Remember Summer?

When did it become November? In my head it's still June. Well, if I was going to be completely honest, in my head it's still June of 1988, but that's a whole different issue.

Last May I took on my first big fashion shoot. I cast six models knowing that not all of them would show. I got three. If I had to settle for less than what I wanted, I was thrilled to have the three I got. They could not have been more perfect.

If you can remember back to May, you might recall that we had exactly forty-eight minutes of sunshine the entire month. I booked my models three weeks in advance. The theme was an Abercrombie & Fitch ad, but done in color and to look something like an old snapshot from the late '50's or early '60's. We were scheduled to begin at 3:00 and it rained most of the day. I'm sure the weather had something to do with the three no-shows. I toyed with the idea of rescheduling, but held my breath and decided it was best to soldier on.

The first model showed at 2:00 and I spent an hour entertaining him with chit-chat. Small talk isn't really my thing. I have limited brain capacity and when I'm working, I'm all about the task at hand. This means that I have a set chit-chat patter, which I usually mete out strategically during a shoot to distract the model, to cover while I need to set up a light, or what have you. By the time the second model arrived, I'd exhausted every conceivable topic. By the time the third model arrived I felt like I had recited my entire life story, complete with accompanying ballet dream sequence.

I was not hopeful. The sky was gray. My mood was gray. The models were nervous.

But then, just as we reached the beach, the clouds broke. We started the shoot slow with the three of them sitting on a bench. The first third of any shoot is almost worthless. It takes some time for even the most seasoned model to warm up. But even the first few frames had usable shots.

I worked all three of them for nearly three hours. They ran. They jumped. The hugged. They kissed. One of them ran into the lake, carefully avoiding the floating chunks of ice. Then the last few frames I devoted to the girl. The sun was starting to sink. All four of us were exhausted. I sat down in the sand and just sort of pointed my camera in her general direction. This was the result.

And then it started to rain again.

Democracy

There are times when it seems like the heavens smile on you. This picture is one of those times.

I was again lucky enough to be asked to do the publicty shots for Eclipse Theatre. It's for Romulus Linney's Democracy. A comedy set in the late 1880's, I was sort of dreading this shoot. I wanted to do something that looked like it belonged on my grandmother's wall and when I described my idea to Nat, he seemed reserved in his enthusiasm. I think it had less to do with my idea for the picture and more because I said that it would take some time to get it right. Because everyone is very busy, these shoots are always done on a tight schedule. So, Nat said, "We'll see."

The shoot was set for the plant conservatory place in Lincoln Park. I'd only been there once before, and to be honest I preferred to shoot outside. But it was blessed cold on Sunday morning. We arrived at the conservatory just as it opened and the security person told us we could shoot as long as we didn't block traffic or use any props.

We tried several different things, but they all came out looking flat. The conservatory was filling and getting any kind of shot was becoming increasingly difficult. That's when I saw a patch of light. I pointed to it and Rebecca found it. With almost no coaching Jon and Rebecca found the pose and I clicked. It took less than a minute. With the exception of removing a little sign, this is pretty much how the shot came out of the camera. I couldn't be more pleased. It's exactly what I wanted.

It' Match-Up Time

For the third year in a row, I'm proud to be a supporter of the Seventeenth Annual Saint Sebastian Monologue Match Up. Last year an Archetype Images session was the prize for the People's Choice Award an Rina Sobel was the lucky, lucky young lady who won!

If you haven't done the Match-Up, even as just a spectator you really should. Actors have so few opportunities to see how other actors handle a monologue in a pressure setting. An audition class is not the same thing at all! If you're watching, you get to see what works and what doesn't. And if you're participating, you get to go into a relatively high-pressure situation that is also very supportive. Everyone there that evening is there for one thing -- to see good monologues.

The event is Monday, November 2 at 7:00 and there are only 40 competitive slots. Sign up now!

Mike

Mike Caden Ross came to me for portfolio shots. He's based out of Austin, but needed to refresh his portfolio before he goes to Milan and Paris. He wanted tear-sheet worthy shots that looked like they were from a Banana Republic Shoot.

I love models who are this clear on their goals.

My Favorite Meal

Yesterday I decided to do a photo safari, and as everyone knows you can't go hunting without a good meal to start your day. Lately, I love nothing more than a bagel with chive cream cheese and lox from the corner cafe, Charmer's.

The plan for the safari was really much more ambitious than I was ultimately able to carry out. I thought I would walk from Milennium Park to Rogers Park and take pictures along the way. I managed about half that before nearly collapsing. Still, it was an amazing day and over the course of the next few weeks I'll share shots from the journey.

But the thing that I rediscovered is just what an amazing city Chicago really, truly is. As I walked up Michigan Avenue, I came across street performers and great art. This city is literally teeming with culture. If you haven't done it lately, go out and see the city the way a tourist sees it. It's magnificent.

Congratulations Archetype Alums!

Congratulations Larry Neumann, Jr. and Laura E. Taylor on your Jeff nominations!

I've known Larry for years. I saw his Oedipus. He was a flawless Iago. The man doesn't work enough. Or to put a finer point on it, he works plenty. He doesn't get paid enough. PAY HIM MORE! HE'S WORTH IT.

If there's a film or TV show that comes to Chicago, if the casting people haven't considered Larry for a role, it's probably not worth doing.

Laura was one of the first people I shot. I've met very few actors who had such a laser focus about her career. She know exactly where her niche in the industry is. This is only beginning of great things for her.

Archetype Discount Cards

Discount tickets are being sent to agents this week! Look in their offices for a postcard with Krissy's picture and redeem it for a $50 discount on your next photo shoot! If you don't find the card in your agent's office, ask. They're all getting them.