Monday, July 4, 2011

maybe a wind machine


Press kit photo shoot, sounds glamorous doesn't it? It is more like agony for us folks here, that would be me the model and my poor husband, the photographer. Yes, the time had come and it could not be avoided any longer - I needed a new picture of myself for my press material.

The main driver for this hideous activity is my website. I am currently putting together an entirely new website and it is so past the time that I do this. My current website has languished for an embarrassingly long time with no new uploads to my gallery and while I have been tweaking info along the way, it needs major work (for starters I needed new web software so I could have more bells and whistles, me and new software, ugh). So, major work is underway...that is good...ah but the photo I used of myself in the past just won't make the transfer to the new site. For one thing my new website is going to have a nice green background colour, carefully selected to colour coordinate with my brand colours and the image snippet in my header. (You will get the idea once the new website is revealed.) A major problem is that the green sweater that I am wearing in my old photo clashes terribly with the new background. Drats. Okay, it isn't the best photo either and my hair is a lot longer than I wear it now and I need a fresh pic for other press material so darn it all, a new photo simply needs to be taken.


A picture of oneself, goodness, doesn't sound too difficult does it? Unless you are a perfectionist and a spend thrift like me. The perfectionist bit explains itself. The spend thrift bit comes into play as I am determined to do this with no budget. As a self employed artist, all expenditures are kept to a bare minimum and going to a professional photographer is just not something I am willing to pay for.


I have put this off to the last hour but my bio page on my website needs the photo now. So this past holiday weekend, while others were at the beach, camping or chilling at a cottage somewhere I was fussing and fretting over a photo shoot. One look in the mirror quickly revealed that the scissors had to come out. I cut an inch off my bangs. Okay, you could see my eyes now and my husband trimmed the back (yes, this spendthrift has only been to a hair salon maybe three times ever and the last time was probably 25 years ago). Then the what to wear decision, can't clash with that background you know. Don't want to look too seasonal, i.e. winter wear or a summer look, didn't want a busy pattern, oh dear. Finally a simple white top was chosen. Next, the studio. Time to frame the shot. Don't want the hanging plant to look like I have something growing out of the top of my head, that painting behind me needs to be changed, the chair in the background needs to be moved...you get the idea, a professional photo studio starts to look more appealing...Then we have to fiddle with lighting!

Now I am not going to show you my bloopers. While I may cut my own hair, I do have some pride! LOL But below you will see one picture that didn't make the cut. I don't know what my quizzical expression is referring to but you can see that we haven't worked the bugs out of the lighting. In some pics I look very washed out, some I look like I have spent my life near the equator, some lighting choices left me with a glow in my bang area that looked like a bald spot... Sheesh...


Finally after some angst and yet with limited nashing of teeth (i.e. it went easier than last time), I have settled on the image below. It will do...But perhaps a professional photographer would be best next time, or perhaps a whole team of experts, you know, hair, make up, the works. :-)  And maybe a wind machine!!!! Don't all glam shots make use of a wind machine? LOL


So what do you do when that professional picture of self is required? Do you struggle like me or do you simply hire the job out?

Anyway, I have this done for another significant chunk of time and I am much relieved.

Does anyone know what the shrub at the top of the post is called? It is in my backyard and I haven't been able to identify it. Whatever it is called, it is a prolific bloomer, simply covered in a mass of very fragrant white blossoms. Beautiful!

12 comments:

Rose Welty said...

Got a good chuckle out of this Teresa. Most artists hate the photo shoots I think. I remember several monthsago thinking that I ought to just plan to switch it up every month or something - that would take the stress out of it and presumably I'd get better at it.....

Haven't changed the photo since that thought! ;-) I like the theory though.

I'm enjoying your return to blogging. Your last post was also timely for me....I've been thinking that I've gotten away for the themes that I love and thats why I've gotten a bit of a block lately.

Well done on the photo!

Teresa Mallen said...

Go through this every month?!?! Yes maybe one would get better at it. Yup and a perscription for Valium wouldn't hurt either! LOL
Rose, stick with the themes you love...I am sure you can't go wrong there. Good luck and Happy 4th of July!

Beth Macre said...

Nice photo. No professional photos here either. I guess I should update my profile picture, now that you mentioned updates. Its hard to let go of those younger and thinner pictures! haha

Beth Macre said...

Oh yeah...I did update that photo.

Teresa Mallen said...

LOL Beth - ah the younger and thinner pics, not to mention for some of us, fewer grey hairs! Yikes. I have a friend who has had a website for a very long time. She keeps the same photo on it yet it shows such a younger version of herself that it simply doesn't even look like her. Her hair style and hair colour is so markedly different now, not to mention that she looks 15 - 20 years older now as well. So while being real is somewhat painful, I think I would rather go that route! Good for you in keeping your photo a fresh one. :-)

Ann said...

Great post and I love your new photo! Notice I don't use a photo of myself :-)

Paula Pertile said...

The picture is adorable (is that OK to say?) and I'm impressed that you wear peals while drawing.
:~)

Teresa Mallen said...

Yes I have noticed! :-) But I do recall you posting a photo of yourself once upon a time, one your daughter took I believe, at one of your exhibitions??...That photo was wonderful so I know you have one in your files somewhere!

Ms. Paula, there is never an inappropriate occasion for pearls! My jewelry box is nigh empty of today's fashionable pieces, but I do have a string of pearls. A wedding gift from my husband actually and I wore them on the big day. I love them. But no I don't normally don them for a session of colouring! :-)

Jennifer Rose said...

maybe the quizzical look is because you are wondering if he took the photo yet and are sick of smiling?

i post photos all the time on my blog, some might say a bit narcissistic, but meh, i say :p to them lol luckily havent need a professional picture, if I did I might just go take one at the beach, wouldn't need a wind machine then :p

Teresa Mallen said...

Hey there Jennifer Rose, natural wind and natural light, I think you are onto something there. Would be free so I like that! LOL Note to self - just head to the beach.:-)

Brenda said...

The few pics that are of just me were taken by just me! (No surprise since I cut, color, and perm my own hair too...) Thank heavens that I haven't needed anything better, since my hubby is terrible at taking photos!! I guess I would have to resort to my son for that. Do you think I could just go with my natural look at the drafting table? Hair pulled up, ratty t shirt or hoodie, and sweats. LOL

By the way, your photo came out lovely. :)

Teresa Mallen said...

Ah thanks Brenda and goodness you colour and perm as well? I would be scared to death to perm my own hair. As for colour, humm...lets just say nature is giving me lovely white highlights! Your natural look of hair pulled up and sweats sounds like mine. I got busted one winter day when out of the blue a couple came to the door asking to see my studio and my work. I am not making that up! So, now I try to make sure that I don't look too scary cause you never know...!!!! :-)