A few weeks ago my friend and frequent collaborator @chyna.tene stopped by my studio to hang out. She brought some of her crafting materials with her to work on some of her art while we chatted. We got to talking about hair and I showed her a book of hair portraits from J.D. ‘Ojeikere before suggesting that we do a similar, hair-themed session. She selected some jewels and I cut some strips of wire from her crafting materials and we styled her hair in several different ways. I used the @lindsayadler_photo x @westcottlighting Optical Spot and gobos to illuminate her in a variety of patterns. The whole shoot only took about 45 minutes but the act of creation and collaboration stuck with me for the rest of the day.
Read MoreHair / Beauty Shoot with Chyna Tené
Plants and Plastic with Chyna
I’ve collaborated with Chyna a dozen times now, and we’ve since become friends. She recently came by the studio and we chatted about work, life, and plants, among other things. I had recently propagated one of my plants by splitting it into two pots, one of which I gave to her. Before she left I asked if she would want to do an impromptu shoot with her new green friend. After snapping a few frames with the plant I convinced her to let me shoot some colorful long exposure images…
Read MoreNew Work with Chyna (plus LIMITED EDITION BOOK AND PRINT SALE)
Fantastic Plastic
Chyna popped by my studio last week to update her digitals. Of course I couldn’t let her get away that easily...
Read MoreHis and Hers
This was a fun one. Chyna and I have fallen into a nice rhythm with our shoots, as we have been collaborating every 2-3 months. It goes like this: she shows up with several outfits that she cobbled together from her closet or the thrift store; I look over what she brought and quickly brainstorm how to best light/shoot the looks; we play…
Read MoreBlack and Gold
I’ve been collaborating with model Chyna Tene for several years now and I always go into the shoots excited to see what we come up with. It’s always a true collaboration, with her in charge or wardrobe, hair, and makeup, and me in charge of the rest.
Read MoreLight and Dark
Photography is light. The term comes from the Greek words for “light" and “drawing". But I’d argue that equally important to light is its opposite, dark. Without darkness, there would be no concept of light— nothing to which you could set light apart. Personally I am someone who spends a lot of time focusing on the darkness. Though some might call that unhealthy, in my opinion it makes it that much beautiful when I happen to encounter light.
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