Tribal Dancer Photoshoot..! Again..!

After I had posted images of my shoot with Tribal Belly Dancer Sawako. Photographers I know were  requesting another Photoshoot.  I wanted to include a friend of mine who is another Tribal Belly Dancer.  Her name is Badia and both Badia and Sawako are both avaiblable to dance for you.  They are beautiful and exotic.  While I am now processing the images.  Her is the first one of Badia..

Preparing for a fashion shoot or Photo Session for a Portfolio?

Are you excited that your going to shoot?  

 

First time? Shooting with a professional who is helping you put your concepts together?  If you already have a modeling job then you don't have to worry about gathering information, concepts and putting together the look you need. Cause your a working model. But if your just learning and putting together your port,  here are some very general guidelines to help you figure things out and to make shooting you easier for the photographer.

Ok, here are some guidelines to prepare for your shoot. 

• Get some good sleep the night before.
• Eat a light meal before coming arriving.
• Drink lots of water to reduce wrinkles and make your face look fuller.
• Don’t eat bread the night before or the like. (bloats the tummy and other body parts such as face)
• Arrive in sweatpants and shirt. Do not wear underwear of any type of attire that will cause a line imprints on your skin.  Especially if you would like to have some shots  in lingerie, swimsuit or less. 
• While modeling, just as the high fashion models don’t.  Do not wear underwear or bra. (So straps, bra or underwear lines will show thru.   Straps look unprofessional.  Underwear showing thru is also tacky looking and unprofessional and cannot be retouched smooth.  You want a natural body look. A spot like those pesky nipples or shadow is easier to retouch out, rather than a whole bra line.  Wear foundation only unless it was decided what make up your are wearing
• Bring all jewelry accessories and props you think we could possibly use. Ie: Cowboy hat, men’s shirt, boa, head bow etc  No HOOP earring. So ghetto..!!!
• No piercing thru your nose, lips, eyebrows etc. Unless there is a look your going for.
• All fashion you would like to wear.
• Bring heels for each fashion to match.
• Iron all fashions you plan to wear.
• Bring all your makeup.
• Bring ideas of poses and concept you would like to shoot.  (Cut out magazine pictures, copy pictures from computer to show etc. )
• if you have a make up and hair artist. Don't wash your hair. It will hold the style. Wash hair won't.

Ok here is your guide to what to wear and bring. We are going to keep it simple.  These are only suggestions. The photographer do not know exactly what your goal is or your need.  But your goal is to make all your shots that you like outstanding..!  Allot of that depends on your energy. 

Clothing and fashion.  Bring rich colors to wear. Nothing that looks worn of faded. Unless it’s a look you want. Rich browns and reds etc. That compliments your skin tone. One white spring dress loose fitting for a beauty shot. Spring dresses.

For you first photo port, you will need these basics shots for agents to see.  I will be making your head shot portrait for your book and digital comp card.  See attached for comp card.  Later you will need to order lots of head shots to give out at auditions, etc.

Head shots, you will need two basic shots. One natural and one more glamorous.  One with a great natural smile and one without.

A nice collared shirt and long sleeves. Your business suit outfit is perfect.  Bring glasses too to make you look cute and smart...! 

Natural Make Up: to make you look like you’re not wearing any and have natural beauty and cuteness. 

The second look will be all glamour make up. Fashion to match.

We will shoot head shot as your first pictures and then throughout your shoot.  Sometimes the best head shots with lots of energy are caught during the shoot when you’re more relaxed...

Body shots, full and 3/4:  Need a colorful spring dress, spaghetti straps and very feminine. Fun and flirty

and one white flow spring dress.  And one tighter dress, more fashion... bring accessories

Swimsuit: If your shoot is for modeling or fashion then you might need one. An image will go into your comp card.  If acting or singing then really there's no need, but it can't hurt.  If you do a swimsuit shot, colorful and not too tight with no padded cups.  Nice earrings and shoes to go with it.  Maybe a matching head scarf. It's considered fashion.  Remember you will be retouched as needed.

Additional suggested fashions:  A sports outfit...Bring a prop... Tight turtleneck sweater and matching pants or jeans.( great black and white) yoga outfit, dance outfit, White t-shirt and faded jeans, cute PJ's,

Also bring an assistant to help you change etc.  If you’re under 18 you need to bring a guardian at least 18 and over to witness and sign a release.  Lotion extra make up, earring etc.  No glitter make up.

Again, you will required to sign a release and fill out a model detail sheet. So the photographer can make and order you Zen/Comp card.

Would YOU pose nude to boost your self esteem? Growing trend women of every shape and size baring all for VERY personal portraits

It sounds like a mortifying ordeal most of us would shy away from, but more and more women are posing for nude portraits as presents for their partners or morale-boosting treats for themselves.

