Business is getting serious

Even though I am still officially a student photographer (another 18 months before I graduate) - I get asked to do shoots such as weddings, kids photography, portrait and my latest assignment, a nude shoot. 

The girl that booked me wanted to surprise her fiancé with this kind of shoot and asked me if I was up for such a particular recording.

Luckily for me the girl is such a beauty and has the most amazing figure I could hardly imaging this would be a hard job to do. 
So we booked a date and I did some research in finding a great spot to set a scene for the job.

Anyways, I found this lovely room in Hotel O in the South of Antwerp, did some research and checked out the place beforehand to see if it was pure and airy, so my model would get all attention and the pictures would not have some attention drawing features like funny furniture or bad wall paper designs and destroy the entire concept of my shoot.

B. was very happy with the result (so was I) and instead of just choosing this one picture she ordered a complete private book (think Selfish but with less pouting and no disturbing comments written next to each image) for her beau.

Might consider to do this kind of shoot more often ; of course it's something you have to overcome as a woman but I'm pretty sure I can handle any kind of situation and portray any kind of figure in the most flattering way.

The picture is pixelated to protect the privacy of my model. For those interested in this kind of shoot, feel free to contact me through my website for more no-obligation info.

more info on www.littleblackdarkroom.com

Best pictures and 1 serie including actor/actress as photographer or photographer turned director

You might have guessed photography is my dada by now .. or if you're just joined my blog clan, you will discover this along the way.
So, wishing you newbies a warm welcome to the blog.

For those amongst you, who can't bear to see another Christmas movie at this point or are fed up with the millionth rerun of the Sound of Music around this time of year, this list is especially for you ..

I'd like to share some of my favorite movies of all time, containing the subject of photography. Maybe you've seen some of them or will discover some pretty awesome or touching motion pictures. 

***

At n° 1. A thousand times goodnight with Juliette Binoche being a war photographer {detail ; Larry Mullen, drummer of U2 also has a role in it}

At n° 2. Closer, Julia Roberts being an American photographer based in London.

 

source : blog.ricecracker.net


At n° 3. Blow Up, David Hemmings plays a fashion photographer in this iconic cult movie from 1966.

source : orbis.uottawa.ca

At n° 4. Rear Window, with Grace Kelly and wheelchair bound James Stewart, a photojournalist who's spying on his neighbors, suspecting one of them murdering his wife.

source : rotten tomatoes.com

At n° 5. Lost in translation, Scarlett Johansson plays the young insecure wife of Giovanni Ribisi, a fashion photographer who's more interested in his job and models than his own wife. Fans of Bill Murray ; a must see ! 

hotphotographers.tumblr.com



At n° 6. Ben Daniels playing Adam Galloway, photographer in series 1 and 2 of House of Cards

source : listal.com




At n° 7. The secret life of Walter Mitty, Sean Penn plays Sean O'Connell, the inspiring photographer friend of Walter (played by Ben Stiller)

source : the.me




At n° 8. Control, a movie by Anton Corbijn about the life of Ian Curtis, the tragic singer of Joy Division

source : wearethelastbeatniks.com



At n° 9. Palermo Shooting, a movie by Wim Wenders with Campino (singer of punk band Die Toten Hosen) acting a photographer

source : filmstarts.de



At n° 10. Another Anton Corbijn movie with Robert Pattinson playing young photographer Dennis Stock. The movie tells the story about Stock and a young James Dean and their friendship.

source : phogotraphy.com

In between work and rush

recap of this weeks' pictures: {clockwise} Merci Paris - the same picture framed together with my new led Eiffel Tower lamp from Hema - one of my monochromatic looks - Niamh posing for me on Sunday, Erwin Olaf inspired - another look and me posing on my doorstep - the save-the-date card came in my mailbox on Wednesday

It's been a very hectic week ; had 2 deadlines and truck loads of work for school before the upcoming holidays. On top of that, I've tried to train for tomorrow's Electric run in Antwerp ; I'm feeling quite tired and warm and I really hope I get through this weekend and Monday before I can officially crash.

