Jen Kiaba's Blog - Picture Today

My Top 10 Tips: Preparing for a Photo Shoot!

2013-05-19T22:22:00.004-04:00

Woody Allen said "Eighty percent of success is just showing up." Wise words, my man! Especially in terms of a photoshoot. But what about the other twenty percent??

Being photographed can be nerve wracking! But truthfully, it can also be a blast - especially when you walk into the studio feeling confident and prepared. It's the same with that work presentation: it will go great when you believe it will go great.

So here we go - My Top Ten Tips!
1. Do your research
By this I mean look around a little bit at who is out there. The most important thing is to find a photographer whose style and personality you click with! Hiring a photographer is an investment, so you want to make sure that you are happy every step of the way.

The right photographer will be able to give you a picture of what you day will entail, what to bring and what your experience will be like working together.

2. Book a consultation
Every photographer worth their salt wants to have a consultation with you. They want to meet you, answer all your questions, and make sure you feel comfortable with them.

Personally I want to buy you coffee (or tea!) and hear about what you want to get from a photo session!

3. Ask questions!
Certainly ask as many of your questions as possible before hiring a photographer.
But what if questions come up between the time you book and the date of your session? What if you have a question in the middle of getting your makeup done? Don't be afraid to ask.

A great photographer should be able to answer most of your questions about a session before you even ask them - but if they don't you should always make sure to ask. And a good photographer will always be happy to answer!

4. Go shopping
Did I hear you just exclaim with glee? You don't have to go all out and buy a new wardrobe. You can go shopping in your own closet. Break out that dress or the neglige that you've been saving to wear for a special occasion. This is that special occasion!

Make sure you have at least five complete outfits that you love and feel like a goddess in. Don't bring that shirt that almost fits you if you sit just-right and don't breathe. (I have that shirt too - who knows why it's still in my closet...but it is.) And don't bring that threadbare t-shirt that you love. I have that too, but I promise you the camera will never love it like you do.

If you're booking a double shoot with your best girlfriend, mom or daughter this is a perfect occasion to go shopping together! Who knows, you may find your new signature look on this trip!

5. Get plenty of rest
If only, I know! Sometimes it feels like life is go-go-go and that rest is elusive. But as much as possible, especially for about a week leading up to your shoot, try to set aside a little time for yourself. Decompress, make tea, take a walk and cuddle your pet. Take a freakin' bubble bath (oh that sounds so nice right now!)

When we're tired and stressed out, it shows up in our face. We breakout, we get dark circles, sometimes we have a harder time smiling. If we are just totally worn out, it can be hard to feel confident and stand up straight.
Doing a photoshoot is about loving and celebrating yourself. So do a little pre-gaming by loving yourself and giving yourself some time to unwind!

6. Drink all the water!
Dear ol' George Carlin (may he rest in peace) would make fun of me for this, but I really do suggest that you carry around your own portable water. When you have it, you are more likely to drink it.
The more hydrated you are, the more refreshed you will feel.

If all I've had to drink by the end of the day are my morning cups of coffee, I feel it! So drink up! Your skin, especially, will thank you.

7. Hire a professional hair and makeup artist
Not every photography studio has their own hair and makeup artist. If they don't, it might be your responsibility to find someone. Believe me, it is worth the investment of time and money! Plus it will make you feel extra pampered, fabulous and confident.

If you can, schedule your hair and makeup appointment as close to your photoshoot time as possible. The best scenario is to have the makeup artist in the studio, and there for the entire shoot so that they can do touch ups or change the look for different shots. Again, totally worth the investment!

When you work with me, hair and makeup is included in your photoshoot and in your first consultation we discuss what you're looking for with hair and makeup. We even create an entire Pinterest board dedicated to the look of your shoot so that the makeup artist is 100% on the same page!
If you can arrange something like this, I highly recommend it so that there is clear communication about how you want to look on the day of your shoot.

8. Have an idea of the poses you want to try
A great photographer will coach you with your posing. But not everyone does. So it's important that you come in with a few solid ideas of how you want to try posing. This will make you feel a little more prepared, so that you won't panic when you're suddenly staring into a camera lens!

Posing is an art, and again I stress that a really great photographer will help you with your posing. But if that isn't their forte, I have an article here that will give you some tips on how to pose!