'I WANT TO LEARN TO LOVE MY CURVES'

Businesswoman Rachael Ritchie, 41, lives in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, with her husband, James, a 41-year-old mechanic, and their daughter, Charlie, 17, and son, Sam, 12. Rachael says:

I've spent 20 years bemoaning the way I look and enduring endless diets in an attempt to change my body shape.
Since I married James in 1991, I’ve been every size, from a 12 to a 20, but at no point have I felt completely happy with my appearance. Yet through all those years of yo-yo dieting my ­husband has always told me I am the most beautiful woman he knows. He buys me pretty underwear and tells me I’m sexy, but still I beat up myself over my curves.

I WANTED TO PHOTOGRAPH MY BODY BEFORE HAVING CHILDREN TAKES IT'S TOLL'

Claire McLauchlin-WHhitehead, 28, is a PR executive. She lives in Manchester with her businessman husband, Anthony, 27. Claire says:

No one knows what I’m doing today — my husband thinks I’m working late. It’s not that I’m embarrassed; I just don’t feel the need to tell people about it.
I’ve no idea how Anthony will react when I give him the ­pictures: they’re a gift for our first wedding anniversary. He’ll either love them or think it’s vain and self-indulgent. I want him to remember that the girl he married 12 months ago is still full of surprises. That I am daring and unpredictable, and ­perfectly capable of running off and having a stark naked ­picture taken without telling him first. 
I’ve always hated my legs — I’m convinced they are bigger and chunkier than they actually are — but seeing the shots made me ­realise it’s all in my head.
I know my body is far from perfect, but having these ­photographs taken is a way of teaching me not to ­agonise over my looks.

'THIS PICTURE SHOWS THE REAL ME - THE WOMAN WHO BEAT POST-NATAL DEPRESSION'

Hollie Brackenridge, 26, is a full-time mother to Scarlette, five, Isabella, three, and 14-month-old Brodie. She lives in Luton with her husband Matt, 34, a vehicle inspector. Hollie says:

Taking off my clothes to be photographed naked is my way of hammering the final nail into the coffin of the person I became after I was struck down with post-natal depression ­following the birth of my middle child.
These pictures are proof that the real me is alive and kicking again.

At first, that picture tormented me. I was barely functioning at the time — just getting out of bed and pulling on clean clothes felt like a huge effort.

Battle scars: Hollie now sees her stretch marks has a celebration of life

Matt was keeping the family together. He took time off work to look after the children and me; he was more like my carer than my husband. I felt a failure as a woman and as a mother. 
Suddenly, that picture gave me something to aim for. So as soon as I lost my baby weight, I vowed to have another set of nude photographs taken as gift for Matt to show him that he has his wife back again.
I was more nervous this time. My body has carried and breastfed two more children. I’m normally obsessed with my stretch marks and the way my body has changed after having children, but, in fact, I realised these ‘battle scars’ are a ­celebration of my life, how far I’ve come and the beautiful children I’ve carried.
As I stood there naked, I felt really good about myself. And I’m more proud of these pictures than the ones taken when I was so much younger.
My body and I have been through so much and these photographs are testament to the fact I’ve survived.
I will hang my favourite on the wall next to the old photograph with great pride

Funny Pictures-Models Break Dancing

Sawako Tribal Bellydance

Sawako final images are ready for your viewing.  She was possibly one of the easiest models to shoot.  She is a natual in front of the camera. The challenge was the lighting.  I added two kicker lights to make the image pop.  Then with my skills in processing the images I was able to really bring it out.  copyright michael torres 2011.

What do you think?

OPEN CASTING CALL

Sawako Tribal Bellydance

Over the weekend we had the chance to shoot Sawako Ama. Tribal Belly Dancer. 
Photographer Ed Carly assisted me in this shoot and we had a blast.  We shot at her Dance/Yoga Studio.  Her studio had a beautiful aroma of incense in the air.. 

We shot for about 3 hours altogether and we got some amazing images.  Sawako is from Japan. She was born and raised in a Buddhist temple in the south part of Japan, Later in life she traveled and settled in Sacramento.  She teaches Belly Tribal Dance in her studio in Fair Oaks, California.   She was featured in the Sacramento Press News. “Sawako Ama was my favorite. She kept my attention,” said Merssia Enriquez.

You can read more about her and get direction to her studio here: http://www.meetup.com/sawako-tribal-bellydance/members/12330600/

We shot lots of action images of her dancing.  For now here is a standing portrait for her files.  Lighting, One 45 degree back camera right and one Soft Box Spot in front.

Belly dance or Bellydance is one of the most exotic and can be one of the most erotic forms of dance.

Western-coined name for a traditional Middle Eastern dance, specifically Egyptian ghawazi dance in the 19th century, and raqs sharqi (Arabic: رقص شرقي‎) in the 20th century. The term is sometimes extended to include all traditional Middle Eastern dances.
The term "belly dance" is a translation of the French danse du ventre which was applied to oriental dance in the Victorian era. The term is somewhat misleading, as every part of the body is involved; the most featured body part usually is the hips. Belly dance takes different forms in different regions, both in costume and dance style, and new styles have evolved in the West as its popularity has spread globally.
Other traditions either included under the term, or often cross-trained by belly dancers include Romani dance, Persian dance and the dances of Central Asia.