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Grab your coffee, click subscribe, enjoy the readings of my blogging ramblings of Gearing up topics. I'm always on the run and sharing my comings and goings of the life and times of the life of an active photographer.

We host monthly workshops for photographers, models, actors and makeup artist. We do this in unique location with a different concept in hopes that everyone involved can add their photos to their portfolio and build it up.

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Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Gearing up for Summer Photo Shoots

Gearing up for Summer Shoots





We are gearing up for 2011 Summer Photography/Modeling Workshop Photo Shoots. We will kick it off with the first of three Wet-n-Wilds on June 11th. This workshop was sold out in 24 hours. We have a small group coming with all the lighting set up for each to shoot at. The models will be getting some amazing makeup done four hours before the shoot. We have mentors coming to help all that attend with capturing the perfect photo for their portfolio. We are repeating what we did last summer when we completed three summer W-n-W workshops. The models were first class and so was the makeup. Each one was different than the other, so if you want to come to one or all, it’s a great way to add new unique photos. This is a great way to experience night lighting – we just add water and models. Please look for the next two Wet-n-Wild workshops to be posted soon.

Last weekend I married off my daughter so I will post a photo from this memorial event. My daughter Amber married Paul Bingham; Houston Oilers NFL Tycoon Greg Bingham’s son. I would say it was a quite backyard wedding but it was spectacular in every way a mother of the bride would want to remember. Visited by mostly Friends and Family, we had a few celebrities grace us. Photos and Videos are posted on FB.

May 15 was a fluke with the weather and it was the Indian Winter before the hot weather is here to stay. That was the day we had our Beach Bikini Fashion workshop Photo Shoot. At 6am the temperature was 63 degrees F and wind chills of 43. Finally at 7am we did get started on time with the models in Bikinis and appropriate fashions we all provided. The location was phenomenal with 100 palm trees in the back ground, sand dunes, surfside, fence lines and high rises to give us a, “That’s not Galveston!” photo. We had a motorcycle for a prop along with a mini logo and lots of seaweed. Special Thanks goes out to the six models that braved the cold and managed to arrive on time for the great photographers that participated that morning.
We’ve shot many times at our next Location for years and this year didn’t disappoint us even after the damage from IKE. Galveston’s Train Museum is back open and needing to raise money for their renovation. We had a small group for the Train shoot but we shot a Retro look for some unique portfolio builders for the models that come for FREE. We had two mentors come help with lighting and posing and it was a great learning experience for the small handful of photographers that attended the Haute Retro Train workshop photo shoot on May 14. Thanks for the moms that came to help and we had one makeup artist that traveled to help the new models starting out get a polished look for their photos. I recommend your visit on Sundays to not interfere with booked parties. They now have their prices listed on their web site for those that have been asking what their rates are. Here is a photo from HRT.

Thephotobinder Photography Photo Shoot Workshop in April

One month from that; Apr 16 we did one of our WOW workshops in Brenham. WOW is for White Outdoor Wedding; it was our 6th one. We didn’t have bluebonnets since the drought, but we did have an amazing shoot. We had 8 models and 14 photographers capture some amazing Bridal Photos. We plan to have one more WOW this Fall. This location was perfect with the many photo Opportunities around the Historical Park. We supplied a Horse Trough that has a battery operated shower connected to it for a Country Bridal Shower look. Above is a photo from the WOW6.
Weekend Get-a-Way is a once in a lifetime experience for Photographers and Models in the Hill Country of Texas. April 8-10 was the best ever; HCR3 is our third Hill Country Ranch Weekend Get-a-Way Photography/Modeling Photo Shoot Weekend. We start shooting at Friday Sunset and don’t stop til Sunday’s Show and Tell. Our mentors tell and show all the photographers and models their tricks and trades to doing photography after the shot. The weekend has lodging and food provided to all that Register. We had 11 models and two makeup artists grace us that weekend. We had a Slip Sunset on Friday ending in the pool; followed by a Meet and Greet. Friday night Glamour Shooting was set up by the Mentors and went amazing. Saturday morning sunrise got wet with a porch shower by three models and shooting all day with more creek and pool shots. Saturday Sunset was planned at the Creek with an all white group photo; turned in individual photo sessions. Saturday night was open shooting with glow sticks, pillow fight shots, music and hot tub. Sunday is “sleep” late day and it was well worth it after a great weekend of shooting. The team always says that the sorer you are; the better the shoot. Well we made sure that everyone was sore. lol… Here is a photo from the HCR3.


