CrazyDopetastic

Ceima messaged me one night back in October to tell me that she had the perfect space for us to get some dance photos done. I’ve done several shoots with her but we never found a place with enough space for us to get quality dance shots. I got excited when she started to describe the space to me and I practically jumped out of my chair when she sent me pictures of the space. We set a date and since it was gonna be like a month I figured I had plenty of time to plan it so I focused on my other closer shoots instead.

ABOUT THIS SHOOT

• Model - Ceima
• Location - Avalon Communites in New Rochelle (Penthouse Lounge)
• Time Of Day - 11:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Well the day was fast approaching for us to get these shots done so I decided it was time to start putting my gameplan down on paper. Only problem was… I was having a complete creative mental block!!  

I honestly don’t know what happened to me but I couldn’t come up with anything creative for my model to do; it sucked because I was finally gonna get to add something to my portfolio that I desperately wanted which was dance and I didn’t want to waste the opportunity. I told Ceima about my problem and she just laughed at me (I’ve known her almost 20 years so she’s allowed). She had such complete confidence in me that I pretty much gave up worrying on the spot.

I’m happy to say that the second I was behind the camera and my adrenaline started pumping, my mind was flooded with ideas! I wound up with so many beautiful images that I had to enlist help to narrow down the images for editing.

EQUIPMENT USED

• Canon EOS 40D
• Two Flashes: Canon 430EX II Speedlite
• One White Shoot Through Umbrella
• Two Light Stands
• Radiopopper Flash Trigger w/ Receivers
• One Beautiful Dancer

Thanks to my beautiful model for providing me with a wonderful opportunity and for once again putting her time and body at my disposal to get some great shots.

- Eric Snell

Contributing Art & Fashion Photographer, CrazyDopetastic
Owner/Photographer, E. Snell Design

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I conducted this shoot with my friend and makeup artist, Natalia.  I really wanted to do something that channeled Billie Holiday. I think, after it was all over, it turned out more Dorothy Dandridge instead.

Had to do a bit of improvisation, I knew what I wanted but I didn’t have a lot of the props for my disposal on that day. I decided to focus heavily on the reflective nature of the dresses material. It, on it’s own, was eye catching to me.

ABOUT THIS SHOOT

• Model - Natalia
• Location - Brooklyn Bridge Park
• Time Of Day - 7:30PM to 11PM
• Weather - COLD! 

I brought along my usual flashes, stands and modifiers. I’m a huge fan of heavy shadows and I generally work with one light; but because of the dress, I decided that two flashes would be more appropriate. I left the flash that hits her back completely bare. For the flash that hits her front, I used a shoot through umbrella to modify the light so that it wrapped around her face and body smoothly. You can see the results.

The special guest in this shoot was the Manhattan skyline. The hardest part of this shoot wasn’t so much lighting her as it was making sure that I kept the integrity of the skylines lights in my background.  

EQUIPMENT USED

• Canon EOS 40D
• Two Flashes: Canon 430EX II Speedlite
• One White Shoot Through Umbrella
• Two Light Stands
• Radiopopper Flash Trigger w/ Receivers
• One Gorgeous Latina Model & Assistant  

All in all, for someone who is more comfortable working behind the scenes than being in front of the camera, Natalia always gives me consistently gorgeous images. I love working with her; as soon as it gets warmer, we’re gonna go back out and shoot some more.

- Eric Snell

Contributing Art & Fashion Photographer, CrazyDopetastic
Owner/Photographer, E. Snell Design

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