I had the pleasure of shooting this lovely lady, Kristi Dawn, the other day to try some tricks with film. Before the shoot she heard I like moustaches so she brought these awesome glasses along and we shot a few extra pictures at the end.

Vancouver Portrait and Fashion photography: www.alexwaber.com

Another from the recent test shoot with Hermela.

Vancouver Portrait and Fashion photography: www.alexwaber.com

Every so often I organize a test shoot for myself to try new lighting ideas (like the textures of light in the top pose) and just to stay as in practice as possible. This is Hermela, an awesome new model here in Vancouver. It was great working with her and I look forward to doing a bigger shoot some time soon.

Another shot (My other possible favourite) from a  recent editorial I shot called “The Watcher” which was just published in full over on Assignment Fashion.

Model: Ashleigh Cameron

Makeup and Hair: Carolyn Secord

Stylists: Ashley Parker and Sanam Dhoot

Assistant: Alison Harper

Photography by me!

Vancouver Portrait and Fashion photography: www.alexwaber.com

This is a shot (possibly my favourite…) froma  recent editorial I shot called “The Watcher” which was just published in full over on Assignment Fashion.

Model: Ashleigh Cameron

Makeup and Hair: Carolyn Secord

Stylists: Ashley Parker and Sanam Dhoot

Assistant: Alison Harper

Photography by me!

Vancouver Portrait and Fashion photography: www.alexwaber.com

Further adventures in the realm of test shoots. From time to time they send in one of their international models to help build their book in a more editorial way. In this case it was a last minute add on, and with about an hour to spare I threw together a quick set with what I had lying around the studio and did this shoot.

Model: Amanda Matheson (Numa Models)

Stylist: Alexa Kellee

Vancouver Portrait and Fashion photography: www.alexwaber.com

I’ve been shooting model test shots a lot lately for a local Vancouver agency. Its a lot of fun, primarily because I get to practice and test new ideas in lighting, posing and set dressing. This shot is pretty simple in the grand scheme of things, but I like it.

Vancouver Portrait and Fashion photography: www.alexwaber.com

The second of my book reviews, The Contact Sheet by Steve Crist is a study in to individual shoots by some of photography’s biggest names and some more unknown yet equally talented names (or maybe they’re just unknown to me because I don’t pay as much attention to documentary photography as I could). Crist lays out for us the contact sheet (or a selection of images from the series) that ultimately lead to the defining image from the shoot. Each sheet is accompanied by a brief description of the photographer and the particular project, together illuminating the perspective of the photographer and shedding light on the process behind some of the world’s greatest photographs that often goes unnoticed.

Although, truth be told, documentary photography isn’t as much of a passion for me as it could be, the book was fascinating. Learning the way the minds of masters work in executing a shoot and finally choosing the most powerful image possible, and when it did come to portrait and fashion photography within the book I loved seeing more of the process and the way a photographer would work to find a theme or style of image then work to get the most out of it.

As a photographer after shoots I have to sift through mountains of photos to choose the best one (probably more now in the age of infinite digital rather than finite film), yet seldom get the chance to look through someone else’s shoot, and I found that new perspective fascinating. Aesthetically as well, I’ve always loved the way a contact sheet looks, especially when a photographer has made notes and circles all over it. Its a beautiful thought process to see.

If you get a chance, definitely check it out. 

This was a kind of funny situation, still with Beth letting my play with lights, the first shot with crazy colours was what I was going for, the second shot returns to my usual simplicity simply because the strobes hadn’t recharged in time. Can’t decide which I prefer! Thoughts?

Vancouver Portrait and Fashion photography: www.alexwaber.com