9. Smile!
Ok, you don't really have to smile if that's not the look you're going for. At least not with your mouth, showing off your pearly whites. But I do recommend trying to smile with your eyes. What I'm talking about it letting that inner glow, and your personality shine through your eyes.

It's an intensity and connection with the camera that Tyra calls "smeyes."This is going to make a huge difference between photos that feel flat, and photos that feel vibrant and full of life!

10. Enjoy yourself
Not only do I mean have fun on your photoshoot, because your session should be a blast, but I also mean that you should enjoy you! By this I mean you should give yourself a little love! When you're in front of the camera, let yourself feel good about yourself! Enjoy that you've been pampered and you're playing model for a day!

In the day to day grind, we often forget to love yourself. Our rhetoric is often a very harsh tape that we play over and over in our minds. So while you're in front of the camera (and after!) take that tape out. Pop in one that says "Girl, you are ah-mazing!"

Don't think about hating your nose, your arms, your thighs. Give each part of yourself a little love - but most importantly love yourself as an amazing whole! That will shine through all of your photos. And it will give you a little bounce in your step for the rest of the week. In fact, don't wait for your photoshoot to practice a little self-love.

Why not make that Tip #1 for each and every day??

Photo shoot with Nakeyah

2013-05-11T10:30:00.000-04:00

This week I was super lucky to get Nakeyah into the studio for a modeling portfolio. We had worked together for a mini session last autumn when she was just getting started modeling. So it was great to have a chance to reconnect and work together again!
Because Nakeyah is still getting her feet wet in the industry, this photoshoot was a really awesome chance for me to work on coaching a client in front of the camera. She and our makeup artist, Rachael, and I were joking that the poses are a little bit like modeling yoga. Sometimes you just feel silly. And that's ok!!

We definitely had our moments where we were all trying to stop giggling. But at the end of the day I think we got some really gorgeous shots! I love how Nakeyah connects with the camera. It's like bam!!!

Also, she brought some killer shoes to the session. Gotta love that!

My favorite thing about this session is that we were able to capture some awesome range. There's some really sexy, gritty looking shots as well as some softer, romantic ones as well!

Such a fun session!

Fighting the good fight: walking to cure cancer

2013-05-03T17:28:00.000-04:00

This has been a tough week. I recently lost a childhood friend and "big sister" to breast cancer. She was diagnosed, and less than a month later she was gone and left behind four beautiful children and a loving husband. A lot of people in my community have been left reeling. The loss has been especially distressing for my mother as she's fighting her own battle with breast cancer.

I've cried a lot in the past week. There's definitely a part of the loss that makes me scared, and makes me want to run away. But once I wipe away the tears, I find myself ready to fight.

So today, instead of focusing on pain and loss, I want to talk about the fighters.

Right now my friend Kat is travelling down to Washington DC to participate in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. This will be her third year walking, and every year I try to support her efforts - either with a gift certificate for a photo session that she can raffle off or a donation to her walking efforts. This year is no different and I just want to put the good word out there for a woman that I respect to pieces, who is out there in the field fighting!

I encourage everyone to become involved, even if it's in a small way. Donate your services in some way to support cancer patients and survivors. Get involved with organizations that support cancer research. Call your mom, your sister, or your aunts. Not out of a place of fear of the unknown, but out of love for the blessing of each day!

If you'd like get involved by donating to Kat, click here.

Have a wonderful weekend and live lovingly!

We all want to be beautiful - Dove "Real Beauty"

2013-04-26T12:30:00.000-04:00

So Dove has done it again and released a video that has gone viral in its Real Beauty campaign. It has spoken to a lot of women; even I got a little teary the first time as I was swept up in the music and the message. They end with a question, asking us to consider how we see ourselves. The message is that we're much more beautiful than we think we are.

Both criticism and accolades have been given to Dove for their newest ad. Some people say that its focus on beauty is flawed as it still enforces the importance of physical appearance. Others have been moved by the message.

We live in a culture where it is almost impossible to get away from an idealized form of beauty being dictated to us. Dove's parent company is a prime culprit as they send mixed messages with their various brands. With one they try to elevate women and disassemble skewed beauty concepts, but then reinforce those same skewed concepts with their other brands like Axe.

Real Beauty? Check out this blog for a redesign of the ad!

