***“…I’m here for a good time, not a long time. Life is too short not to wear fun clothes.”***

Ruby Marx - 2023.

September 23, 2023

I think sometimes you have to celebrate your challenges and failures along side of your victories. This session was a challenging one across the board. Ruby and I may have locked in this shoot over a month ago, but a week ago she let me know that she just wasn’t feeling as energetic as usual and wanted to take things a bit more low-key than the costume shoot we had planned.

Cool. No problem. I’m here to do the work. I don’t care all that much what I’m doing, as long as I’m doing it. Also I prefer to test new equipment on more “low stakes” shoots anyway (not to brag, but most of the time I really do like being a photo industry secret agent and getting to play with pre-release toys…this will come back to bite me in just a few seconds).

I’m not sure what happened this time around, but I think I was fighting my equipment from the first frame. My first mistake was thinking I could use good quality lights with a poor quality modifier. I’m spoiled I guess with having access to better equipment, but I still can’t believe I can notice a difference with something I relied on not too many years ago. However, that was only the first battle. No matter what troubleshooting I did I kept having blank frames where my strobes just didn’t fire. I have some troubleshooting to do, and even though I’m happy with what we ended up getting, I’m still a little disappointed we had to cut things short (even if it did mean we did get more time mobbing around a new antique store and Target for the afternoon).

***“…This robe makes me feel like I just murdered my husband– Don’t worry, he’s safe at home.”***

Golden Mystique - 2023.

February 19, 2023

I like to keep things humble around here (even if this is my Blog and all) but this shoot was proof that when you know your craft, stay professional, and above all do good work– Good things happen.

Golden Mystique (AKA The Gilded Gams of Burlesque) found me in part through a list of Photographers put together by blog favorite, Titan Moon, and through the recommendation of someone who even though we have never worked together was impressed enough with what they had seen to send someone my way.

I’m happy that she could find me, and that we could get something scheduled (even if her weekend had been a wild one of little sleep and family responsibilities). Priding herself on being a queen of body positivity and a proud BIPOC performer, you shouldn’t miss out on seeing her perform if you have the chance.

I’m still figuring out what I’m doing with this black wall, but for the first thing I’ve done as part of studio V2 I’m certainly not mad at it.

***“…what’s got you looking so sad, boy?”***

Montañita - 2022.

October 22, 2022

I don’t think I’ve ever photographed an actor like Montañita. Our session very much was like a scene from a play. Every frame I took was analyzed and poured over as soon as it popped up on the monitor.
”What is going through my head”
”What am I trying to say here?”
”Why is he so sad?”

It really was something fascinating to be a part of, and I’m actually pretty surprised at what we were able to make together.

I honestly thought this was going to be a standard headshot session, but instead we worked through a great conversation that covered a whole range of topics from “What is the best insole for dress shoes?”, “How does hair gel work?” and even discussing the finer points of pickup trucks and bargain hunting. The hour session went by so quickly that it hardly felt like work at all.

The photos below are just a small taste of what we shot, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them.

Check out more of Montañita’s work at his website mountaininthemaking.com and on social media @transg0d

***“…there is something about the combination of leather and lace that just works.”***

Avery - 2022.

September 09, 2022

I’m actually pretty happy with how fast this session turned around. I think from initial outreach to final delivery we are at right about 24 hours, which has to be a new record in some way.

This was my first time meeting up with Avery, even though as has been the trend lately we probably have been in the same room at the same time in the same circles more than once. I love working with performers, once we get past the initial awkwardness and the music hits just right, its just one big dance party. I can think of worse ways to spend an evening after work!

I am in the process of putting some new equipment through it’s paces, but I can’t say what it is because it isn’t exactly available for wide release quite yet. But I was lucky enough to get my hands on one and have just a few days to really put it through it’s paces and learn as many quirks and features that I can.

Be sure to follow Avery on Instagram at @snap.crackle.papi and if you have the chance see him perform live as @ariesalxndr in and around Atlanta and elsewhere.

*“…that better make the blog..”*

(Ruby, after learning that she was the first “stranger” I’ve shot with that my cat has allowed to be touched by)

Ruby - 2022.

July 03, 2022

(Damn that new photo setting can look pretty cool, going to have to play with that a little more on future posts)

I think the last time Ruby and I worked together it was for some graduation photos back in 2020, but certainly this is the first time she’s been in the new studio. She reached out to me a few weeks ago and asked if I wanted to shoot some content for a magazine submission and although I was slightly apprehensive because of some bad tastes in my mouth from years ago, I decided we should move forward and give it a go.

(Spoiler alert, we almost immediately got accepted for publication, and I hope to be able to share those images soon).

Although those images were the main goal, Ruby did bring along a couple of other looks that I can show you now.