boy Archives • Alison Barnes Martin Photography

cheaper by the dozen

July 31, 2018

I like to pack a lot into a photo shoot. A lot. If you are going to take the time and hard earned dollars to pay for a shoot, then let’s make a small library of images for you. Let’s meet and talk about what you want. What do you want to achieve? Do you just want the experience of shooting? Do you need something specific for your agent? Do you just want to create a new body of work?

When we meet for the first time we will talk about what you like and what images you are attracted to. We will pore over a good amount of images. It’s fun! Then we make a plan. With Carter we decided on 4 good shots. A headshot, something that shows his physic, something upscale and something with a car. We started in the studio and then went out into the world. He has a lot to draw on for various applications. For his agent, for social media. Also, when he posts, it won’t look like the same shoot over and over again. For me, I think that’s important. It shows that you are working steadily and that shows promise and professionalism.

but what’s in it for me? the senior portrait

December 8, 2016

LR_blog image

I like my model. My senior model. You call me or text me or email me. We set up a meeting at your house or (my studio if that’s more convenient for you) and I bring “show and tell”. I come to you. It’s a concierge service, really. I’ll bring with me some European fashion magazines and leave them with you to look at, or you can can look at them while we’re talking. We set up a shoot date, weather permitting. We look at the magazines and talk about light, wardrobe, location. Do you need a stylist or hair and makeup? I’ve got you covered. Heidi and Michele are awesome, let’s see if they’re available!

On shoot date I’m ready. Typically, we start in the studio. Then we go out into the world. Sometimes we shoot in several different locations, the Nelson, Rivermarket, the Bottoms…I am yours. We go and go until we feel like we have a lot of variety. That’s my goal. I want you to be so overwhelmed by your choices that you can’t decide! I want you to feel like everything we’ve done that day is for you. It’s all about you.

In about two weeks, I leave you your package. It’s a bag with a boxed set of prints. Usually, 20-25 prints in the box. They are ready to be put in a gorgeous silver frame you’ve been saving or given to friends and family or just to be held onto. You’ll also get a link from me with everything that we’ve shot together. Okay. Please don’t feel overwhelmed. There are A LOT! You know your kid better than I do, but I know what I like. This way, I give you my favorites, how I think that your kiddo looks best, and you get to look on-line and see for yourself. You also get a high resolution file from me for your yearbook. It’s a pretty great deal.

poetry will be written about her…

February 5, 2016

I loved this shoot! I say that about all of my shoots, but I really mean it. I think that it’s a process, the way that the magic happens. Before a shoot I usually feel a bit of anxiety or nervousness. I remind myself that this is normal and that if I didn’t have these feelings, I wouldn’t be in love with what I do. I also remind myself to be myself. My mantra is: Just do your thing. It never fails me. I am most successful when I am able to just do my thing. Now, there are certainly contributing factors. Light, location, subject. I usually tell my clients that I’ll look at weather. I don’t really care about the temperature, I care about the light. I ask my clients if they have a special place that means something to them? Fortunately for me, Alice did. Her grandparent’s family farm was the perfect setting. And fortunately for me, Michele Taylor, my expert hair and makeup gal was available that cold Saturday morning. I try and have all of the pieces together before the day of the shoot. Often times, I’ll drop off some slick magazines for the girls to peruse and I ask them to tag the images that they like. I ask them to really think about it. I ask them why they like the image. Is it because of the wardrobe, the light, the location or the posture of the model? We might have a conversation before the shoot, but because we all lead busy lives, it’s usually the day of the shoot. I get a sense from these young women what is important to them. How they see themselves, how they view the image and how they wish to be seen. And then, we rock and roll!

Alice Rowland