April 3 was our Bluebonnet Workshop with all ages coming to Brenham. This is our fourth year shooting in Brenham and the flowers were there and in small patches due to the drought in Texas. We improvised with a Lemonade Stand, Bicycle, two old trucks, gas station, stacks of Hay, tire swing in the tree, high fashion chair and several log cabins to shoot at. Whew, it ended with going to Brenham’s Airport to enjoy their famous burgers. I look forward to going back next year. Here is a photo from the BLUE4.



State Parks are a great place to shoot and BBSP is no exception. We shoot High Fashion Models around these amazing low branch trees for an amazing sunset addition to anyone’s portfolio. This year we got special permission to shoot on April 2 instead of our usual October month. We brought in three MUAs and 8 models for an Haute Couture Forest workshop Photo Shoot. Haute Couture is long dresses that unique and dramatic. The Sunset there is just magical and never fails to amaze us all. This shoot is one of the best and enjoyed workshops of the year with unique photo addition. Here is a photo from the HCF.

Millionaire and Pinups in Feburary

When you get to shoot with Planes, Helicopters, Antique Cars and Jets, you name the workshop Haute Couture Millionaire Photo Shoot. On Feb 13, we rented a hanger at Bay Town Airport and had access to a few of the Millionaire toys. We brought in four MUAs and yes we had a DJ come play music. It was a big expense but one that I won’t forget. The shoot was like no other and each workshop is never the same as the other. We had some amazing models join us with all our mentors helping out everyone left and right. We are planning to go back again in the Fall when it’s cooler. Here is a photo of Model Amanda and Model Nathan from the HCM.


February is the month of Valentine and it’s our month of Sweet Tart Pinup 2 photo shoot workshop. We hosted a long weekend of 21 Pinup Models. Our mentors had 5 unique lighting setups for any of the photographers to use at any time. Thou you didn’t need your own lights, so did bring some to shoot in the halls of this amazing Loft Building. This is our second year doing this Fun workshop; it was a great location with some new faces and top of the line wardrobe and props. Feb 19/20 was when the STP2 was held. We brought in four MUAs and a few Model helpers to make the workshop run like clock work. Thou this is one of our longest workshops, only the die-hards stay til the end to keep shooting. When I asked a few model if they could tell me how many times they changed in one day, Taylor the cover model for STP said, she changed over 30 times in one weekend. Here is a photo of Model Shelby from the STP2.
We have had many photographers come from other cities to come shoot at our workshop. This year we have seen photographers from South Carolina, Maine, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and New York City. Many Photographers in TX drive as far as Dallas to our workshops to shoot quality photos or just to add new models to their portfolio. Most of our workshops are only $50 and they have been that price since 2005. You can’t hire a makeup artist and find a model to shoot for that price. Well, you can, but at what quality? Many know that we started doing them for free before that.