Therein lies the real issue, for me, with Dove. And I talked about this at length in a previous blog post. It's a one step forward, one step back kind of dance.

One of my heros, Sue Bryce says "Women believe they need to be transformed in order to love themselves." Brands like Unilever perpetrating "idealized" images of women like in the above picture is one of the many reasons we feel that way.

We all want to be beautiful because we are told it is important. What if we could all just reinforce that idea that we are enough. Right now. True self-love then begins to radiate out - and that is the most beautiful thing about a human being. And that's what I love about Sue Bryce's work. Her whole ideal is that you are beautiful enough - right now! Check out her Before & After gallery to see what I mean.

If you haven't already seen it, take a few minute to watch the Dove "Real Beauty Sketches" and let me know what you think:

We were published on a Judith Kinghorn novel! In Italy!

2013-04-19T08:30:00.000-04:00

So the other morning I was checking my email while having my morning cup of coffee and I got a lovely surprise!

Trevillion, one of the image libraries that I work with, had sent me a note letting me know that one of my images had sold as a book cover.

With a little bit of internet sleuthing I was able to discover it was an Italian edition of Judith Kinghorn's book "The Last Summer." So exciting! While the image of the mansion isn't mine, the young woman in the lovely diaphanous dress is Samuela, an aspiring model that I got to work with frequently last year.

This particular shot came from an afternoon at a park called Poet's Walk. It was about 90 degrees out, so it was probably 100+ in that dress. While I think it's a stunning gown, it certainly was not made for a humid Hudson Valley Summer. Despite the heat, I'm so glad we spent that sweltering summer afternoon together!

L'Ultima Estate a Deyning Park by Judith Kinghorn

And I totally snagged this photograph off of Judith Kinghorn's twitter feed. Definitely need to order a copy from Italy - it comes out today!!

Prepping for a shoot: peek into a model's bag!

2013-04-12T17:17:00.000-04:00

So, you've finally booked that shoot with your favorite photographer! You're excited, a little nervous, and you have no idea what to bring. You've got your five favorite outfits picked out and ready to go, but what else should you bring?

While you certainly don't have to be a professional model to have a great experience in a photo shoot, taking a peek inside of a model's bag can go a long way to making you feel more prepared for when you walk into a photographer's studio.

Lots of times a photographer and makeup artist will already be equipped with the essentials for making sure that your photo shoot experience is amazing, but sometimes having a stash of essentials tucked away can give you that extra boost of confidence.

Here's a great list to get ideas flowing on what you might want to bring along next time you've booked a photographer:

Photo by magnovich on Flickr

Beauty Products:When you have a makeup artist on set, some of these items may be unnecessary But if you have sensitive skin, bringing your own makeup and skin care products can be a great idea!

Make-up and mirror
Deodorant
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Hairbrush
Hair bands
Face wash and moisturizer

Clothing:
Your photographer will always help you out in terms of wardrobe, but aside from your wardrobe choices, having these items in your bag can be extremely helpful!

White, nude, black underwear

T-shirt bras (convertible or strapless bra)

Flesh-colored body stocking

Spare pairs of tights

Heels

Accessories:
Once again, all you parents out there probably carry these around anyway. But having these items on the set, especially if you have a longer shoot planned, will always go a long way to making the day go smoothly!

Safety pins
Healthy Snacks
Mints
Water
Wet wipes
Your favorite music

Portrait of my amazingly gorgeous sister

2013-04-07T11:24:00.000-04:00

Recently my sister came up from NYC for a visit. She's a crazy-talented makeup artist and has been working really hard over in the wig and makeup department at Julliard this past year. This summer she's planning on going out to work with the Santa Fe Opera (and I'm going to miss her like crazy!). While she's been wrapping up with Julliard, she's also been putting the final touches on her portfolio and website.

With all of this going on, it was decided that she really needed some professional headshots to add to her website while she was up for a visit.

The Before

After we got a slew of really beautiful shots, the sun went behind a cloud and it rained. So we decided it was time for a cup of tea and to relax.

