Jen Kiaba's Blog - Picture Today

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!

Photographing Fashion: Bianca-Rachel Collection Preview

2011-05-28T19:05:00.004-04:00

This week I spent a lot of time in the studio. A very talented friend (and frequent model in my photos) Jessalyn, had popped in to do some new headshots. Later in the week I also began working on creating a modeling portfolio for a young aspiring model named Samuela. Photos of both sessions to come!

Bianca, whom I introduced you to in my last post, has been hard at work on her first collection with her partner Rachel. We'll be collaborating on a Lookbook in the near future, but for now they're just looking to document their finished pieces. So one evening after my clients for the day had headed home, Bianca and her friend, Alicia, popped into my studio to do some quick photos.

It was probably one of the quickest shoots I've ever done. Alicia did the most amazing 5-minute makeup job I've ever seen, and Bianca worked wonders with Alicia's hair. I'm still not sure how she did it, but it looks fabulous!

These pieces are a preview of the upcoming collection for Bianca-Rachele. Soooo pretty!!

Photographing Fashion Designers: Rachel & Bianca

2011-05-25T09:34:00.006-04:00

This weekend I got to go into Rachel & Bianca's studio in Kingston to do some photos for their website.

Fashion Designers Rachel Wendling and Bianca De Pietro
in their New York Studio,by Jen Kiaba Photography.

Bianca and I have worked together before, photographing some of the work in her Vintage Remade line. So it was exciting to get to collaborate together again.

She and Rachel are working on their first collection that they will be showing in September. (Yes, I'm hoping to be able to photograph that as well! Just sayin'...)

Tonight Bianca is going to be heading over to my studio so we can work with a model and photograph a couple of in-progress pieces. Check out their Tumblr for more of their work!

http://bianca-rachele.tumblr.com/

Fashion Designers Rachel Wendling and Bianca De Pietro
in their New York Studio,by Jen Kiaba Photography.

Fashion Designers Rachel Wendling and Bianca De Pietro
in their New York Studio, by Jen Kiaba Photography.

The Sound of Music at the Center for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck

2011-05-22T10:05:00.000-04:00

We've had a few breaks in the rain lately, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it stays sunny for a bit. Recently we had a break in the rain and I got to climb to the top of Burger Hill in Rhinebeck to photograph a promotional poster for the upcoming production of The Sound of Music. It was quite a trek, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit winded when we got to the top (but the girl playing Maria did it in heels, so I can't complain!).

Overall, though, it was totally worth it! And it was a real treat to hear these kids singing some of the popular songs from the show in the great outdoors.

Afterwards I went home and designed the promo poster for it. I'm pretty proud of it, although it was nowhere near as complicated as the one for Macbeth. What do you think? Does the poster make you curious about the production?

Anyway if you're in the Hudson Valley next month, I suggest that you stop by and check it out!

"Camera 101 – The first step to better product photos" on Handmade Success!

2011-05-21T10:00:00.001-04:00

This week I'm super excited because I just started a Guest Blogging gig over at Handmade Success! My first article just posted, and it's all about taking better product photos and getting to know your camera. So if you're ready to improve your photography for your Etsy shop, then take a read:

Camera 101
The first step to better product photos!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Performance & Event Photography: Dutchess Divas Fundraiser 2011!

2011-05-20T08:43:00.005-04:00

Last week I had such a treat! I was asked to come to the annual fundraiser for the Half Moon Theatre and photograph the cabaret performance that they had scheduled at Villa Borghese in Wappingers Falls. They call the cabaret show "Dutchess Divas" and it's their most successful fundraiser of the year.

Not having been to one of their performances before, I didn't know what to expect. Let me tell you, I was absolutely floored by the talent! Sometimes it was difficult to remember to take photographs because I was so entranced by the songs - or I was laughing so hard I couldn't hold still! (Imagine an opera-style song about Hot Yoga!!)

Here's a peek at some of my favorite shots:

Check out more photos on my website:

http://jenkiaba.zenfolio.com/half-moon/dutchess-divas/

Celebrating Spring

2011-05-19T11:31:00.003-04:00

We've had a lot of rain this week here in New York. But it seems like only a few days ago we had sunny skies and flowers were in full bloom.

