Today’s Post by Joe Farace
When I looked at my on-line modeling portfolio I was surprised to notice that several of my photographs had exceeded one thousand views. To some, that may not seem like a big number but, to me, it’s a lot. And so, for the past several #studiothursday posts, I’ve been featuring some of these models. Unlike the other images appearimg in this series, today’s featured photograph is the actual image that got all of the views.The rest of the images in the portfolio, including today’s, had fewer than 1000 views, so I may or may not be continuing this series…
About the model
One of the best models I ever found through a modeling website was Pam Simpson. She is beautiful, versatile and was also one of the most influential muses to my glamour photography.
I was looking for a new model to work with for a series of lighting equipment reviews I was writing during a time when Shutterbug magazine’s then-editor was focused on the interests of professional and aspiring professional photographers. I was especially looking for a brunette because I had just finished working with a series of blondes and wanted to change up my lighting and photography style. But you ask… On the day of our forst shoot together, I open the front door to my home and standing before me is this gorgeous blonde! (You can still see some of her portraits as a brunette on her on-line modeling portfolio.) “Oh, I changed my hair,” she told me. Little did I know this would be a theme for us during the six wonderful years that we worked together creating so many wonderful moments and images that I am forever grateful to Ms. Simpson for sharing them with me.
Unlike other photographs appearing in this series, this portrait of Pam is the exact one that is on my on-line portfolio and has, at this time, 681 views and three comments, including this one: “Oh. My. Oh. Joe, you hooked me with this one. GAD! This is just excellent stuff. I don’t know which I like more, her amazing allure or the way you lit her. Either way, this rocks.” All I can say about that is I couldn’t agree more.
About the Portrait
I made this portrait of Pam Simpson when she was deep into what I called her “Kim Novak” period and I’ve long been a huge fan of Ms. Novak. The portrait was shot in my 11×15-foot home studio using a Panasonic Lumix GH4 and a Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm f/2.8 lens with an exposure of 1/30 sec at f/4 and ISO 640. Lighting for the portrait was from Westcott’s Two-Light Daylight D5 Softbox kit (a fluorescent lighting system that has since been replaced by their uLite LED 2-Light Collapsible Softbox Kit.) For this shot, I placed the main light with a 24×32-inch softbox mounted at camera right with the second light sans softbox behind the subject. Backdrop is a Savage Infinity vinyl black backdrop that was hung from JTL background stands.
*Postscript: Today’s feature image could have appeared in #seethrough series and I would like to keep #seethrough going throughout 2023. I’m looking for women—no modeling experience necessary— who are interested in posing wearing see-through clothing or lingerie. After signing a simple model release, they will receive their choice of a CD or flash drive containing all the approx 200 photographs we’ll make to take home the day of the shoot. The model will also receive full rights to use the images however they like. If you’re interested, click CONTACT and let’s talk.
If you enjoyed today’s blog post and would like to treat me to a cup of Earl Grey tea ($3.50), please click here. And if you do, thanks so much.
My book Joe Farace’s Glamour Photography is full of tips, tools and techniques for glamour and boudoir photography and includes information on all of the cameras used as well as the complete exposure data for each image. New books are available from Amazon for $33.46 with used copies,starting around twenty-three bucks. Kindle version is $19.99 for those preferring a digital format.