It hasn't been long since I've had a warning from my doctor and on top of that I need to mentally prepare for surgery somewhere in 2016. I like to delay it as long as possible but Mr C and my doctor aren't to keen to hear me out.

So this is why I've been 'lazy' posting blogposts although I've got so much to share ; thank God for Instagram ! 

So easy to share something every day, right ?

I've been very happy to have finally seen the results of last Summer's engagement shoot with Lynn & Kenneth ; they've sent me their save-the-date card and I'm thrilled with the result !

For those interested ; we've been using the works of Wedding Paper Divas to make the card ! 

I'm pleased with the final result ; the image is sharp and the colors seem pretty ok as well.

Like to see more and we're not connected yet ? Follow me and maybe I'll follow you right back ; here's the link to my Instagram-account !

Almost ...

Over. 

Summer that is. It has been an amazing 3 months this year around ; starting with the wedding of my step daughter early June, our holiday to Ibiza and all these assignments with people that radiate love, warmth and emotion.

My last call was baby Emilie this week, who normally should 've been born around this time but decided to come a little bit earlier than expected. 

Emilie was born when I was packing for Ibiza and it was agreed to make her first pics in hospital. 

Alas, momma nature decided otherwise. 

So as soon I was back in the country I rescheduled her photo shoot ; my only concern was to get these before she was 1 month old. 

I wanted to catch that first baby look of her ; a baby's appearance and expression changes so rapidly you know .. 

a small collage of baby Emilie ; isn't she the cutest ?

#future

Isn't this a stunning scene ? I just can see myself organising events like these in a few years time. 

Mr C and me plan to move abroad in about 5y time, somewhere sunny and peaceful.

Tuscany (or some nice place in Italy) is on our top 3 list. By then I'll probably have finished my studies digital photography and will be a full time professional photographer. 

I've succesfully ended my first module last week, got my degree and now I plan to move on to the next level ; processing and photoshop.

But first things first ; holiday ! 

In between, I'll work on photoshoots as planned and enjoy a trip to Stockholm and Taormina (Sicily)

What are you guys up to these upcoming weeks ? 

I'm loving {food photography and food}

iFoi by food photographer Tony Le Duc

Did you see those foodie pictures Martha Stewart posted on her Twitter account ?
Those pictures are just horrible ; someone described them as 'food you'll get in prison'.
Or .. grey is not a colour to be seen in food!

You can't have it all now can you ? Domestic goddess Martha may be the queen of DIY and Christmas decorating but food photography, that is something of another league.
A week ago I was lucky to attend a lecture by Tony Le Duc ; he's a master in showing food in it's most pure form. He plays with structure and texture and knows exactly how to play with light and exposure. Something I know a little bit about as I was a lighting consultant in another life. Bread needs a totally different lighting approach than meat to name something .. Meat must be bloodred, fresh and winsome for the eyes to see. The eyes see and forward a message to our brain this looks good ! 
Hence the feeling of a grunting stomach and so the hunger game starts.

Currently an expo of Tony's work is running ; Hungry Eyes is a must-see !
Check out his website to watch a short movie and some pictures through 25 years of work.

Steve Hiett photography

As a future photography student (starting in 2014) of course, my interest goes out to people who already earned their name in this art.

My favourite photographers are Erwin Olaf and Marc Lagrange.

I like their edginess as well as their use of colour and setting.

For me, they portray women in a sexy and feminine way without getting trashy.

Recently, I discovered Steve Hiett's work.

So I'm very very proud to say we just ordered a picture of him for our living space.

It's the 1st of 3 pictures shown above and it's called Avenue George V.

Can't be a coincidence it refers to a place in Paris ; I LOVE Paris.

But also love Steve's work. His pictures ooze vibrance, dept and mystery.

I want to hear people comment on this picture and tell me what their thoughts are.

I'm pretty sure many fantastic stories will be passed on and I can't wait to share them with you.

Who is your favourite photographer and why ?