My favorite model: Thom.

I’ve never photographed a beauty queen, but like most people I had a preconceived notion on what she would be like. I imagined she might only concerned with looks, maybe she would be shallow and lacking character and whatever else you might take away from what you see in the media. Stephenie was none of those things. She has a genuine personality from small town Oregon with a passion for service. She loved being in front of the camera pretending to be from her favorite era, the Victorian. This was my favorite from the shoot.

Donate to her cause here: National Human Trafficking Resource Center

Thom Stevens

  Abandoned Penitentiary

Donegal County, Ireland

I just wanted to thank you for the picture slide show. I am confident that you know how incredible your work is and how much we all appreciated you being in Hadar, if for no other reason than at least for the amazing photos we all get to gawk at.

I can say with pride, however, that we became friends and you aren’t just "some guy who was in Africa". In fact I have shown your slide show to many people, and I always introduce it as "a slide show made by the only other person in Hadar who’s throat I didn’t want to punch."

The trip would have, on many occasions, presented itself to be unbearable were it not for yours and Kaye’s support. I exaggerate not at all when I say too that the CD you sent is one of the most meaningful things I own. Were my house burning down, I would grab that CD first.

Thanks again, so much.
 

Here’s to a great year!

The Monk

Meet Marten:

He’s a staple of Hollywood. One of the most prolific actors that you’ve seen but never heard of. From the Never Ending Story and Roots of Evil to Transformers 2, Deep Roy is the sweetest person you’ll meet…and he’s wonderful to work with. Very few portrait subjects can turn it on when the camera’s on and shine the entire session. With Deep it was like clockwork. He was on the moment we started and made it happen for two hours of shooting. There were so many good poses to get through it was hard to choose. 

"Deep, look mad…like a pimp." I would say. Instantaneously he was there. He just moved into character. 

"Deep, show power." I said. He would throw his arms up, or grab the chair. He was on for the entire shoot. It’s no wonder he’s so sought after amongst directors.

We had a wonderful time in the studio and celebrated after the shoot together in Malibu. It was a memorable shoot for sure. One of those sessions with a ton of outtakes and stories you’ll remember forever.

We also had a pretty stellar team throwing this all together, without whom, I couldn’t have pressed the shutter.

Special thanks to:

Roslyn Barnfield from Portland, OR for the stellar production work. Incredible job with minimal funding. You killed it.

Leah Gallo and Derek Frey from London for setting up the meetings, making it happen and providing emotional support for the concept. And of course the after parties…eclipsed by no one. Miss you guys.

Jewelry by Misa

Hair by Tracy Rangel

Make-Up by Daniele Piersons 

Props by Josh Roth

Styling by Angela Barnfield

Studio LA  - Jewely Bennett

Modeling by Chelsea, Beate, Hillary…thanks hotties!