LABO News with Luz Mejia and Amy Rose Productions
Missy and Chelsea of Amy Rose Productions make a guest appearance on LABO News (Latin American Business Organization). They give a little inside scoop and talk shop about this past and coming year.
Click here to see the entire show with all of their guests:
Lens Smudge - After The Show - Episode3
Welcome to Lens Smudge. The show that blends commercial photography, professional styling, kick-ass creatives, and fearless business owners. So that YOU can REACH YOUR MAXIMUM PHOTENTIAL.
Join Missy and Chelsea as they take you behind the scenes to talk about the lighting setup used in Episode 3 with Sail to Trail WineWorks.
Lens Smudge Episode 3 with Sail to Trail WineWorks
Chelsea and Missy visited Founder Chris Simpson of Sail To Trail WineWorks in his tasting room, and we also put Prop Stylist Asha Holmes up to the test to create a scene using Chris’s tasty wine. Also check out Chris’s and Asha’s websites below to find out more.
Sail to Sail WineWorks:
Website: Sail to Trail
Prop and Fashion Stylist
Website: Asha Holmes
Behind the Scenes of Lens Smudge Podcast Episode 2
Join Missy and Chelsea as they take you behind the scenes to talk about the lighting setup used in episode 2 for Tommy's "Styling with the Impossible Budget” Challenge.
Lens Smudge Episode 2
Chelsea and Missy are in the Amy Rose Productions studio with special guest, Tommy O'Donnell. Watch as master prop stylist, Tommy, takes on the "Styling with the Impossible Budget” challenge.
Tommy O’Donnell instagram @srsly_styled Facebook Tommy O’Donnell
Gear Review, SKB iSeries 3I-18135SNSC Waterproof Laptop Case
Missy reviews one of her favorite items within their equipment; the SKB iSeries 3I-18135SNSC Waterproof Laptop Case.
The Journey Through COVID-19
When COVID first surfaced, we didn't know what to think (like most of the world). Then the news hit that non-essential businesses were going to have to close due to the pandemic. We were very nervous about the future of Amy Rose Productions.
Chelsea and I had just thrown our launch party and officially opened the studio three weeks prior. We invested everything we had, and last year was spent freelancing, doing renovations on our space, and building up the foundation of the business. Like others, thoughts of panic set in, "Were we going to have to close the doors completely when we just opened them?"
There was no plan in place because nothing like this has ever happened before. My initial reaction was, "Okay, what do we have control over and focus on that, not the things we can't control." Naturally, the focus was on the business, but the feeling of being overwhelmed set in hard.
Thoughts of "We should be doing more," "We're not doing enough for the business and the community," were going through my mind. I started driving myself crazy. That's when I knew it was time to stop and check myself.
Since staying safe meant remaining at home, this forced us to slow down. The first few weeks were tough; we're not very good at that. Then it became a question of "What were the things I've put off personally for a long time because I was too busy?" The answer was simple, my house and health. It's always easier to naturally focus on others and work.
With a little bit of help, I repainted the interior of my house. Painting occupied the mind while exercising the body and became very therapeutic. Cranking the music, head banging, dancing, and singing my head off, became great releases too! Taking an extended break from social media was also necessary. Disconnecting from the computer, reflecting on all of the positives, being with loved ones, and reconnecting with simple activities were essential.
Virtual exercising with Tina and the Cupcakes Community also became a thing (go check her out). The constant struggle of nutrition and exercise is real, and she helped many of us through it all while figuring out the technical side along the way! It's all about progress, not perfection, and it's a journey, just like life.
As Chels and I wait for the green light and new guidelines to re-open, we're fortunate enough to say our business is still here! We're looking forward to seeing you all on the other side. More to follow as Chels shares her experience as well.
Missy XOXOXOXO
How To Self-Produce A Photo Shoot (Part Two of Six)
Last week we talked about self-producing a photoshoot, coming up with a concept and creating a mood board. Click HERE if you missed the blog post. This week we’re going to share our tips for finding a wardrobe stylist and talent.
Clothing is a crucial component of Fashion and Editorial Photography so its best to work with a Wardrobe Stylist. They will:
· Purchase and/or borrow items such as clothing, accessories and/or props that match the concept in mind.
· Dress the talent in an organized way.
· Check for wardrobe malfunctions during the photoshoot as well as wrinkles in clothing, or anything else that may be “out of place.”
· Ensure all items are accounted for at the end of the shoot and return items if necessary.
Tips for finding a stylist:
· Use the hashtag #fashionstylist or #wardrobestylist on any social media site.