Truth be told, I think that it was really difficult for us to be on our respective side of the lens. She and I both inherited our mother's extreme dislike of being in photographs. When I was a child, I found that our mom had taken a blue ball-point pen and had tried to do some manual retouching by "editing out" parts of her body that she didn't like. While I wasn't more than 10 years old, on some level I knew that there was a profound sadness in that act. It broke my heart, because I thought that my mother was beautiful. I wished then, just as I wish now, that she had a love of herself that could show her her own beauty.
Now, after having undergone several surgeries and rounds of treatment for cancer, she looks back on those photos and shakes her head. She had no idea of her own beauty - and I know that she struggles to see it now.

As women, my sister and I have inherited that struggle to see our beauty on a daily basis. It's difficult to see and accept it, even when it's staring out at us from a photograph. So my goal during our photoshoot was to help my sister take a small step towards overcoming our shared struggle. I wanted to show her how much I loved her and how beautiful she was to me.

She and I ended up choosing the same favorites, and I'm super grateful that she let me share the photos here! The fact that I was able to take photographs of my sister that resonated with her and that made her feel beautiful was the greatest gift in the world to me.

I could wax long on that subject, and I would get all sniffly and need all kinds of tissues. So all I will say is that this is the essence of what I want to give to all women (and men too!). There is this incredible moment when someone sees a photograph of how beautiful they are - it's not about Photoshop or makeup tricks. It comes down to love and connection and Hot Damn.

That's really what it's all about for me.

One of my favorite natural looks

LOVE the 1920's vibe in this photo

Totally dig the enigmatic expression in this one too.

I'd say that all in all it was a pretty great day!

Get Comfortable for the Camera with Five Simple Posing Tips

2013-03-29T18:32:00.000-04:00

Being in front of the camera sometimes feels like giving a speech in high school: all eyes are on you, and it's very easy to freeze up and forget what you're doing. But when you walk into the studio, and the lens is pointed at you, it's very important not to become a deer in headlights. While that look sometimes flies in high fashion, it's doubtful that that's the look you were going when you booked the shoot.

Getting comfortable in front of the camera takes times. In my studio it usually takes some fun music, a few silly dance moves and maybe even a sip of champagne.

Some women get in front of the camera and just naturally bust out their sexy moves. But others of us (myself included) need a little time to get into the groove.

So here are some tips on posing that will help you find that groove, and keep yourself from feeling awkward during your session!

How to Pose

1) Don’t freeze
Keep your body moving. I always tell ladies to create angles, and you can do this by repositioning your shoulder, changing the angle of your face to the camera, changing how you stand or where you place your arms. Try to make your movements fluid.

When you hit on a moment of gold, the photographer will let you know and ask you to hold the pose or go back to it. Sometimes it's hard to know exactly what it was that caught my eye, so I'll show you on myself or show you the back of the camera to give you an idea of the perfect shots you were giving me.

2) Think asymmetrical
The first thing I tell ladies when they get in front of the camera is to avoid squaring your shoulders and looking at the camera head on. This isn't a mugshot or a passport photo after all. So when you're working on the fluidity, find ways to make your body into an angle. An "S" shape is always the most flattering for the female figure.

So think of ways to move your shoulders away from your hips, without straining! When you're able to find that "S" curve with a fluid movement, your photos will look sensual, relaxed and confident. Nothing sexier than that!

3) Think long and tall!
Just because you're 5'3" doesn't mean a thing! When you have good posture and learn to comfortably elongate your spine, you will look tall and graceful on camera.

Again, finding that "S" curve is a great way to begin thinking of ways to elongate your body. That means you pull your chin away from your chest, you gently pull your shoulders and your elbows back and tuck your naval in. It's actually a bit like a yoga exercise! Don't strain yourself, but practice standing tall and it will translate wonderfully on camera!

4) What to do with those hands?
Ever been on stage and suddenly wondered "What the heck do people do with their hands?? The moment you think about it, it's hard to ever imagine how your hands are in a natural moment. Don't worry too much! Just relax them, and that will keep the tension out of them. Think "light and graceful" and suddenly you'll find them resting gently on your hips, hanging at your side or gently touching your cheek.
When your hands are relaxed, the rest of your body tends to follow suit. So keep thinking "light and graceful."

5) Look away if you need to
Sometimes staring into the camera lens can be intimidating. But you can create thoughtful, sensual photographs when you look off camera too.

Your photographer can help direct your sight lines so that the photograph has an introspective feel, or a playful feel - whatever you're going for. Direct eye contact isn't always needed and can actually help you save a little energy on the shoot if you find looking into the lens difficult at the beginning.

