Jim,
Thanks for the kind words. I really appreciate it. My winning is a testament to my mentors, you being one sir.
There's a couple of things I would like to add that you didn't address and I think are pretty important.
First with the models, I think they loved Danny Futrell. Danny is a great guy and loves life. He loves making pictures and it shows. I think if the models had a favorite person that happened to be a photographer, it would be Danny. Did they think Danny was the best photographer there?
I think it's important for people to understand how photography is a team sport. Yeah, I'm the guy holding the camera and I decide when the picture is perfect and click the shutter. However, there are lots of people that help make that happen. If you didn't have a model with great camera presence, make up artists that use their skills to enhance the model's good qualities and minimize his/her flaws, and stylists who pair up great clothes for that killer look you would never get to that great shot.
I let each model know that we were a team. I wanted them all to know that we were there to make great pictures and the whole idea was sexy playfulness. If we weren't having fun, it would show in the pictures. I did my best to make each shoot fun! When the model detaches herself personally from the pictures and steps into her role, it can be awkward. Silence is the big enemy.
Now some models are more into being themselves and portraying who they really are in the pictures. In this case you don't have to worry so much about the awkwardness I described before. Since the model is in his/her element, coaching should be minimal.
You have to learn to read each model to understand which technique works best. The same tehnique doesn't work best for a model every time either. For example, Alexandra was in her element when we shot her set. I think she is comfortable being the object of desire. When we shot our set, I wanted her to be wooing her sugardaddy.
I very much doubt that Jessica Hixon has ever really gardened before. But we had a concept and she stepped into her role. Jessica's very good at this. She's got a great look and camera presence. If she could only fix that one thing, she would be unstoppable.
Second, I was pimping myself. I got a lot of camera time (or the shoots I was in did) because I sold my sets to the crew. MavTV is a men's channel. They could care less about the mechanics of photography. They wanted hot stuff for the show and their audience. I would start first thing in the morning and tell the crew what I was doing. I would make sure they knew it would be a hot set. Ed actually addressed that in my interview. I think it made a big difference.
Sadly, the MUA's were the most overlooked members of our teams. I made sure they knew how much I appreciated them. I also did something that I don't think anybody else really did. I went to the MUA's from time to time and told them what we were trying to accomplish and asked them to be part of that. I asked their advice on what they think would work best. Karen told me in my interview that she really appreciated that. It really made her feel like she was an important part of the process.
Another thing that happened with Karen that didn't make the show was our session during judging. Karen is also a model. She was sone with makeup and really wanted to shoot some as well. We were at the Mayan Ruins. Everyone was kinda lounging around. Karen walked out of the makeup room, passed by everyone else and asked me to shoot her. She had her choice of everyone there, and she asked me. That was rewarding, very rewarding.
I won. Was I the best technical shooter there? Definately not. This whole thing should really help people understand that sometimes the best shooter is not the best photographer.
Thanks again for the opportunity, Jim.
Mike
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