanted to be unique and provide my own unique vision, I didn't want my images to be like anyone elses. I didn't want to mimic anyone...I wanted to stay true to my vision. So, it's not about the lights...because there is nothing special about it. It's not about the photoshop, because I'm don't do much of it. It's not about the camera because I get great shots wether I'm using a D100 or D2X. It's all about what I see at the moment I press that shutter...be unique and don't be affraid to go with what catches your eye...because that's what I do!!! If you have the eye you will get great shots even if you're using homedepot lighting...which I have used in the past...LOL

Take Care,
Eddie Baute.

Another talented Texan,  there is something to be said for talent and a creative
eye.  I don't think I'd get as good a shot with most of Eddie's models because
he has a better eye for fashion and thats what so tricky about a lot of this.
You just can't compare your vision to other photographers because guess what.
There are guys who just pick up a camera and will be better then you.  I play
tennis and I'm not bad but there are people with talent and ablity who are just
better.  However comparing your work to others like Eddie or Chip or Bruce T.
or Jerry A.  will only make you sad.  Focus on your vision. Learn from them and
admire their talent but don't dwell on what they do because you aren't them.

Tony Lawrence wrote:

Another talented Texan,  there is something to be said for talent and a creative
eye.  I don't think I'd get as good a shot with most of Eddie's models because
he has a better eye for fashion and thats what so tricky about a lot of this.
You just can't compare your vision to other photographers because guess what.
There are guys who just pick up a camera and will be better then you.  I play
tennis and I'm not bad but there are people with talent and ablity who are just
better.  However comparing your work to others like Eddie or Chip or Bruce T.
or Jerry A.  will only make you sad.  Focus on your vision. Learn from them and
admire their talent but don't dwell on what they do because you aren't them.

VERY WELL SAID TONY!!!!

Rae01 wrote:

i've read comments like this one all through this thread. i've shot with LOTS of photographers, many of them established pros and many of those "pros" i wouldn't want to shoot with again.  but when eddie calls, i can't get to his studio fast enough.  i've seen my unretouched images with him, and it's not that he goes crazy with photoshop.  if you think it's that he only shoots with gorgeous girls, take a close look at the other shots of those girls in their own portfolios.  eddie's not afraid to try crazy poses and have fun with what he's doing.  if it doesn't work, it just doesn't work and you move on to the next idea.  he's had me do things that seemed totally insane, but i completely trust him and never fail to be amazed by the images we get.  his lighting is simple, and you CAN'T hire the crew who sets up for him because there is no crew.  it's all him and it's his unbelievable talent that makes those shots.  damn!  just thinking about it makes me wanna run over to his studio and PLAY!!!

I think you have misread some of the comments. I don't anyone has stated that he does poor work, but it isn't genius either. Of course that is why everyone has their own opinions you love this guy that much that you want to shoot over and over with him, that is great for you...whoops I mean him...lol.

Dennis Santarinala wrote:
I dont wanna give everybody the idea that Im trying to copy the guy's work, Im just amazed at how he does it. A lot here probably has the same equipment or probably even more expensive than his but I just admire his methods. We all crave to be perfect in our own style of photography and learning a proven method isnt wrong I guess. Of course someday I wanna be famous for my work because I developed my own style through the help of these guys. I started out as a web and graphics designer a couple of years ago and I will do everything in my knowledge to be the best out here. I picked up photography a year ago and I  think Im doing ok.

More power to all Nikon users!

You're doing great!!!