The Moving Van Just Left

Yep.  It's official.  I packed up my blog and moved across town.  The new location is a bit roomier and has more space for bigger photos and better blogging.   Please come and visit and let me know how you like the new diggs.  www.lisascarsi.com/blog

College . . . So Soon????

I've long been friends with Valarie and Mike.   Valarie and I worked together when I was still in a "DINK state of life".  She had an adorable little girl name Tori and sometimes, as I made my way through photography classes, I would ask her model for me.  As a "non-mom" at the time, I didn't have a lot of friends with children so Tori was a little trooper posing, while I fiddled with f-stops and lights and learned my craft.   

The other day Valarie called and asked me if I could do some really quick headshots of Tori because she needed to submit them with her college applications. "COLLEGE" . . . I just about yelled.  "IMPOSSIBLE!" . . . another high decibel shout.  Time goes so fast . . .  especially for us adults as we watch the children around us toddle, run, drive and then leave us for colleges near and far.   My own little girl and boy will be needing headshots for college someday and I have to say, that will be a very sad day for me.    

Here is Tori, once a little seven-year-old model holding a bunny, now a young woman going off to college.  We did these headshots in a few minutes right in the neighborhood with some nice creamy natural light.  After the shoot, Tori, Valarie and I plopped down on the floor to chat about what she'd like to do for her senior portraits.  Can't wait to shoot those . . . we've got some great ideas for cool urban locations and poses. 

Scary Stuff

Spiders, snakes, earthquakes, flash floods, horror movies, Godzilla, dark alleys . . . bring it on.  I can take it all.  However, the most frightening thing a photographer can hear is, "We need a self portrait for our bio section."   Yep, that's the phrase that strikes fear in the hearts of many of us shutter bumping kind.   It's intimidating and it forces you out of your comfort zone.  It also makes you think about how you want others to see you (or not see you).  On top of all that, it's tough to know when to shoot 'cuz you can't see your face when your shooting you.  All your focus work has to be done with a stand in, to get the focus correct when you push your remote shutter release.  

I've had this idea about shooting a model behind lace.  It's something I saw in an old Edward Steichen portrait of Gloria Swanson and I've never forgotten it.  There is something mysterious about the veil of lace and hey, veils of lace cover a lot imperfections too.  BONUS!!! 

So here it is, or here I am . . . don't throw any rotten tomatoes, 'kay?