Never be afraid to ask for help posing. That's what your photographer is there to help you with. I have been known to get on the floor and actually show gals poses, especially when they're not used to being photographed. In fact, I will never ask you to do a pose that I'm not willing to do for you. And I'll be just as happy to show you a silly pose, just for fun.

Being in front of the camera can be an intimidating experience. But it can also be wonderfully freeing and enjoyable. Always make sure you're comfortable with your photographer as a person. They should be able to put you at ease, make you laugh and help you have a good time so that your beautiful personality is what shines on camera!

Vintage - Inspired Hair by Ruche

2013-03-25T21:42:00.000-04:00

Ruche just posted this awesome video tutorial on how to do a vintage-inspired up do (although it's more like a side-do)and I'm just dying to try it! It's got such a 1930's vibe to it, but it straddles that line between elegant and casual so well that this could easily be worn to the office or a night on the town. It could polish off jeans and flats, or flatter a cocktail dress.

I'm not the best at hair, but I think after watching this a few times I might be able to pull it off on myself for a day in the studio. For doing a model's or client's hair, I'd definitely leave this to my amazing hair & makeup artist sister over at Makeup by Lani Barry. (She probably knows the exact vintage hairstyles that this most resembles, and can pull off a true vintage replica!)

What do you think? Would you wear this and where?

Have you tried it? If so feel free to post pictures in the comments!

Dove Canada misses the "Real Beauty" mark

2013-03-22T18:14:00.003-04:00

So I recently saw this new Dove "Real Beauty" campaign video going around the internet this week, and it bothered me enough that I had to take a moment and blog!

You can read an article applauding Dove's groundbreaking advertising here.

Don't get me wrong; I loved that Dove: Evolution video from 2006, showing image manipulation of a model for a cosmetics billboard ad. Talk about a wake-up call.

But something about this newest iteration in the Dove "Real Beauty" campaign really rubs me the wrong way. (And don't even get me started on the backlash that occurred when it was revealed that the "Real Beauty" photos were actually highly manipulated!) The idea of targeting graphic designers and retouchers and trying to unravel their work doesn't seem like the most effective way to begin to realign our concepts about the feminine body "ideals."

Placing the action as a free download on sites like Reddit already discredit the campaign. Design professionals are unlikely to be grabbing free actions off the net, especially off of a site like Reddit, where the download looks more like Malware than a free beauty tool.

Usually it is the client, like the corporate execs at Unilever, Dove's parent company, that determines how they want their images to appear aesthetically ; editors and designers are only working to achieve that per-determined aesthetic. Therefore this Photoshop action completely misses the mark and attempts to "shame" the wrong party. The real body shamers in this equation are companies like Unilever.

At the end of the day, companies like Unilever can't have it both ways. They pay lip service to empowering women with one brand, and objectify them with another - like in their ad campaigns for Axe. They are only defeating the ideals of their Dove Real Beauty campaign. When Axe's advertisements reinforce the negative body ideals and sexual objectification that plague women today, then the company is at cross-purposes with itself. It is not about ideology anymore - it is about money.

Guerrilla stunt tactics, pulled off by corporations that are not truly committed to a change of culture, aren't what women need in the overall fight to reclaim our bodies as beautiful. I'm not sure that this change will come in a "trickle-down" fashion. It may be that we vote with our feet and our dollars, by monetarily encouraging companies to embrace a truer ideal and choosing not to shop with those that don't.

On a deeper level, it also takes a lot of self love to say "I am ok" and to strive to healthy, whatever that may mean for your body and inner well-being.

What do you think of this newest iteration in Dove's campaign?

Oprah Says

2013-03-09T17:33:00.000-05:00

So yesterday was International Women's Day (although, really, isn't everyday women's day?), and I was thinking about what it means to be a woman in America today. No matter what place on the religious or political spectrum you end up on, being a woman these days can feel like a battleground. Picking up a newspaper or listening to the radio felt like a barrage of opinions on how to pigeon hole the feminine experience.

And while I certainly think that it's important to participate in the political system and stand up for your beliefs (without inflicting them on others. Yes I said inflict!), sometimes you just need to tune it all out and turn it off for a while.

