Headshot Session: Stephanie G. (chin up!)

Last Saturday I spent a few hours with the very lovely and energetic Stephanie G.. Vivacious, talented, full of energy and those green eyes.... Yes! (It’s always tortured me that my own eyes are plain ol’ brown – I love clients with eyes full of color that soak in the sun!).

Steph brought along her guitar for a few of the shots and they were my far my favorite ones from the day. Possibly the most wonderful thing about my time with Steph was working with someone who so very clearly knew the ‘looks’ she wanted for the shoot. As soon as I held that camera up, she was on point and ready (but I did set the record for number of times saying “chin up!” lol). We had some ominous cloudy weather that afternoon, but the light ended up being wonderful and we had a lot of fun on the shoot. 

 

Adam Z.: A handsome headshot session!

Meet Adam Z.... Handsome, right? AND he’s got talent.... A lot of it! And he's all Mad Men with those eyes, and the suit, and that perfect confident stare, ugh! Such a treat to work with!!

My favorite client is the one who’s confident, well-prepared and passionate. Adam hit all these points and then some. He just knows himself in front of a camera. I guess that’s what happens when you’ve got a few high-profile shows under your belt. I really, really can’t wait to see what Adam does next. When you’re that talented, that sweet and that handsome... You’re just made to do great things! I'm ready to be wowed.... can't wait to see what you conquer next, Adam!! I'm rooting for you! :)

 

Isabel + Dave: (a very) New York Engagement Shoot

About a week ago I had the pleasure of spending an evening taking pictures for a fantastic couple. I love people who know how to laugh and have a good time, and these guys are experts at both! Isabel and Dave are getting married next summer in California but wanted engagement pictures done in New York - both places are so important for each of them, and a shoot in the city it seemed a perfect way to honor the city where they first met. We kicked off the fun in Central Park before moving to the very picturesque Brooklyn Heights Promenade where the sunset was spectacular! The day was a fantastic mix of laughter, love and a little adventure - just the way I like all my shoots to be.

Anytime Shoot: Mary R.

Oh, Mary!

Full disclosure: this pretty lady is one of my dearest friends in all the world. She has been a guiding voice of reason and strength since I've known her and continuously believes in me and my madness even from my wee days. We love brunching, discovering new restaurants and Shakespeare-ing in the park in the summertime. We also love a good beach adventure, who doesn’t? When she asked if I could take some portraits of her to use for various business/professional reasons I was beyond excited.

So in our usual fantastic way, we explored downtown soho where we had this shoot and of course had a few adventures along the way. Including getting rained on when it wasn’t raining (we hope it was rain...), changing in strange empty restaurants, changing on the streets (!), etc. So much fun. Mary was patient with my crazy direction giving and positioning and we chased that sun until there was no more light left in the day. All in all, a perfect way to spend a Monday night.

Headshots: Frank V.

Alright folks, enough of that Seattle excitement. Now back to our regular posting sessions!

I had a cool headshot session with Frank V. a few weeks ago. We battled something like 97º heat and it was rough! Whenever we found a spot with the breeze, it felt like heaven. Despite the heat, the light was fantastic and we walked away with some great shots! Enjoy!!

Headshots: Ashley B. (and the shoot that almost wasn't)

The scene before this shoot: me, sitting at my kitchen table, head down, shaking with a fever and sweating bullets. the reason: sick, sick, sick.

I dedicate this entry to the healing powers of Theraflu Daytime Cold & Cough, for which this shoot would not have been possible. Oh, and of course the healing powers of soup. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I rarely get sick, but when I do, its like I've won the sick lottery. I get everything. under. the. sun. Sore throat? check. Ear infection? check. Watery eyes? check. Upper Respiratory Infection? check. Sinusitis? check check. (I'll spare you the rest of my suffering). 2 hours before my shoot with Ashley, all these things hit me in the face. Uh oh. (there is a happy ending to this tale.)

After taking so many OTC meds it would make a doctor blush, I was off to the shoot. Chugging water and hot tea, I was trying everything I could to just make it through these few hours.

By the time I met Ashley, I was feeling soooo much better, thank God. On top of that good news, I was so incredibly blessed to have gotten Ashley for this particular shoot when my energy levels were way down. She was an absolute natural in front of the camera and made my job so much easier! And the girl has no bad angles. None at all. Don't exist. Amazing! She brought so much light and energy into every shot.... I was so so so spoiled with her! (Sorry, Ashley, for gushing about you the entire shoot and now into this blog! But, umm hello, the world must know how fantastic you are!)

