BTS (not K-pop), Not Necessarily Behind the Scenes, More Like Between the Scenes

I really want to bring you the behind the scenes peak into the daily process of my business, but there is the fundamental challenge of finding time to shoot more than the session. Remember, studio time is at a premium and we usually push it until the last second to get the most out of the session. I can only haul so much gear around, so setting up video isn’t always an option. Availability of an assistant requires complicated scheduling and planetary alignment, and all of it adds to post production work as well. So for now, there will be some behind the scenes video, and some between the scenes stills.

I decided to take baby steps and start with some between the scenes Polaroids, and some candid and quick pose photos, taken in between sets in the studio and on location. You may have seen some of the polaroids on my IG stories. But soon I will be bringing in some videos as well. Are instructional/“how-to” videos something you are interested in? Let me know in the comments. I’ve also been thinking about doing some live, in person , instructional sessions at the studio. Maybe a class or two on studio lighting and retouching. In the meantime I’m loving the editorial style photos that remind me of Linda McCartney’s awesome shots of famous rock n roll legends (the vibe, not the quality, she was a seriously under rated photographer). Here are some examples from recent shoots.

The Polaroid has been a really cool, recent addition. I have been so fortunate to work with the most wonderful people, and the Polaroid helps me remember the moments in a very fun way. As I accumulate more of these moments, I will build a board of all who come to the studio. The big fun will start when I begin shooting some medium format film with the Mamiya RB67, coming very soon.

Videos are coming soon, as I get back into the habit of setting it up. You may remember some of my past bts videos. Here are a few examples:

Please let me know if you like this style, or would you prefer something more interactive, instructional, or completely different. Your feedback would be super appreciated and beneficial. Cheers

Send Me an Angel

Most of you will probably not remember the song reference “Send Me an Angel” by Real Life, circa 1983, but that is what happened for this photo shoot. Angel (IG @peachesinarizona) and I have discussed working together for a very, very long time, and it was phenomenal to finally meet and create some magical images. She was the perfect muse to build this set around and create this editorial/graphic art shoot for her to star in. She was expressive and really brought this to life. Believe it or not, the inspiration for this shoot was licorice. No not black licorice, but that old time candy, layered pink and black. On this set I used Savage’s seamless background paper in coral, two long fabric runners in sheer black, draped over the paper and running along the floor, which both framed her on the back wall, and created leading lines to her on the floor. A black velvet chaise, a few pink, furry pillows and a pink AT&T wall phone, finish off the set. A classic black cocktail dress and heels, along with some rhinestone accented, cateye glasses create the look. Angel pulls it off exquisitely. In the second photo here I found a hard bound edition of Pride and Prejudice in the same color scheme, to emphasize the cateye glasses, stylish librarian look. What do you think, is she an Elizabeth Bennet or a Jane Bennet?

The second look utilized the same set, but lowering the key light to be a fill, and using the Westcott Optical Spot, by Lindsay Adler, created the window effect and provided key lighting. All of these shots used two large vflats and a small kick light for her hair. We switched to a silk night shirt, sort of a Doris Day and Rock Hudson inspired “Pillow Talk” vibe, but with a slightly more modern edge.

I’m beyond thrilled with how these came together and overwhelmed by Angel’s professionalism, kindness and positive energy. The results speak for themselves. There will be other looks, video, and behind the scenes coming from this session very soon! Which his your favorite? Please let me know if you have any questions or comments (comment down below), or contact me via email, text or DM me on IG @chrispeacor. All of my contact information is on this site.

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I Like All Different Clothes... As Long As They're Black

I had the unbelievably good fortune of working with model Alexia (IG @alexiakorozco) this month! We went with a number of different styles of…. wait for it…. black outfits. I love black, I shoot in black frequently. And although Alexia can model any color, everyone looks good in black. For this shoot, I went with a Savage Universal, pure white seamless paper backdrop, Westcott FJ400 key light with a rapid switch softbox, another fj400 kick light with a 1x3 rectangular softbox, another fj400 for soft fill with a shoot through umbrella. Also, two fj200s to illuminate the backdrop. I used two giant, black vflats to create some more dramatic shadows. This setup gives me control over the light from every angle and creates a lot of dimensionality, while maintaining a flattering light.

You can have perfect lighting, an amazing camera (I shoot Sony and Leica), a perfect set, and a great rapport with your subject and still not create magic like this. The magic comes from the shapes you and your subject create! You have to communicate and work together to get the expressions, the actions, and the shapes that make an image dynamic. Alexia is phenomenal, we really clicked with communication, and it shows in the images! I adjusted the light to create some interesting background shadows on these. Let me know what you think of this session, or if you have any questions. Don’t forget you can always DM me on IG (@chrispeacor), you can email, or text me. If you are looking to book your shoot, click the “Book Me Now” button in the top right corner. I’m going to start including some behind the scenes shots and some video. What do you want to see?

Stress Relief!

If you follow my work, you know that I work with a lot of small businesses. I love the passion that small business owners bring to their craft! In the middle of January, I had the privilege of working with a new business in Chandler, AZ. Alleviate Massage by Amber Working with Amber was so much fun, and she’s such a genuine, kind person. We started with headshots in the studio, while her new business space was being built out. Once the business space was ready, we brought in Ashley (IG @ashleybreann9), and shot live in Amber’s spa like location. Amber is an expert. She provides deep tissue, sports massage, aromatherapy, hot stones, etc.

Photography and especially lighting, in small spaces, can be really challenging for some people. You want to light the scene with something that doesn’t create hard shadows. Most light modifiers control light and have edges. You want to avoid edges and either use a small “shoot through” umbrella, or a bubble shaped “lantern” style modifier, to soften the light and spread it gently. With the proper equipment and expertise, I am able to adapt to small spaces for all kinds of images. My one exception is headshots. I tend to only shoot headshots in studio. I am open to discussing headshots on location, if your location is large. To get a proper headshot, the lighting setup takes significant space. If you have questions, or comments, don’t hesitate to let me know. you can comment below, DM me on Instagram @chrispeacor, email, or text me. And don’t forget to book your appointment with Amber!

The Spotlight is ON!

If you aren’t familiar with the Optical Spot designed and built by Westcott in cooperation with outstanding and well known photographer Lindsay Adler, it simply focuses the light with a lens into a spot that can be modified with metal inserts that shape the light to whatever you can dream up. I used the optical spot for this shoot in a variety of ways, for this shoot with superstar model Azariah (IG @itgirlza). If I am going to put someone in the spotlight, It’s her. She has the presence and expresions to knock it out of the park! For the first shots I simply used the built in light gates to create a narrow ray of light to pose inside of. We moved from there to an insert that is shaped like a window. This created the illusion that the light was coming in the most pure form through a window. There are windows in the studio, but the sun doesn’t come in from a low angle like this. I think the results speak for themselves, and you will be seeing more of this product in my future work.

There are so many more images from this session, but I am going to save some for a later post, because we shot some Valentine’s specific images that, although I can’t wait to share them with you, I have to hold off until closer to the February 14th! If you have any questions about this shoot, or techniques I used for shooting or retouching the images, please don’t hesitate to ask!