Memoirs of Steph

Tiers Online

I've talked with a few of you privately, polled the audience, and given this some thought to the matter, so here it is...The new format.

Hopefully this new set up will allow for a more customized experience, and offer me some regularity and guidelines in the deliverables I offer to you, the client and supporter.

Yesterday's poll had most of the support for a top tier, with fewer wan...

Tiers? Let me know what you would support.

Originally, I got a Patreon to showcase artwork I post on social media in an uncensored manner in my artwork of Steph and her creative journey (her digital memoir). 

I work full time as a photographer/videographer but find myself putting a good bit of effort and time in producing shoots on a weekly basis with Steph; engaging priorities on Patreon: answering questions, providing insig...

A Weekend in NYC

We were working for clients all weekend, but I managed to get a few shots of her.

Taken By The Sea

A short clip from a short film I made in 2020. The focus was combining the beauty of both surroundings and subject.  

Unfinished

Another unfinished photo, with only some basic editing for exposure. Here you can see use of a one light setup and using the white wall as some fill lighting. I have a large black foam board to use as a backdrop or if I adjust my angle it serves as negative fill. 

From the "Doubles" Series

Messing around one day with multiple in camera exposures. I'd need a bigger space for so many to work, but still fun for practice.

Art in Mind

When shooting implied or nude work you run the risk of getting trashy really quick. Of course, some may view the finest of art work as trashy, (a lot of the interpretation dwells within the viewer) however the artists emotions and intent are easily detectable in a body or piece of work. 

These two pictures, from the same set, provide an example of what could be generally viewed as mo...

Touch of Light

Yesterday's shoot ended with these looks. I really liked her posing, and her delicate movements. It's hard to describe or visually showcase how beautiful she is. Maybe, I am just biased.

I'll break down the process for our shoot yesterday for those interested in the process:

1. Plan: make an effort to get out and shoot based on a plan you made prior. In our case we make Saturday or ...

Summer Looks 2022

Today’s shoot involved several fun looks. I’ll have a more exclusive set up tomorrow. So far I’m really happy with how the shoot came out. Happy Mother’s Day.

Sassy Class

A montage of the "Sassy Class" shoot from earlier this year.

I think video, even short clips, can help bring more of a story to the shoot. The focus here was desaturation, white, and black, incognito, satire towards mainstream fashion, and of course Steph's figure. 

More from Dexter

A new edit at the shoot everyone decided was a dexter themed look. I need to watch that show I guess?

I edited a video today from the Sassy Class shoot. Ill have that uploaded tomorrow.

Happy Friday

Lunar Dust 2

A few more edits from the "Lunar Dust" series last fall. I wanted to go heavy on texture and contrast on these edits.  Her soft features with the coarse powder was the element. I boosted the clarity in edit on just the powder. If I did this again, I would use more powder with a dark background, simulating an astronaut on a  lunar surface.   

Let me know your favorite p...

Basic Exposure Editing

Skip to 1:15 for the 7minute tutorial

From phone pictures to portraits with high end mirrorless cameras exposure is the key fundamental. Your exposure is captured and then further enhanced in post. I always say pay attention to your key light or main light source, followed by any other lights either designated or practicals, then account for your camera settings based on the look you are ...

Lighting and Editing

When I started out and did not have many lighting options, I resorted to low key shoots that often were almost too dark/dramatic. This was a shoot several years back, using a canon 5Dm4 and an Orlight with 4 foot diffuser. The theme was obviously a masquerade theme, that ended with some nude looks. 

Attached is the original photo. I always recommend shooting a stop or two underexpose...

Form & Figure

From time to time I make sure to get very simple casual shots focused on her figure. The on going project is called "Form & Figure" and while at the moment it may just look like nude photos, I hope this is something I can look back on in 20 years to appreciate her form, youth and physical beauty. 

Super Woman (Steph)

Today's creative shoot. I only had time for some quick initial edits, so more to come.  Let me know what you think of these.

Delicate Rose

More from the Delicate Rose shoot. New edits as of today. I got a lot of positive feedaback on the exclusive tier. That will be something I will make available (easing into it) in May. 

Text to Art

Want more of this content?

This is a quick look into the project I am putting together. Texts have been a big part of our relationship. Traveling, and being a part, but we connect any way we can. We started facetime photoshoots years before the pandemic. 

Photos always showcase her beauty, but videos or herself in person, that is a whole different story. She is in my opinion be...

Flamingo

This was Shay's concept. A little out there, but very creative. She of course did an amazing job. Steph is fairly flexible but  I was surprised she could hold that pose for the length of time she did.

Update

We are doing another body paint shoot today, I'll have some bts and final shots up soon. I also have a new series "Texts to Art"  I've been working on. As always, if you have any requests, let me know!

More from the Spartan Series

She posted this to her IG today, so I figured I would coordinate the post. I posted the gallery back in November or December but this shoot has been one of the more popular shoots. People have bought prints, and even bought rights to the some of the photos. 

I wish I had planned this better. I had talked for months about doing a spartan shoot, but wanted all these props and a sword, ...

The Female Form

Since I have known Steph, she always makes efforts to treat everyone kind and with respect. She draws from her own negative experiences when people cast judgment her way.

 I've witnessed it. Drama will pursue any situation if it is allowed. We are both anti drama.

Women are especially cruel to one another. The rules we have in society seem to be unfair towards a woman as well f...

Plants

We photoshoot every week, but I've been out of town all week filming. I asked if she would do a cell phone selfie shoot, and this is what she sends me. 

She loves her plants.

Physique

Before her physique show she was competing in she asked to do a shoot showcasing her progress. I knew she had been training hard but when I saw her without clothes before the shoot I was amazed at her progress. She has an absolutely incredible physique. 

She ended up winning the competition out of over 100 other women. 

Creativity and Barriers

Someone recently emailed from me tiktok and complimented me on my work, and asked what they should do if they have a desire to create but not sure how or where to start. 

I assured him, this was a normal feeling. No creative, unless you are some sort of prodigy starts out amazing...

The Mummy

Her favorite movie is the 1999 The Mummy with Brandon Fraiser, so I figured we should do the shoot. 40$ worth of cloth and Steph with a one light set up. She was absolutely beautiful during the shoot.  

To The Top

This was part of the bodyscape project I did. I never used this photo in the final gallery however. It's more of a joke than anything, but is still a nice approach to portraying her features as terrain. 

Grid Lights

I've always loved dramatic low key shoots. (low lit sets or subjects) A great way to achieve that adjusting your camera settings or modifying your light source (or both). I ordered some grids to fit over my strobes to get this look with a one light setup. This was another test shoot years back, Steph reluctantly helped me out with minutes after the grids arrived.

Focused Perspective

I've been thinking a lot about crop factors when it comes to presenting photos or videos. Macro and Micro perspectives change a photo entirely. The crop factor adds to the focus and the overall message of the photo. This one photo can easily turn into a gallery. Social media, mainly IG, forces artists to crop in to a 4x5 format. Most of my video work for clients now has gone from a traditional ...

Another from the Crusader Shoot

As you can imagine she said this suit hurt to wear...