A local publication had asked me to do a photo essay for their upcoming Garden Issue, so I decided to bring out my macro lens and capture some of those gorgeous heralds of spring.

Now that school is out, I will be revamping and updating my Etsy Shop with some of these prints.

And even a few celebrating the beauty of rainy days as well!

So, stay posted as I update the blog and the shop!

♥

Jen

Tutorial: Improving your product photos for Etsy and Artfire

2011-05-09T10:13:00.002-04:00

This week I got an email from Kristin, asking for some help photographing jewelery. She makes some of the cutest jewelry you've ever seen; I have several pieces of hers and always love seeing how much her photography has improved over the past couple of years.

She began selling her work on Etsy a few years ago and was a huge hit! Part of the reason her work sells so well is because it is photographed well!

For those of you who remember my tutorial on How to Photograph Sterling Silver, may also remember my Follow Up to that post, showing some Before & After photos Kristin had taken using that tutorial.

Well based on her photography, Kristin now also works taking photos for a local jewelry store. Despite the fact that she had taken some photographs that the owners were happy with, she knew there was room for improvement.

So she emailed me with her photo and asked me what my opinion was and if I saw room for improvement. Before giving my critique, I asked her about her settings and how/where she was photographing the jewelry. Since she was confined to working inside of the jewelry store, where there is little natural light to work with, she was using a light box.

She started off at ISO 80, f 8.0 and 1/40th of a second.

Immediately a couple of red flags went off in my head. Photographing on a black background is always going to be difficult, especially if your camera isn't on your Manual setting. The meter in your camera is going to want to brighten up that black to gray, which will mean you will lose detail in your jewelry.

Obviously Kristin avoided that issue, because she was shooting on a manual setting. But the fact that she had her camera set on ISO 80 meant that it was on a very un-light-sensitive mode. On an extremely bright day at the beach you would want to set your ISO to about 80 or 100 to help counteract the sunlight and reflection on the sand, but in an indoor setting you might have difficulty.

This was probably why she was shooting with a shutter speed of a 40th of a second. The shutter had to stay open longer in order to let in enough light. Now she could have opened up the aperture to something like f 5.6, but I think she was smart in using f 8.0 because it ensures a deeper depth of field and more detail.

So what did I suggest?

First: get rid of the black background! Because Kristin was working with a lightbox that allowed for illumination under the product, I suggested trying the ring with the universal illumination. Light from underneath would help highlight all of the detail in the product and give it some extra dimensionality.

Second: up that ISO! By increasing the sensitivity of the ISO, Kristin could also speed up her shutter speed. 1/40th of a second is a difficult shutter speed to shoot at because if your hand isn't completely steady then you are likely to get some blurring. My suggestion is to try shutter speeds of 1/60th of a second or above if you can.

Check out the amazing improvement!

If the jewelry store owners were happy with the "Before" photo, can you imagine how thrilled they are going to be with the "After"?

Have questions or need help with your product photography? Email me for a consultation or send me your feedback on this tutorial!

Fashion Photo Shoot with Lauren!

2011-04-06T10:55:00.002-04:00

So this week I had an immense treat! Two lovely and talented ladies, makeup artist Magdalena and model Lauren, collaborated with me to help create some images for Lauren's modeling portfolio!

If a photoshoot could resemble a slumber party with some of your nearest and dearest, this one certainly did! We had music, we had munchies and we had makeup! Oh, and some of the prettiest clothes you can imagine!

We also got some really fun images - take a look:

Beating those February Blues

2011-02-23T15:37:00.005-05:00

Just finished my taxes for this year! *Whew* Every year I tell myself that I will stay on top of my book keeping on a monthly basis, and I think that this year will be the year I do it! Fingers crossed I can follow through on that resolution!

Lots of good stuff going on. Right now I'm hibernating for a little bit because it's below freezing outside, and I haven't had the heart to go out into the cold and shoot too much. BUT I'm signing a lease on a new studio space next month, so there will be all kinds of fun stuff coming up.

In the meantime I've begun a Photo-A-Day project over at my Facebook Page. Although I haven't been doing full blown photo sessions in the snow this year, I have been snapping away and am pairing those photos with thoughts and inspirations. To be a part of that just head over to my Facebook Page!

