markvelasquez

Torch Song

After an experiment with fire didn't work out the way I was hoping, I was getting ready to end the shoot when I saw how well my headlights were playing on the smoke of the blown-out torch. With my usual lack of planning, I told the model to just dance around, which she happily did while trying to stay warm on that chilly evening.

No Excuse.

(From a recent Instagram post, this time with the name unblurred.)

GENTLEMEN: There is NO excuse for this. I get these messages several times a week, which means the models I work with probably receive 10x as many, at least. Yes, the women I work with are attractive and the photos are often provocative. But just because they choose to have their image taken in such a manner in NO way ...

Kat David, Pt. 13

This was probably the last shot of the day, with her relaxing in the slowly fading sun as we joked about posing with cows and other silly things. We arranged to shoot together in the future, and have since become good friends. I hope to work with her again in the next few weeks.

Kat David, Pt. 12

As our afternoon drew to a close, I kept shooting because I found myself unable to stop. She was such a natural, so chill and fun to spend time with, that neither of us wanted to stop.

Kat David, Pt. 11

But mirrors are meant for reflection, and I directed her to simple "Walk away from me" while I turned my back to her and focused the lens on the reflection itself. The auto-focus was not happy with what I was asking it to do, but once I switched to manual focus, though it was a much slower process, it delivered some interesting images.

Kat David, Pt. 10

I had also recently bought a hand mirror at a dollar store, throwing it in my camera bag for no real reason. As Kat searched for things to wear, i discovered it and tossed it to her, telling her to shine it right at the camera. Though a bit simple and obvious, I liked the effect it made.

Kat David, Pt. 9

In person I worried about how thin Kat was, which had nothing to do with her health and everything to do with her genealogy. Later I learned how much she ate and how she doesn't think of her figure much at all, and my general concern faded quickly.

Still, perhaps unfortunately, her thin frame looks great on camera. And though she is tiny everywhere, she continues to have very wonderful, woma...

Kat David, Pt. 8

This angle was a candid throw-away shot I took as she was taking selfies with her cell phone, but I asked her to put the phone down because the light on her was just so simple and nice.

I've shot on that road for years because it dead-ends, leaving over a mile of secluded road to use for any purpose I deem fit. Occasionally the owner (it is private property) will come down that road to inspe...

Kat David, Pt. 7

When she could finally take no more of the smoke, she hopped out and asked what was next. With the sun on her skin and the softness of the smoke still emanating from the back of my truck, I told her not to do a thing and continued to click away. I was learning quickly how well she took direction, and really didn't need any direction at all. She anticipated where the light was on her from my angle ...

Kat David, Pt. 6

Talking to Kat, I never get the impression that she struggles with life. She's confident, opinionated, knows what she wants and what she's willing to achieve it. But often in her images she seems softer, more vulnerable, a delicate, uncertain youth afraid of the big, bad world at large.

That could be true. But more likely she's just a great model and actress.

Kat David, Pt. 5

The choker she is wearing here was something I bought when I was thirteen, a recent discovery I made when looking through old boxes at my parent's home. Though she has no Native American blood, her look easily fit with that look and natural style.

PS: I love all her weird toe-action in this shot.

Kat David, Pt. 4

I learned right away how quickly Kat could adapt into different looks. She switched easily between appearing as a strong and confident woman to an innocent and coquettish teen, though she is well into her 20s. With her delicate island features and long hair, I found taking a good image of her to be far too easy.

Kat David, Pt. 3

I had also recently acquired some smoke bombs, and when she agreed to my idea, I got things ready, cleared out the back of my pick-up truck, and had her climb inside. I lit the stubborn smoke bomb and just tossed it in, quickly clicking away while she did her talented best. After thirty seconds or so, after I had repeatedly asked "Are you okay, are you doing alright? Get out if you need to," she f...

Kat David, Pt. 2

We must have talked for an hour, just sitting on my sofa and discussing life, art, inspirations, the modeling world, etc. She had already had bit roles in a few main stream movies, participated in several music videos, and was modeling a ton, which again made me question why she'd drive so far to work with me. Thankfully we genuinely enjoyed each other's company and agreed on many fundamental aspe...

Kat David, Pt.1

I was contacted on Instagram by Kat David, a model from Guam who grew up between the Guamanian islands and England. She had recently moved to LA and by some miracle of social media found my work. She wanted to work with me so much that she ended up driving along the coast for almost three hours to finally meet and work with me only a few weeks later.

From her work I expected  a deeply s...

Kalani with Fire, Pt. 13

Finally, as the clouds opened up and the night began to cool, we called it quits. She took one last walk over to a massive rock, which has a base that is usually exposed at low tide, and I couldn't stop clicking away until she finally came on shore. I wrapped her in a towel, got her some clothes, then packed up as she dried off and got dressed. 

Our shoots together rarely last more than...