Since buying onetalentsource.com the cost of our workshops is deferred to cover the web site overhead that gives all the models a free VIP membership for modeling at our workshops. We work with over 300 models a year and many get their start with us or just come back to get more quality images and experience. Some just come for the Fun of being part of the group. We cover it all or most of it. We scan your model releases after the fact and pay the makeup artists, props, eye lashes, wardrobe, fees, insurance, model releases, marketing more models, advertizing fees, water and snacks.
Our “Model: Photographer” ratio is set at 1:2. We are always looking for a mix of models; new ones that want to test their feet in modeling or experienced that want to add unique photos to their portfolio. It’s a great way to network, learn to work with models, test out new equipment, add new MUA’s contacts to your phone or just have some clean fun. Feel free to inquire about visiting any of our workshops if they are in your area. We welcome quest to come drop by to see what we are all about if space is open.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Gearing up for Tween “Rock of Ages” Photography workshop

Gearing up the props and photography lights for this weekend TRA; – Tween “Rock of Ages” Studio photo shoot Workshop at Skyline Studio. We are giving Tween’s from 8 years old to 14 years to Rock out the Studio in their Concept. We have some supThey will be please to see how great they are to work with. We are looking forward to shooting this Saturday morning. There are three more photography spots left to register at this shoot and get some amazing Rocker photos of these kids. For more information: http://www.thephotobinder.com/.

Photo above is of Model Emily Carey at the Bridal Glamour Beach Shoot we hosted a few weeks ago. That was the first of many we plan to repeat every January. It will be focused on Bridal and its Glamour it portrays. The weekend went well with eight photographers and eight models along with a makeup artist, we were shooting all weekend. We started with bridal lingerie on Friday night and did some dramatic low key lighting. Saturday morning we woke up before daylight for some amazing sunrise beach photos of Wedding dresses. The weather was slightly cool but sunny. The wind made it more challenging yet made some photos priceless. We kicked off the Saturday with couple “Save the Date” engagement style shooting. Then we through in a few wedding dresses and trashed them on the beach after lunch. We knew that Sunday was going to rain so we trashed the Wedding Dresses that same day. Saturday night was fun with three lighting setups in the Beach House. We got to be more creative. Sunday didn’t rain as bad as we though and we did another Trash the Dress on the Beach again with the dramatic rain clouds, it made for a perfect portfolio photo. After shooting til noon, we called it a wrap and ended the weekend with some amazing shots.

Model Maria from Glamour Makeup Portrait workshop brought in 25 models and 8 Makeup Artists that kept us in line for three hours of three session waves of models in head dress attire and wild makeup. We did this for the Makeup Artists to work their mad makeup skills and do some creative work on these models. It was a fun and relaxing shoot with everyone getting some great portfolio photos to add to their collection. We had the computer setup for Lighting Room training with tips on how to show your photos to clients and how to do small edits right there in the same software. Lightroom Software was a great way to show the photos of the models tips on posing and facial expressions.

We had an awesome Event to attend this past weekend with the Girl Scouts. The Event we photographed was one of their Service Unit Father Daughter Dance designed for their girls in 5th grade to K. With a Maskerade concept, we helped capture their smiling faces with just seconds from the printer. We print on the spot with our Event Printer and they get their photos after their picture is taken. They all went home with a memory that will be framed and last for years to come.

Our next big workshop is this month on the 19th and 20th. A two day workshop yet each with different models and different photographers. It’s our Sweet Tart Pinup2 workshop. This is one our most exciting workshop and very structured yet fast paced with models moving from one setting to another setting making it great for photographers to work with models in different setting and yet the with different attire. These models will model for five hours and come in two hours way before it begins. We have attire and they also bring their own. It’s amazing to see them change every thirty minutes into a different look and concept for pinup. They bring their A game and it shows in all their great photos. We have photographers registering daily. Once we meet 15 photographers we will close the workshop.

Next month; we will repeat our Blue Bonnet Trash the Dress in Brenham with the models getting in the local pond. We had a blast with the model posing in the dramatic trees and colorful blue bonnet fields. If you have never captured such beauty, then this is the one you want to come to. Blue Bonnets only come out once a year and they are best done with models ready to shoot. March is going to be Blue this year. lol

Join us April 8-10 for a weekend in Fredericksburg at the Ranch. You will have a time of your life shooting all weekend long.