Coyote Ridge at Sunset

River of Dreams

Clearwater

Traffic at Sunset

Keep an eye on my Etsy Shop in the coming weeks for these images as prints!

What are some of the things that help you stay inspired and beat the winter blues?

Promo Photographs for Half Moon Theatre!

2011-02-19T18:41:00.001-05:00

This week I had the wonderful good fortune to take promotional photographs for Half Moon Theatre's upcoming production of "Circle Mirror Transformation." I also had quite a few flashbacks to acting classes during my freshman year of college! But that's besides the point.

This is an incredibly talented ensemble and I'm really looking forward to seeing the show!

From Picture Today: Jen Kiaba Photography

My photograph on a book cover! Yay!

2011-02-09T18:46:00.004-05:00

While I was on vacation last month I woke up to a wonderful email. The image library that represents my fine art work had just sold the rights to one of my photographs! It was going to be a book cover for a young adults book in the Netherlands.

Finally yesterday I was able to find a preview of the book cover on the author's blog. It probably goes without saying that I did a big happy dance:

This photograph was taken last February on an unseasonably warm day; it was probably about 70 degrees out, and was the perfect kind of day to throw on a summery dress and take some pictures. The wonderful Jessalyn James offered to be my model and muse and we happened upon this amazing stone bench.

All in all it was a wonderful day, and now we have quite the memento to remember it by!

My photos in Where Women Create - Spring 2011!

2011-01-26T09:30:00.005-05:00

These past few months I've been like a kid impatiently waiting for Christmas! It's been really difficult to keep this exciting work to myself, so now that the magazine has hit newsstands I can jump around like the giddy kid I am! Photographs that I took this autumn are featured in the publication Where Women Create - and I'm jumping for joy and how good the article looks!

Author and Econesting Blogger Ronnie Citron-Fink was approached by the magazine because she is a prolific and articulate voice in the Green Movement. When she agreed to be profiled by the magazine, she found herself in need of a photographer. As luck would have it, we happened to run into each other at a local cafe and she offered me the chance to work with her.

We're both so thrilled to be a part of Where Women Create, so if you're looking to grab a copy of the magazine you had better do it quickly before we buy them all up! Just kidding (sort of!).

Here's a preview of our spread:

(all hair and makeup done by the ridiculously talented Magdalena Gouveia)

The Return of the Mini Sessions

2011-01-18T08:00:00.003-05:00

Due to the resounding success of our first round of Mini Sessions, the amazingly talented Magdalena and I will be offering a second round coming up in February!

This is the perfect chance to get a professional portrait done for your career needs, whether you're a Real Estate Agent, Dentist, Graphic Designer, or Performer. These images are great for social networking, your company's website, marketing material, you name it!

Plus the Mini Sessions are a blast!

Check out what Maria had to say about our first Mini Session in December:

"I would HIGHLY recommend the mini sessions!! Having had numerous head shots in the past, and having had to travel into the city and pay LOTS of money it was awesome to be able to have quality prints done in my own backyard at a fraction of the cost!

Magdalena performed a miracle when I accidentally cut my bangs too short the day before the photos and her makeup application was PERFECT! Having her on set to fix stray hairs and adjust makeup throughout the shoot was incredible.

Jen put me right at ease and really helped me to feel comfortable in front of the camera. I love the different back drops that were offered. I liked being able to preview the photos as we were doing them and found you to be very helpful in getting the right look.

I also loved being able to play my own selection of music. We were able to create an atmosphere that made me feel very comfortable. The information you sent before the shoot was REALLY helpful as well so that I felt really prepared coming in. I will definitely do the mini sessions again!!"

If you want to book your own Mini Session, just email me for more details. We only have five slots left for this round, so book your session soon before we're all booked up!

So you want to be a model? (Part 1)

2011-01-17T11:49:00.003-05:00

For the aspiring model, there are many different facets of the modeling world to learn about. Last week I had the opportunity to photograph two young hopefuls for the beginnings of their modeling portfolio. During the shoot they were asking me the different types of modeling that would be available to them, based on their age, look and body-type.

