Thanks to model Lindsey for doing a great job. It was her first time but I sense it won’t be her last. And as usual, I couldn’t have pulled this off without my partner in crime, Suzu.

I prefer not to use professional models for most of my projects so we (Suzu and I) are always on the lookout for people we think might work for whatever project I’m working on. There are advantages to using models but for me capturing a real person even in a highly conceptualized shoot is much more compelling. And it comes through in the pictures.

Emily came dancing into our lives a few weeks ago when we were out killing time in Buckhead. I knew instantly that she would work well for this idea I had in my head. So… the awkward conversation of “hey there, do you want to model for me” started. A lot of times I get Suzu to do my bidding simply because I feel like a typical sleazy photographer when I do it. Much better coming from an adorable, innocent looking Asian female. Don’t you think? My intentions are pure but let’s face it, the majority of the US sadly doesn’t see any difference between artistic expression of the naked variety and pornography.

However, this time I had the conversation and it went well. She contacted me and we set up the shoot. This was the last set I wanted to finish to complete my new book Uncommon Beauty. There are more pictures of Emily plus Storyville plus previously unreleased work in this 80 page book.

My new book Uncommon Beauty is finished! Yeah, I’m excited. This isn’t the first book my work has been in but it is the first that’s all me. I learned a hell of a lot during the process of getting this book completed. I’ll probably post another article about the experience at some point. For now, enjoy flipping through Uncommon Beauty an it is for sale so don’t be shy, buy a copy or two and help support artistic expression.

This is the second set we shot while in Asheville with a different model. Enjoy!

You can view all from this series here.

This is set 1 of the new series I’m working on.

We were in Asheville and hooked up with some great locals Justin and Delaney. I told them about some of the stuff I’d been working on and after perusing some of the Storyville portfolio they said they knew somebody who wanted to model and a great building to shoot in. And I of course said “let’s do it!”

Shortly after leaving them I remember saying to Suzu something to the effect of “oh shit”. I really had planned on bringing some of my equipment but decided at the last moment that I likely wouldn’t need it. So, all I had was my camera and a few memory cards. To make a long story a little less long, we only had the natural light coming in the window to work with. No makeup artist, just Suzu working her magic with what little makeup we could get our hands on.

See more of this series here