· Contact local agencies and colleges to see if a Stylist is available and make sure your expectations are clearly known.
· If all else fails, you can always style the shoot yourself, however that’s another element to worry about.
Having a stylist is also like having a second pair of eyes. They can offer suggestions, solutions and/or bring things to your attention. It’s a team effort.
You now have your stylist booked, so what’s next? Decide how many models you want in your photoshoot, as well as their gender, age and ethnicity.
Tips for booking talent:
· Search social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram or Model Mayhem. If you’re using your own model, make sure a model release form is signed. This lets everyone on the team use the photos for the uses stated in the release, and it saves you any
headaches should there be any issues down the line.
· Call your local modeling agency. Explain what you’re doing (i.e. portfolio building, submitting for publication, etc.) and would like to know if there are any models available to test with. The agency will have a say on how you can use the photos
(if no fee is involved), so you’ll want to confirm the details right away.
· It’s best to go through the agency directly, rather than contacting the model. If you try to skip through loopholes, you can ultimately end up blacklisted by the agency. The agency will let you know if it’s OK to contact the model directly, after
you’ve spoken.
Stay tune for part three as we’ll share our tips for finding a hair and makeup artist, as well as choosing your location.
Talent: Rosey Campbell of Maggie Inc. / Wardrobe & Prop Sylist: Asha Holmes
How To Self-Produce A Photo Shoot (Part One of Six)
Chelsea and I have self-produced many photoshoots over the years so we wanted to share our top tips and findings, when working with a team. Today we’ll be talking about creating a concept and mood board.
Everything starts with an idea so you have to decide the purpose of your photoshoot and ask yourself, are you:
· Portfolio building?
· Selling images as stock or planning on submitting them to a publication?
· Trying to appeal to a certain audience/client by selling a specific lifestyle/product (fashion) or telling a story (editorial)?
· Just experimenting?
What narrative do you want your finished photos to express? What world is your character situated in?
· Pull from other art forms such as a memory, song and/or movie. You can always jot your ideas down on paper or in the notes app of your phone when brainstorming.
· It could be something as simple as an adjective like “happy” “vibrant" or "nostalgic". You can then revisit these ideas at a later date.
You’ll now want to create a mood board, once the concept has been figured out.
Mood boards are essential because it helps guide the entire team towards your vision. Imagery can be pulled from Pinterest and/or Google to name a few. They’re a great resource for photo inspiration as well as on-line and/or printed fashion magazines.
Below is an example of a mood board created called “Photoshoot – Fashion Men.”
You can also check out my other Pinterest boards here for more ideas: https://www.pinterest.com/MShanahanPhoto/
The mood board can include images of the desired overall mood, color palette, style, model poses, lighting, location, clothing and hair/makeup.
At times, Chelsea and I already have a particular model in mind, so the photoshoot will be built around the talent. Other times we’ll create a theme/style first and then revisit it at a later date when the right person or setting arises.
This series is split into six segments so stay tuned over the next few as we’ll share our tips for finding a wardrobe stylist as well as talent.
Amy Rose Productions Ribbon Cutting and Launch Party
Worcester, MA – On Wednesday, February 19, 2020, at 5pm, Amy Rose Productions will be celebrating the official company debut with a ribbon cutting ceremony and launch party. The ceremony will take place at 5:30pm in the newly renovated 1200 square foot studio, located in the historic Higgins Armory Building at 100 Barber Avenue, Worcester, MA 01606. The ribbon cutting is in association with the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce and, local and state officials. Promptly following the ceremony, Amy Rose Productions will be hosting a launch party at Sail to Trail Works, also located in the Higgins building. Wine, light refreshments, and hors d’oeuvres will be served.
Amy Rose Productions cofounders, Melissa Shanahan and Chelsea Nye, met a handful of years ago while working alongside each other at a local studio. The two aligned seamlessly and found themselves having the same dedication and passion for photography and all the nitty gritty that goes along with it. After work cocktails quickly turned into a lasting friendship full of road trips, vacations, adventures, collaborations, and a metric ton of shenanigans! They have since built a full-service production company, working locally and across the US as commercial photographers, have a Cyc wall studio available for rentals, and will grow into offering workshops and professional photography development. The Amy Rose Productions philosophy is to bring personal life values of loyalty, resolve, passion, reaching for the stars, and wonder to every project and client. It’s that character that motivates, gets the clients excited, and keeps the photographs fresh!
The event is open to the public, please RSVP at https://www.amyroseproductions.com/rsvp
For more information please visit the website www.amyroseproductions.com or email info@amyroseproductions.com