Which brings me to a quote from Oprah that I saw this morning. Now, I will be the first to admit that I grew up under a rock and have never actually watched Oprah, but I groove on a lot of the things she represents. And while I feel a teensy silly quoting her, the below words really got me thinking "Yes, this is exactly what I want my art and my business to embrace"

"This is a call to arms. A call to be gentle, to be forgiving, to be generous with yourself. The next time you look into the mirror, try to let go of the story line that says you’re too fat or too sallow, too ashy or too old, your eyes are too small or your nose too big; just look into the mirror and see your face. When the criticism drops away, what you will see then is just you, without judgment, and that is the first step toward transforming your experience of the world.”

Poetic, yes?

We were published In Pin Up America!

2013-03-08T21:38:00.001-05:00

So this was kind of unexpected and a little after the fact, but I recently got an email letting me know that one of my photographs of Lillian was published in the Nov/Dec issue of "Pin Up America" Magazine. Apparently this photograph was a runner-up in their Pin Up contest. That's pretty exciting!

I got my copy in the mail today, and even though the photo is eensy, it's still really exciting to see one of my photographs in a national magazine. So cheers to that!

In the next few weeks I've got some fabulous models booked to be doing a few more Pin Up themed shoots, which I am really excited for. You'll be able to check some of those photos out at the Cornell Street Studio's "Retro Art Show" this summer, which I definitely look forward to dressing up for!

Happy Friday All!

Baby Fever! Ada's Head Shots

2013-03-04T18:46:00.001-05:00

Last week I got to spend a blissful few hours photographing baby Ada for her beginner's modeling portfolio She absolutely loves the camera and gets even more excited when she gets to see pictures of herself. For a photographer it really doesn't get much better than that!

Gerber, here she comes!
For more info on scheduling a shoot with me, check out my website!

Biz Pics Event at Cornell St Studios

2012-08-01T11:32:00.000-04:00

Wow! I've just spent the past week with my head buried in my laptop, editing one of the most rewarding mini-sessions I've ever worked on!

When Renée, over at Cornell Street Studios in Kingston, approached me about collaborating on a series of head shot mini sessions, I was excited. That was probably, in part, because our meeting took place at the local ice cream parlor! But I was nervous too - it had been almost a year since my last mini-session, and while I love photographing them, the marketing sometimes seems monumental to me.

Luckily Renée had that covered. In only a few short weeks we were booked solid, with plenty of inquiries for future events. And the day itself was fantastic! There was music, snacks and so much great energy. Renée helped keep everyone stoked, my sister came up from NYC to do makeup and give everyone a camera-ready glow, and I got to focus on connecting with a series of great people who came in to be photographed.

The event was such a blast and I can't wait until our next one, which is scheduled for the fall.

For more photos from our session, check out our Flickr Photo Set! And for more info on events going on, check out Cornell St. Studio's Facebook page. Renée has a ton of art and fitness events this summer.

The Poetry of Place - A Countryside Photo Shoot

2012-07-14T19:22:00.000-04:00

There is a quiet overpass on a county road outside of town. Underneath runs a stream that takes a ramble through the cornfields before cascading under the bridge. The locals will tell you that if you follow the stream into the woods, you'll stumble upon a swimming-hole that beckons you in on a hot summer's day.

Many a time I've stopped by the side of the road to watch the clouds dance behind the mountains that lace the edge of the cornfield. One day I decided to duck down underneath the bridge to sit by the stream. The hush of water running over rocks, and the laughter of children in the distance were the only sounds, excepting the occasional car up above.

I fell in love with the place and, over the years, have come back throughout the seasons to be still. Of course, over the years I've also snapped photos of the spot.

My dream was always to do a photo shoot that featured the bridge. Somehow, until recently, circumstances hadn't ever lined up. Then last week I found myself with a camera, a model and a lacy dress. It's a combination I just can't resist!

Originally the plan was to drive north into the mountains and find one of the larger swimming holes in the mountains. I was thinking Big! Epic! But we were short on time, and a little bit hungry as well.

So it happened that we found ourselves by my favorite bridge. The sun was shining. Kids were laughing and swimming. It was kind of pretty perfect.

It was a quick shoot, but I'm so happy with how everything came together. More than anything, I love that the bridge ends up being a character in the narrative of the shoot. What better way to memorialize a favorite place??

For more info on scheduling a shoot with me, check out my website!

