Photographing Bruce and Daren

2012 is starting off strong with weekly photo shoots, new postcards made, and with my website being updated! I don't know if it is just that I am having a creative spurt, fearing death, or just happy there hasn't been any snow on the ground so far this winter. (I was kidding about the 'fearing death' thing...although don't we all?)

Saturday January 14, 2012 brought me a very long day of shooting. Between getting my gear packed, throwing it in my car, going clothes shopping for some things for the models to wear, getting into NYC, getting set up, and then shooting for about 7 hours, packing up and getting home...I was really tired. And my cankles were killing me!

But this was a day about 'friends'. Old and new.

Two of my best buddies, Bruce Miller and Alex Paliani, recently moved into a very sweet apartment on West 56th Street. They are keeping the apartment 'open' with only a few pieces of furniture. They have always been generous and wonderful to me, which includes coming on shoots with me and helping me schlep my ever growing amounts of equipment (all to capture that 'natural look', mind you), and inviting me to use their apartment for photo shoots. I would be stupid not to take them up on their help, companionship, and free use of a space in Manhattan to do my shoots!

I photographed Alex a while back. (We are due for a new shoot soon.) I have never photographed Bruce before in any formal way. It was something I have wanted to do. And since I was being allowed to photograph my new friend Daren Esqueda in Bruce and Alex's place, I would take the opportunity to shoot Bruce.

This shoot had a lot of 'firsts' for me. I had recently purchased a 'beauty dish' for my strobes. I had not yet shot with two strobes at one time. I had not used colored gels with my strobes. And most importantly, I had never shot photos with alcohol flowing during the session! Pretty much at the start of shooting Daren, who was first to be photographed during the session, asked if there was any wine around. There wasn't. (We won't discusss why...lol). So, Bruce ran out and got a couple of bottles, along with a six-pack of beer (for me). We didn't get drunk. But, as Alex would say...'it took the edge off'.

Daren was a model completely different from what I have been used to. He wasn't just there getting his picture taken. He involved himself in the entire process...in a good way! I have a video monitor that I use during the shoots to check the shots as I go along. To check exposure, shadows, lighting...that sort of thing. Daren would check the monitor as we went along, not to check on his hair, necessarily. But to look at the entire frame and find ways to fill the frame with a movement or a gesture or an expression. It was a very interesting procedure and process. And great shots came from this. It was a very interesting lesson for me. And I enjoyed it completely. I was amazed at how willing Daren was to experiment and to try something different. He was full of rapid fire facial expressions and body movements that had me clicking away behind my Nikon. A real photogenic free spirit! And as handsome as can be.

Daren also looks great in spandex tights and has the tightest pair of jeans - ever! But I will save that for another time. ;-)

But if I wasn't already delighted, and frankly surprised, at the beautiful results of Daren's shoot, Bruce's time in front of the camera was sort of a revelation for me. I always knew that Bruce was a handsome guy. There is no denying or ignoring that fact, on top of him being the nicest guy in the world. But when Bruce got in front of the camera and under the lights, he was just...amazing. (I hate that over used word...but I can't think of another one that captures what it was like). Even his long time boyfriend, Alex, was captivated by how handsome Bruce looked.

The shoot with Bruce was very straight forward. Alex primped Bruce throughout, making sure he looked his best. Alex also would pick a favorite shot as we went along...and then would update his favorite fairly regularly. "I love this one. This one is my favorite. No, this one is my favorite. No, this one now...".

And to top the day off, Bruce and Alex secretly made reservations for dinner at 'Patsy's' down the street from where they live. This restaurant is famous for being a regular place for Sinatra, Liza, Sammy, and anyone who is anyone to come for a great italian meal, New York City style. It was great! A real 'New York' experience...and the food was, as Liza would say, 'terrific!! (Thank you, guys!)

It was truly an amazing day. Cankle pain and all.