Model Alicia: Warning Provocative Pics (not nude)

[ACArmstrong]

This is a co-worker, Alicia. She modeled when she was 18-20 years old. She's now 35 and has had a child (you may remember her from my Mother and Son session). This is a photo session we did on Saturday. If you'd like to see more of this shoot, click here: Online Gallery

Here's a dozen teasers:

























Comments, criticism are always welcome.

[Lionheart]

Beautiful portraits, very tastefully done. The muslin backdrops you used, what make and design were they? I'm looking into muslin backdrops now and I've found what they show in the B&H catalog online isn't always what you get, but I definitely like the ones you used for these shots.
Thanks

[Speed]

This is a co-worker, Alicia. She modeled when she was 18-20 years old. She's now 35 and has had a child (you may remember her from my Mother and Son session). This is a photo session we did on Saturday. If you'd like to see more of this shoot, click here: Online Gallery

Here's a dozen teasers:

Comments, criticism are always welcome.

Gorgeous lady, and definitely a nice model. She's got that look about her, that she can get an expression across. Having a model that has such great expressions makes for outstanding photo's.

Can you give us a little setup info? Camera, lens, lighting, etc?

[ACArmstrong]

Sorry Speed - I posted this to two bb's (my own and here) - they don't care much for all that gobblety gook - here ya go:

Canon 10D - EF 28-105mm - ISO 200 1/100th - 1/160th (loosely) - I used some interesting stuff this time, but basically three Smith-Victor 500-watt Tungsten balanced lights with 12-inch reflectors - On the right side of the frame I had one light pointing into a 40x40 piece of foam board held up by two stands and two reflector arms (cheapies). On the left side of the frame I used one light with a 12inch diffuser clipped to the light. Then I have another light either backlighting or lighting the backdrop (depending on the shot) - it has homemade barndoors made from flashing spray painted matte black (to avoid spill).

Lionheart - I made all three backdrops you saw as well as the dropcloth on the floor, using 9' wide muslin I bought at Wal-mart (4.44 a yard) and RIT dye. Send me a PM if you want to know the details of the process.

[MJS]

Just goes to show you how you can turn out beautiful work within a budget if you just try and do it. Great job and a great model. 35 and has a kid, outstanding.

[I_Fly]

Very tasteful and provocative. She's a very beautiful woman that is obviously comfortable in front of a camera and with you behind the camera. I'm glad Speed asked the questions about your setup. I, too, was curious.

More proof that it's the photographer, not the equipment that makes the most difference!

[Todd Patten]

Andy -- You know, I looked at this post just minutes after you put it up. I went to the site as well. However, I didn't want to be the first to respond and confirm my status as a stalker

My first thought was, DAMN! I need to time warp back to my twenties and move to Tennessee. Let's face it, women in the south are amazing. Nothing against those of you in the northeast, but it just isn't the same. Trust me. Moreover, somehow, someway, you seem to be able to lure them into your studio!

Seriously, these are excellent photo's. I would love to have the opportunity to sit down for a beer with you and discuss how you do it. I can't seem to get people to pose. I think a large part of that is lack of understanding various posing techniques. Your images are very good of course, but you are able to get the best out of these ladies.

You better keep 'em coming. I love this stuff.

By the way -- just as an aside, how is the web work? Busy? You can PM or email on that one if you want.

[ACArmstrong]

Web work keeps me busy as hell, and that doesn't count the 4-day-a-week day job as a special product designer for a cutlery company. Shooting glamour portraits is just a hobby at this point, but we'll see where it leads in the future.

Thanks for the compliments. As to your comments about getting people in the studio. I think it starts to snowball after you've done one good set. I started by shooting pictures of my wife and showing them to friends and co-workers. It's odd, but when a woman sees another woman that they know look "hot" - they wanna do it too. I've also been lucky in life to be put in positions where I have to meet total strangers and appear "trustworthy" - this experience helps me to meet new people and convince them to do a photo shoot. My goal, of course, is to have a good enough portfolio of work that people will start coming to me, instead of the opposite way around.

Thanks again to everyone for the comments. I appreciate it.