Hello!
Greetings! On this page I provide some general information about my style, strengths, and limitations. I also provide some hints that will help you get the most out of my style.
First of all, right now my mission is to create great portfolios for both of us. I promise to do my best to make pictures that will help you succeed in the areas of your interest.
I am very much in the minority of photographers in that I do themes. Morover, I allow you to specify the theme, and to give me an idea of what you want to do with it. Please choose your theme carefully. An abstract theme will almost certainly generate abstract results. A concrete theme will produce results that better relate to human experience.
I have identified five major qualities that I value in my art. They are:
- Capturing the talents of a model in a way that pleases her and that begs the piece to be hung on a wall
- Originality
- A combination of color, contrast, and composition that draws interest
- Production of a feeling (especially a warm and fuzzy feeling)
- A story
It is rare that I am able to incorporate all five of these qualities in a piece, and basically, my work is like a proverbial "box of chocolates".
Lighting is definitely my strong suit. Please take time to examine my work and compare it to others'.
I strive for high contrast images, both in color and shading. You should find a considerable amount of variety in my images. I often use geometric elements. I usually incorporate strong highlights and vivid color. I believe in emphasizing elements of your beauty. Therefore, you will never find your face fully in the shadows (without highlights) in my photos.
All these things tend to make my photos look good from a distance. I say, give "good curb appeal". Why is that important? It's because that is what is going to cause an executive to take a closer look at your image. Maybe they're looking over a thousand images in a day. We both want them to include yours among the 50 or so that they take a closer look at.
Oh, and when they do, they will find your skin perfect, your eyes and teeth gleaming, the colors more than appetizing, and your beauty presented at its best and without distraction. Why am I sure? Because I spend a lot of time retouching. Retouching fixes the often minor and transient imperfections in your skin, clothing, and lighting.
Now, as for my limitations: I only shoot models in a studio, so any outdoors shots have to be synthesized using other shots. I may place you outdoors, but am much more likely to put you into an abstract or indoor setting. However, because I don't shoot outdoors, swimwear is not my best subject. Lingerie would be a much better idea.
The pieces posted in the main gallery will generally be G to PG13-rated, however there may be exceptions. For instance, I have done some honest-to-god artistic nudes.
I will create a "Private Project" folder for you, and this will be a mechanism that I use to communicate my work with you, so you should bookmark this site in your web browser. Draft images will be posted on your page for your review, and, once you approve them, I will remove any marking, such as "PRELIMINARY", and the image will be available for you to obtain electronically. You are free to use these images on your sites, provided that you observe our no-nonsense agreement. The most important feature of this agreement is that you include a copyright credit to me as "Craig Barrington". I would appreciate mention or link to my OMP address
http://member.onemodelplace.com/member.cfm?P_ID=178700 .
My main area of work tends to be glamour. Glamour photography is photography that is a little bit sexy. I categorize it differently than OMP. Under glamour are specialty categories of: fashion, swimwear, lingerie, and artistic nudes and semi-nudes. I favor semi-nudes over nudes because they will usually result in better assets for both of us. Whatever you choose, I retouch every inch of you, and those retouches generally have to look perfect at full resolution. (Some retouches can only be described as adjustments toward the aesthetically pleasing)
For the most part, you will need to provide your own attire. Don't wear a sports bra or anything else that creates unnatural lumps. (this happens) Try to avoid black items. If you like black shoes. You could wear shiny pink ones, and they will turn shiny black if you let me know (and maybe I'll pick up on it anyway). Try to avoid a lot of bright white too, like a bright white skirt. Don't worry about whether the colors go together. The important thing is texture. A variety of textures is nearly always winning! A rain coat might actually work just because of its texture. Other shiny things work out great too. Maybe you have big shiny earrings? Necklace?
As far as your makeup goes, you will have to either have your makeup the way you want is when you come through my door, bring your own make up artist (MUA), be able to make yourself up in the studio, or provide me with images that clearly illustrate how you like your makeup (workable, but less desirable).
If you do not know what your best angles are, we will find them. One thing seems certain though: A straight-on view of your face is not your best angle. Try not to directly face the camera, and feel free to strike poses.
Don't move your eyes until well after the shutter clicks.
Remember, my mission is to create great portfolios that spawn a desire in our potential clients. We will need to work together, and your ideas and talents are critically important in the studio.