Biz Pics - Head shots and more at Cornell St Studios

2012-06-06T15:56:00.000-04:00

Exciting news! Cornell St. Studios and I have partnered to offer a great photo shoot opportunity for everyone from business professionals to actors to models.

The event, Biz Pics, will be formatted much as the Head Shot Mini Sessions were last year. (Check out the rave reviews we got for that!) You'll spend half an hour with me in front of the camera after a quick consultation on your photos needs. Then I will work with you to get comfortable and get some great shots!

Professional photos are becoming more and more important in today's market with social networking being a great way to build your brand. If you're pursuing acting or modeling, then your brand is you! Having great photos for your website or portfolio is a smart investment that will book you returns.

a And just as a bonus, we'll also have music and food to keep you jammin' right through your session!

Check out our event on Facebook for more info: Biz Pics Event Page

So mark your calendars and join us at Cornell St. Studios in July for Biz Pics!

A Cup of Tea and a Modeling Portfolio

2012-06-02T20:11:00.001-04:00

So far it has been a rainy weekend here in the Hudson Valley. With a gloomy forecast and allergies that have me in a constant sniffle, it seemed like the perfect time to snuggle up with one of the cats and sit down with a cup of tea for some editing.

Samuela Rae and I have been spending some weeks building her modeling portfolio, which has been a blast. She's becoming very fluid in front of the camera and we get in sync with each other's working rhythm quickly now.

One of the things that I love about photographing Sam as a model is that she brilliantly blends herself into a collaborative story that we create together. Sometimes the only indicators of that story are the setting and the clothing, but she immediately inhabits both as though she has lived in them her entire life. If you remember, we had a recent head shot session in my studio that was pretty amazing and productive!

While not everything below is going into her final modeling portfolio, I wanted to put together some storyboards to showcase this girl's incredible range. This was actually only two shoots done over two days, but I feel like they are glimpses of several stories or films. Her presence in front of the camera just draws the viewer into the life of the character she is able to create!

If you'd like more information on booking a head shot or modeling session, feel free to contact me at my website.

Back in the studio with Samuela Rae

2012-05-05T20:08:00.000-04:00

It's been a long time since I've posted, and while there's been some sporadic time in the studio here and there, I certainly haven't had any marathon photo shoots in a quite a bit! But then about two weeks ago I got a call from the lovely Samuela. She was looking for a head shot for a last minute audition she was going on, so we unpacked the studio and played.

It had been so long that I had *almost* forgotten how much fun playing in the studio really is! We had planned for about two hours, but ended up spending more than twice that time trying different looks, laughing and having a general blast.

These were some of my favorites from the session:

Good times all around. If you'd like more information on booking a head shot or modeling session, feel free to contact me at my website.

In the Studio: "Vacation" time

2011-07-01T18:28:00.000-04:00

For the next couple of months my studio is going to be on an extended "vacation" of sorts.

My hunny and I just bought our first house, and boy is it a project! All of our time is currently being invested in making the space livable (and there are plans for a lovely studio on the property too! YAY!), so I'm taking very limited bookings until the fall.

If you're looking for a photographer between now and then, I will happily refer you to a colleague or two. Otherwise, see you in October!

If you need a photo fix between now and then, keep up with the Renovations on my Facebook page. I'll be updating the albums there with fun photos of the mess and, hopefully, the progress.

And here's a juicy little tid-bit to keep your eyes peeled for next time you're in a bookstore:

Yup, I sold my second book cover! If you see it on the shelves, let me know! I'm currently hunting down a copy or two.

In the Studio: The Folklore Project

2011-06-16T20:45:00.005-04:00

This summer I have a new project that I'm hoping to work on. In it I want to explore the folklore and myths that seem to be such a deep part of our cultural identity.

My hunny and I watched Pinocchio the other day, and it seemed a good place to start.

Pinocchio has always been a story that has bothered me a little bit. While it's a moral tale that teaches us that truth is paramount, it also deals with exposing the protagonist to levels of humiliation. It also brings up the question of what is absolute truth? In an era where we see so much fighting over religion and ideology, the concept of truth in Pinocchio seems slippery at best. Hmmmm...

Pinocchio, originally uploaded by Jen Kiaba.

Samuela was kind enough to humor me and pose for this first experiment.

