It has been a while since I did a photoshoot that wasn’t documentary in nature or featuring my daughter. The pandemic and the social distancing of the past two years has been a disaster for the photography industry, and 2022 has witnessed the return to the industry of many colleagues. I have no idea how some survived managed to keep their studios open, up and running, but I suppose that with any other business, if there is a will there is a way. The more daring and desperate will have braved opening the studio doors around October of last year, but for the most part, it was only this when things really took flight again.
Those of you who follow FrogDiva Photography are aware that 2022 – 2022 were the years I ventured seriously into portraiture, experimenting with more dramatic / cinematographic looks for the most part using only natural light. Here are some of my favourite ones from the Old Hollwood Glamour series featuring Maike, where we went from Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Grace Kelly, Rita Hayworth, Bette Davis, Lucille Ball, and Marlene Dietrich –
The last six months here in Portugal have unblocked the creative swamp I was stuck in and provided me with a new motivation and perspective. I am back to portraiture and have had the honour and pleasure of working with people who are new to modeling and direction but are absolute naturals, and the camera lens absolutely loves them!
Vendy (Click HERE for the complete series)
Igor (Click HERE for the complete series)
Neither Vendy nor Igor had the photoshoots in studio, but rather very spontaneous locations chosen to provide contrast to the model and not overpower. For Vendy we found an old decrepid wall in an alley, which was perfect for bringing out her soft features but still highlight flawless skin and a steely inner strength. For Igor, because of our height difference and the absence of a ladder (for me), I needed something angled, so we found ourselves in a stairwell and a basement (much to the consternation of the workmen down there), with a couple of shots done in the elevator on the way down. Scouting a location is half the fun of the photoshoot!
You can expect fresh new faces over the coming months and definitely the return of both Vendy and Igor to grace the galleries! Sometimes the perfect model just reveals themselves at the most unexpected times!
FrogDiva Thoughts 