Check out this months VEGAS magazine. The cover is Usher photographed by Robert Ascroft a extreemely talented and totally awesome NYC celebrity photographer.
Flip through the mag and your get to the feature I shot of the VEGAS Aces. I worked closely with associate editor Karina Deerwood to pull this shoot off in a very short time on a tight budget.
We shot 5 Vegas Aces, Josh Strickland lead in Vegas PEEPSHOW, Sonny Barton of Rock & Roll Wines, Jason Demuth of Nexus 30, Yale Rowe Senior VP of The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and Ricardo Laguna a totally amazing Pro BMX Rider.
I was stoked that all our guys were very good looking, and when she came to me and told me about the feature idea and who I was going to be shooting I took a day to brainstorm and research. I came up with 3 very different concepts, that I felt would be a great story and feature for our Aces.
I've attached my concept sheet here. So you can see where my brain was.
I really liked all three of the concepts, I really pushed for concept B, a more playful documentaryesque approach with natural light, walking shots, with key VEGAS landmarks and the one the client loved went with was idea A, the nightclub playboy classed up a bit. Mostly in part to the availability of the location. We ended up shooting at LAX nightclub in the Luxor. With the help of my talented stylist Jessica Galindo we were able to pull some great class suites and gear for these gentleman and pull the theme off. Kudos to my team, Whitney Urichuk did the makeup and hair for One Luv Agency, Jess Galindo wardrobe stylist and Murbina my rocking producer.
I've attached my fave final shots!
As well as tear sheet. More can be seen on the NEW WORK section on my website.
Lets hear some feedback!
Jana
Every year, I head to NYC to meet with current clients, potential clients and drop off promotional materials to as many agencies as I possibly can. All in hopes of spreading my name to those who might get my visions and hire me to do what I do best... photograph people.This year was a little different then previous years. The buzz of NYC was still there, the rush and the grind... but the photo industry was a little different. I experienced first hand many publications and agencies trying to do so much more with so much less. People have been laid off in swarms, budgets have been slashed and I've found my self in line with the big guns... the big name photographers are going after the same assignments I'm going after.We're not in the soup line yet, but we're all a little closer then we would prefer to be. It makes us uncomfortable, and as a creative, makes us nervous. We're in the assignment line, I couldn't imaging the pressure on the photo editors and art buyers, being bombarded with photographers looking for paid work. Key word PAID work!All I can do is what we're all doing, marketing a lot and doing everything we can to keep our names out there in hopes that when thinks pick up we get considered and booked. It is harder then ever on photographers to make a living in our chosen field. With rising competition, the everyone is a photographer syndrome, budget cuts, digital cameras, $1 stock photos, client ignorance and everything else associated with being a professional creative.... Rising insurance costs, digital work flow updates, camera updates, software creative suite pricing, ect. ect. ect. We're lucky to break even most times. YES everyone can be a photographer and I encourage people to explore their creativity, but there is a difference between someone who picks up a camera for the 3rd time and takes an amazing shot and the experienced seasoned photographer who can pull off a 300,000 production and produce groundbreaking innovative ad concepts that push brands forward. What I ask, are you going to pay for? Here are some snapshot images from NY this past trip... in and around town. The sticker head people were photographed on my first trek to the HAMPTON'S. Enjoy and keep pushing forward for what you are passionate about. Jana