And now introducing the radiant, gorgeous, hilarious, sassy, and talented Ashley B.! Seriously, watch out for this one... it's only a matter of time before she makes it big time.

Headshots: Brian M. (with a twinkle in his eye)

The oh so wonderful Brian M. has been a friend of mine for almost 3 years and every time I see him I love him a little more. Who could blame me either - wait till you see those green eyes!

Due to the general hectic-ness of our lives, we had a "half" shoot last summer, and there were high hopes for meeting soon after to finish up, but the reality of our schedules made this impossible. So when he and I finally had some time open on the same day at the same time, we jumped on the chance to finish what we had started last year. And wouldn't you know... as I was on my way to our meeting spot it started to rain! Aaaahh!!

Ten minutes and a few choice curses later... the sun came out. Never a dull day, folks.

For this shoot we hit up my usual fave Soho location, then opted for moving a bit north into Chelsea where the lighting and locations proved to be absolutely delicious! We conquered dehydration, drunks, crazies(!!) and changing in public and it was so worth it! And I got that twinkle in your eye, huh B? ;)

And now introducing the always wonderful, forever hilarious and insanely talented, Brian M.!

ps. check back Thursday or Friday for some gorgeous shots of the smart, sassy, hilarious and beautiful Emily G.!

Heather G.: Headshots and Haircuts.

I shot with the very adorable Heather almost exactly a year ago from our most recent shoot. She was new to New York, and excited for a new adventure. I couldn't help but be a little fearful that she was so excited to be living in a city that has a tendency to beat you down a little. I decided not to mention it and let the growth that happens when you live here happen organically to her as it had happened to me. I knew she would go far and use that powerful smile of hers to put up some good fights. Oh, and of course we had an amazing amount of fun on that first shoot.

One year later we met again. Heather had gotten a new haircut that was drastic enough to warrant needing new shots. I was so happy to be the one she called! One of the biggest compliments I can ever get is being asked to work with someone again. This means they liked me and their pictures enough the first time that they only wanted to work with me again. Milka what?? I am absolutely honored when this happens! So we met in Soho, my current favorite place to shoot, and got going. As the conversation went on I knew that she had grown tremendously in that year. While still in love with New York, she had experienced how trying life here can be – she was still wearing that smile though! "Ah yes, I have so been there", I said to her.

Which brings me to a quick point... I applaud anyone who has come to this city as a transplant and made it in any capacity whatsoever. You won a battle by doing so. I mean that literally - a battle was fought, and you came out the winner. Living here is hard and it tests tremendously. There are days you are forced to stop and think, "why am I putting myself through this?". But if you stay another day, another week, another month or year, and let yourself grow a little more and be tested a little more - the changes you see in yourself are well worth the fight. Phew... I digress...

And now introducing (for a second time), the very fab Heather G.!

Jesse P. : Soho Headshot session

No joke, I love my clients. When I started doing this I had no idea how much I would love spending time with people for these little bursts time. Another part of it is that I think I've been really blessed so far to have gotten to work with people who are really cool, funny, happy, easy going and all around awesome.

I say all of this because Jesse P. is no exception. In fact - this kid blew me out of the water with how smart, funny and cool he was. We had so much fun around Soho on this shoot. Oh and did I mention how talented he is, too? Crazy talented!! Alright, I'll stop gushing now. :)

I think Jesse was surprised by how much people were staring at him while we were shooting. I get stared at a lot when I'm doing shoots around the city mostly because people are pretty curious about what's going on, but it happened more than usual on Jesse's shoot. My theory: because he's a dead ringer for Zach Efron. (Jesse, don't kill me for saying that!). In fact, that was one of the first things I told him when we met. His position: as long as you don't say he looks like Justin Beiber. Good kid, I tell ya.

Orlando T. Headshots - More Central Park fun & bring on Spring!

Hello friends! Have I got some exciting shots to share with you. These are fresh out of my camera (as I'm posting this, it's been 2 hours since I wrapped this shoot). I'm pretty excited about them. Today was a 'perfect storm' of great weather, perfect sunshine, and an awesome client and the shots prove it! Orlando and I had a ton of fun in the park getting these shots. Central Park in the spring does not disappoint!!

Hope you enjoy these preview pics. Absolutely no retouching on these bad boys!!

Till the next shoot,
Aislinn