While on this blog I've railed against the body images and notions of femininity that can be found in the fashion industry, if it is a world that you are hoping to enter professionally then it's important to note what the expectations of that world are.

Today I want to talk about a very specific type of modeling - fit modeling - because a designer friend of mine is on the lookout for one!

A fit model is someone a fashion designer uses to check the fit, drape and visual appearance of a design on a human body. Essentially the model acts as a living mannequin. A model is selected primarily on criteria matching the desired measurement specifications; these specifications generally consist of height, bust-waist-hip circumference.

Beyond merely wearing the garment for a designer's inspection, a fitting model can become an integral role in the design process. It is important for a designer to gain feedback on garments and materials with regards to fit, movement and feel on the skin in the stead of the consumer.

Currently designer Bianca De Pietro is looking for fit models as she works on her collection! The model must be 5'9" or above and the measurements she is looking for are 34-25-36. If you fit these requirements, live in the Hudson Valley and have reliable transportation, then contact her!

Below are a couple of examples of some of Bianca's Re-made Vintage work. More examples can be found on my blog post here: My recent "Re-made Vintage Fashion" Shoot

A Free Gift: My January 2011 Desktop Calendar Download

2011-01-03T10:22:00.003-05:00

Happy 2011 everyone! I hope that you had wonderful celebrations to ring in the New Year. My honey and I cooked a huge dinner for our friends and welcomed midnight with bellies full of deliciousness!

Over here in my studio I've got a lot of exciting projects in the works, an upcoming facelift to my Etsy Shop planned, plus several published magazine features that I am just bursting to share with you! So there is definitely a lot to look forward to.

In the meantime I wanted to give you a little gift - a downloadable January 2011 Calendar for your computer's desktop. This is a brand new image and hasn't even been released as a print yet (keep an eye on the shop though) and is a good idea of what you can begin to look forward to over in my Etsy Shop!

You can download your preferred dimensions here:

1024 x 768 pixels | 1440 x 900 pixels | 1280 x 1024 pixels

1600 x 1200 pixels | 1920 x 1200 pixels

Happy New Year All!

♥

Jen

Head Shots: Risa

2010-12-30T10:19:00.005-05:00

Last month was the first time I attempted to do a portrait event. Many photographers have mini sessions on a regular basis in order to give clients a budget option, but I was a bit nervous attempting one at first. Part of what I love about doing head shots is that my sessions are tailored to spend time with a client and work together to create the perfect shot.

So the idea of booking a lot of clients in one day and having a only a short amount of time with them seemed like a bit challenge. But the Head Shot Mini Sessions ended up being a blast, and gave me a chance to work with some brand new people as well as do new session with amazing clients I've worked with in the past.

Risa was one of those people. She came into my studio early in 2010 for head shots, and the first thing that struck me about her was the way she sparkled when she smiled. Her head of curls was also enviable. She knew herself as a person and as an actor, which made her a real joy to work with.

But shortly after our head shot session she chopped off all her hair and decided to rock a bob.

It looked amazing! So I got on the phone with her and we decided to meet for coffee, because all of a sudden her head shots were next to useless. (You simply can't send in a shot of yourself with long hair and then come in looking different.) I wanted to come up with a way for her to have up-to-date shots without her having to financially start from scratch.

The Headshot Mini Sessions ended up being the perfect opportunity for her, and working with her again was a blast!

A little sunshine and 30% off!

2010-12-29T18:13:00.003-05:00

Winter is finally here and over in New York we've been digging ourselves out of quite the snowstorm. The day after Christmas we had the perfect excuse to stay at home in our pjs and watch corny old movies as the weather began to pile up over a foot and a half of snow outside.

After the snow stopped falling and the sun came out I took a long walk in the woods to admire the altered landscape. There is something so peaceful about the snow.

But I'm also a pretty big baby when it comes to the cold. Cold wind, cold hands, cold car seats - not always my thing. Growing up in Arizona I start to long for the sunshine pretty quickly after the first snowfall.

So I've booked a flight down to Florida!

In honor of my upcoming vacation, I'm offering 30% off any full-priced photo session that's booked for Jan 1 - 17th! Take advantage of this great offer and I'll send a little sunshine your way whilst I'm on the beach. ;-)