If you're in the Hudson Valley and are interested in working together on this project, check out my casting call here: http://www.modelmayhem.com/casting/1142953

On Location: Family Portrait Session at Rose Hill Farm

2011-06-14T09:14:00.004-04:00

This week we've had a lot of rain. Luckily the sun poked its head out of the clouds for a few hours so that I could take a trip to Rose Hill Farms with the Reyes girls and go strawberry picking!

When Marina, who is five, and I first met for our session she was a little bit shy. She had to introduce me to all of her toys and make sure that I appreciated her favorite book before she would consider having her portrait taken. When we got to the farm she was still a little nervous, so I slung my camera over my shoulder and began picking strawberries with her. We had a contest to see who could get the most, but I think we both ended up eating more than we picked.

After the farm Marina was ready for her close-up and wanted to show off some of her best ballet moves. Overall the day was such fun opportunity to capture Marina and her baby sister Marisol, as they really are.

These are some of my absolute favorite shots of the day:

To see more photos or to book a portrait session with your children, check out my website at http://jenkiabaphotography.com

In the Studio: Headshots with Actress Jessalyn James

2011-06-12T10:13:00.001-04:00

As I mentioned last week, I was very lucky to spend some time with actress Jessalyn James in my studio. She's always a blast to work with, which is why I feature her often in my personal work.

I had done a head shot session with her last year, (and we created a fun video showcasing that session!) but it was time to update her shots and add another look to the portfolio. We had a blast doing a range of photos from casual to glamorous.

Check out some of my favorites:

To check out more of my head shot portfolio, or to book a head shot session with me, visit my website: http://jenkiabaphotography.com

In the Studio: Modeling Photoshoot with Samuela Rae

2011-06-11T14:34:00.005-04:00

It's really true what they say about the Six Degrees of Separation. Everyone knows someone who knows someone who, eventually, knows you. Samuela and I met through our mutual friend and designer extraordinaire, Bianca. When Bianca was working on her Vintage Remade line, Samuela was the model that I got to photograph.

So when Samuela approached me to work on her modeling portfolio, I immediately jumped at the chance.

Sam's relatively new to the modeling world. Despite her old-soul gaze, she's only 16, and was a tad nervous about being in front of the camera. (My experience is that people either love it or hate it!) So we worked out the camera jitters together, sometimes with me doing a pose for her first just so she didn't have to feel silly alone.

It was a really great session with some stunning results. We used all natural light, which was just so flattering on her and really let you see how green her eyes are. I can't wait to work with her again! Check out some of Sam's top picks for her portfolio:

For more photos or to book a modeling session with me, check out my website at Jenkiabaphotography.com!

Plus-Size Models On Vogue Italia Cover (NSFW)

2011-06-09T09:56:00.004-04:00

For its June issue, Vogue Italia has featured some very curvy ladies on their front cover. The decision by Vogue Italia’s editor-in-chief, Franca Sozzani, has caused a bit of a stir on the blog-o-sphere. Some applaud her for her decision to feature plus-sized models on the cover of the magazine. Others say that the fact this is causing a stir shows that our standards for the beautiful body are way off the mark.

Over at Bust Magazine Kristina Uriegas-Reyes made an excellent point that it would be a great step to see an integration between the plus-sized models and the industry-standard models. This, perhaps, would lead to a healthier ideal for the fashion industry that Uriegas-Reyes hopes for.

Here are some more shots from the shoot by fashion photographer Steven Meisel. Careful, they are Not Safe for Work, but definitely worth seeing. Personally I appreciate that Vogue Italia has embraced the idea of displaying curvy women as being sexy. While I think that it's just a drop in the bucket, in terms of helping combat body-issue, I think that it's a start. There is no denying that these women are incredibly beautiful.

What do you think?

New Photography Service: Babies & Newborn Portrait Specials!!

2011-06-06T10:26:00.006-04:00

I've had a little something up my sleeve for a few weeks, and now I'm super excited to unveil a new service that my studio will be offering: Newborn & Baby Portraits!

And just in time for Father's Day, I will be offering specially priced "Mommy, Daddy & Me" Mini Portrait Sessions! These images will capture those special moments in your family and will become wonderful heirloom pieces to treasure!

This special will run all summer, but space will fill up quickly so book fast! Contact me to find out how to book your "Mommy, Daddy & Me" Mini Portrait Session!