summer fun

I’m off on a canoe and lake adventure for a few days and couldn’t resist posting this composite. It’s all in fun and I know the lighting doesn’t match and it’s pretty hokey– just a lil’ late summer fun!

Model is Kori (shot in studio, of course), swimwear is from Popina, and the location is a secret spot in the Cascades.

Pete Springer Photography, Portland, Oregon

portland swimwear photographer

Here’s a photo from a recent shoot for Popina – Portland’s Bathing Suit Boutique. They sell a lot of cool retro type swimwear. This is obviously a studio-type shot (shot at the store) but someday (fingers crossed) I hope to get a chance to shoot for them on location near some water!

Model is Kori with Wilhelmina – MTG.

Pete Springer Photography, Portland, Oregon

beauty shot on black part III

MUA Ashlee Murr, hair Nicole Brockway, styling Sarah Van Raden, model Kyleen

Pete Springer Photography

beauty shot on black part II

MUA Ashlee Murr, hair Nicole Brockway, styling Sarah Van Raden, model Victoria

Pete Springer Photography, Portland, Oregon

beauty shot on black

Was hoping to post a series of three different models shot like this… but didn’t have time to finish last night! So here’s the first in the series.

MUA Ashlee Murr, hair Nicole Brockway, styling Sarah Van Raden, model Heather

Pete Springer Photography, Portland, Oregon

fashion photos

Just messin’ around on the laptop… it’s still really warm indoors since Portland is just getting over a three day heatwave. AC isn’t common in older houses around here and it’s been over a hundred for three of the last four days. Okay, only 99F on Saturday. Today was a balmly 90F.

So I’m feeling a little lazy from the heat and looking over yesterdays shoot. These photos are completely, absolutely unretouched other than a conversion to b&w on the one. I’ve been loving blasted white photos lately. And b&w’s of course too. They’re almost opposite extremes.

A day has passed to absorb the shoot yesterday and I’m still really, really happy with the results. More to come…

Pete Springer Photography, Portland, Oregon

beauty photos!

Did a photo shoot yesterday with three models. We did beauty and fashion photos so there’s lot’s more where this came from! I know I’m biased, but damn, it was a GREAT shoot!

MUA Ashlee Murr, hair Nicole Brockway, styling Sarah Van Raden (can’t really see her work in these images, but you will in the next series), and models Kyleen, Heather, and Victoria.

Pete Springer Photography, Portland, Oregon

cool photo from the past

Diggin’ through my files last night for images for a book project I’m helping a fellow photographer with and I came across this photo. I love it… it was shot before a fashion show for Holly Stalder and Kate Towers.

Pete Springer Photography, Portland, Oregon

amazing

So I had a recent request from someone at Portland Monthly magazine to use one of my pics.

I think you can guess what’s next… that’s right, they wanted to use it for free because it wasn’t going to run very large.

But when I look up their advertising rates, they charge well over a $1000 for a 1/6 page ad. And it gets better. Here’s a quote from the Portland Monthly website about the magazine:

“Since debuting in October, 2003, the publication has become the best-selling magazine in Portland over any local or national title, by a nearly two-to-one ratio.”

They’re the best selling magazine in Portland, they charge over a grand for 1/6 page ads (much, much more for larger ads) … yet they claim they don’t have the budget to pay ANYTHING for a photo?

Yes, I’ve been dwelling on this topic a lot lately. But honestly, it still amazes me. Grocery stores don’t give away their products, camera stores certainly don’t give away their equipment, utility companies don’t give away their energy– why would I give away my products?

Anyway, just a tip for fellow photographers. If a publication wants to use your photo for free, look up their advertising rates. Your mouth will drop open when you realize how much THEY charge and how many issues they sell and just how full of bullshit they are when they tell you they don’t have a budget for photography.

Pete Springer Photography

beauty shot

So the lighting looks pretty simple here, and it is, but it’s probably not what you think. There are two foam core bookends on each side of the model, a white reflector underneath, and a softbox right above her. Most of the light is actually being reflected onto the model, not coming directly from the softbox.

And that’s your lighting geek lesson for the day.

MUA & hair Terri Lodge and model Alex with Q6.

Pete Springer Photography, Portland, Oregon