During the past three months, I had the great pleasure of meeting and networking with so many beautiful souls in Miami. Between professional models, women entrepreneurs or just photography lovers, we had a blast working on some amazing photo shoots.

I will be sharing everything with you guys in the upcoming blog posts. I really want to help you get better, not only as a photographer but also as a person in general working with people. And what better way to do that than by giving you in-depth insights at my experience so far, the good, the bad and the not so good. So, make sure that you are subscribed to my blog by clicking on the subscribe image on the right sidebar.

Now, on to the first photo shoot I did with Natalie B. in Miami.

My brother in law, who is also my creative director, is a friend of Natalie. He put me in contact with her via Instagram and the rest is history. I took a look at her profile, to get a sense of the type of photos that would suit her best. It’s an important step when you’re planning your first photo shoot with a professional model. So, always do your initial assessment before proposing the theme for the session.

Since we didn’t have much time, I decided to work on a simple urban type photo shoot. I needed to find a spot which was unique and diverse at the same so we wouldn’t have to move too much for a second look. That day, the universe conspired with what we had in mind, and we ended up meeting near the Mandolin Aegean Bistro. The sitting area at the front complemented perfectly what Natalie decided to wear that day.

I use only natural light for that shoot because it was already beautiful. I think, as a photographer, it’s crucial to know exactly what type of lighting will help bring your idea to life better. Even though I had my Flashpoint Xplor 600 with me, I decided to use what nature gave me.

All credits go to Natalie for her awesome job with her own hair & makeup, the styling and the ability to give life to the expression I was going for.

When you’re shooting natural light, always make sure to check when the ambient light is changing so you can compensate in camera. Once you’re fine with the background or the set, do a light test

and concentrate on the shooting process. Remember that as a photographer, you must be able to read the mind of your models and make them feel comfortable. It is not an easy task, especially when you’re meeting someone for the first time, but practice makes perfect.

When you find a dope location with great light, along with an awesome model it’s easy to shoot the hell out of that spot. By doing so, you run the risk of limiting the potential of the photo shoot. What you must do is to keep an open mind and remain aware of your environment. Look around you, move a few steps away from your shooting place in search of a different background.

Here, we found a lamp poll a few feet from the restaurant. This gave me the opportunity to create, more shots of her with the same clothing but a completely different look.

Take your time to look around, see what the environment is trying to offer you. Here, I posed Natalie in front of this beautiful bouquet arrangement, the bicycle makes it even more epic.

Please, if you find this post useful feel free to share it with your friends and don’t forget to check out the Instagram profile of everyone who contributed to make that shoot possible.

Until the next one, stay positive and keep shooting!

Photo Shoot Credits

photo & retouch @jjnapoleon⠀⠀
model, styling, hair & makeup @nataliesgold⠀⠀
creative directors @6scorpio9⠀@gasnelb
videographer @jusnpr
location @mandolinmiami

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The Gear I Use ( Affiliate Links )

Nikon D810 https://amzn.to/2Uy2dad
Rokinon 135mm f/2 https://amzn.to/2OR0vLH
Nikon 50mm f/1.8G https://amzn.to/2UABslo
Nikon 85mm f/1.8G https://amzn.to/2G2CxdN
Nikon 105mm f/2.8 Macro https://amzn.to/2G0FUC7
Flashpoint XPLOR 600 https://amzn.to/2FO7Doi
Flashpoint 600ws Extension FlashHead https://amzn.to/2IbbcYl
Flashpoint Zoom TTL R2 https://amzn.to/2I8h30C
Flashpoint R2 Pro 2.4GHz Transmitter https://amzn.to/2uKRafc
Wacom Intuos Tablet https://amzn.to/2WKxBQb
Avenger 40″ Lightstand Kit https://amzn.to/2WM82hW
Savage Seamless Super White https://amzn.to/2WQV8iJ