Maternity was the theme this week

Maternity was the theme this week

As I mentioned last week, this December has been packed with maternity photography clients.  Each one has been so much fun to work with.  The excitement of a new baby coming into a family is a wonderful thing to share.

Of course I always provide the standard pregnancy photos, but I love it when I can create a unique set of maternity images for a client that they couldn’t get anyplace else.  One of my clients was really into this idea and got an amazing selection of images.  This is one of my favorites.

Looking down on a 9 month pregnant back bend by Phoenix maternity photographer, Orcatek

A few lighting tricks to create this spotlight effect created this shadow.  Amazing flexibility for someone who is 9 months pregnant.  This is the kind of fun I love to have as a photographer.

In between these photo sessions I have been swamped with students taking private photography lessons.   It seems a lot of people want to learn how to take better photos for the holidays and like the idea of a private class on how to use their camera.   I enjoy teaching these budding photographers a few tricks of the trade to help them make their photos better.

I hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday season.


Busy, but fun week

This time of year the studio gets very busy.   Of course boudoir photography clients lead the requests this time of year, a surprising number of maternity clients having been booking for December.   Each day seems to hold a new surprise.

Saturday I shots some behind the scenes shots of K. T Cools new music video.  Great song and a great group of people on the set.  Everyone was great to work with.  I also helped them get some models for the video.   Here is a quick shot of K. T Cool.

K. T Cool musician portrait shot by Phoenix photographer, Orcatek

With the holiday’s getting close, a lot of gift certificates are being purchased for photo sessions and photography classes.

Keep it safe this holiday season.

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Holiday’s are upon us

Sexy Christmas photo of gal in Santa hat with red boa by Phoenix Boudoir Photographer Orcatek

Holiday season is a time photographs. Family portraits are created for Christmas cards to send to everyone. We want to share the changes in our family over the past year. Maybe there is a new addition or maybe everyone just a year old and better looking!

Of course there is one of the favorite gifts, sexy boudoir photographs. Read more about how boudoir makes a great gift here.

Another popular gift is photography lessons. Maybe they are getting a new camera, and maybe they just want to learn to take better pictures.

People aren’t just getting cameras as gifts now; the world is becoming more modern! With things like 360-degree cameras now available, that can capture a whole 360 angle instead of just one, normal cameras run the risk of becoming outdated (although, as bloggers like Jazz Ukes point out, some cameras will always have their specific purposes). Would you rather just one angle or a 360 angle of beautiful scenery on holiday? A 360 camera would be perfect for someone who goes traveling a lot, or someone who always finds themselves in scenic spots. Whatever the situation, before investing in one you should read up on the best 360 camera available to make your purchase that little bit easier.

Of course if you know someone who is expecting, a gift certificate for a maternity photo session is a great gift idea too.

E-mail me at [email protected] to get coupons just in time for the holidays!


Pin-up was the theme this week

The theme this week was pin-up.  It seems that pin-up photographs may over take boudoir photos as the leading gift for this holiday season.  It is easy to see why when you look at how fun these photos can be.

Pin-up girl on pink heart background by phoenix photographer Orcatek

Let’s face it, who wouldn’t want to get a fun pin-up art piece of the woman they love.

Family portraits are also very popular for the holidays.  Families come together and it is the prefect time to get some photos of everyone.   You never know what is going to happen.

E-mail me at [email protected] to get coupons just in time for the holidays!


What a fun week

I had an amazing array of clients over the past week.  I have numerous students take private photography lessons.   I really enjoying helping other photographers develop their photography skills.

An old friend from high school need senior portraits for her daughter.  We did a mix of location and studio shots.  It was fun to catch up while her daughter was changing outfits.

Outdoor senior portrait

Also this week a shot a great deal time enjoying time as a pin-up photographer.   Pin-up is always a lot of fun for everyone involved.  Lots of laughing going on as we try to capture those flirty looks of classic pin-up.

Sexy cook checking recipe in here cookbook in this retro pin-up art © Orcatek Photography - Phoenix

I take the base photo from the shoot and convert it to an pin-up illustration using way too many steps in Photoshop.  I like the end result, so I will keep doing it.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.   I know I ate too much.

E-mail me at [email protected] to get coupons just in time for the holidays!


The Magic of Retouching

An example of portrait and headhshot retouching by phoenix photographer, Orcatek.Most high end photography today is retouched.  The amount of retouching I do really depends on the type of photograph.  For example an actor’s headshot will get a retouch which just does a basic clean-up.  An actor needs to look like their headshot when they come to the casting.

Now for family and senior portraits the retouching can be a little bit heavier.  Some extra polish on the skin, removal of scars and softening of lines.

Of course the most retouching can be done for boudoir photos.   These photos are about fantasy and glamour.  So super smooth skin and even sometimes some digital plastic surgery all in line with creating that final look.

Great retouching makes the difference between a snapshot and a photograph.   Today retouching is done in Photoshop.   In the past it was done in the dark room.  Hollywood had teams of retouchers that would hand alter negatives of the stars to create the famous glamour photos.


Sexy Boudoir Photography and Model Portfolios

So many fun shoots this week I thought I would share two of them.  The first was a photo shoot with model Oksana who need commercial photographs for her modeling agency.  We shot a wide variety of sets both in the studio and on location.   Here are a few of shots created for her modeling portfolio.

Another great shoot was a boudoir photography session in an amazing hotel.  The idea was to create sexy photographs that appeared as if the light was streaming in thru the window.  With a few photographic and lighting tricks, this image was created and she agreed to let it be shown in the blog.

It is going to get busy when the holidays arrive, so book early and save.

E-mail me at [email protected] to get coupons just in time for the holidays!


Great Week, Published and more

This week my big news is I have another cover on the newsstands.   I photographed Elle in a very sexy and intimate set of photographs for College Gentleman magazine.  The shoot was all about glamour and teasing, never showing too much.   Have to leave something to the imagination.

Elle in College Gentleman Boudoir Glamour Sexy Lingerie Orcatek Photography Phoenix photographer Dean Farrell

Elle didn’t even complain when we ran out of hot water – LOL.  What a trooper she was.

Elle gets wet College Gentleman Boudoir Glamour Sexy Lingerie Orcatek Photography Phoenix

This week I also taught several photography classes.  I enjoy working with other photographers to help them get better at the art.

Next week is going to be full of surprises.

E-mail me at [email protected] to get coupons just in time for the holidays!


Shower time

One of the favorite set-ups for sexy boudoir photography is a bathtub or a shower. Some bubbles and wet skin just make for a very intimate photograph, like you are intruding into her life. I especially love a shower which is primarily glass – like these glass world shower doors – because it allows the light to flow and also gives you some really fun shots as she can do things like lean against the glass, for example. In fact, some of these images can be even more amorous when taken inside the best electric showers listed here, as this can add to a heightened sense of modernity and sophistication.

Sexy Shower Boudoir Photography Phoenix Arizona Intimate Photographer Orcatek

This is especially effective when she is not looking into the camera, as if she is an aware. Of the reality of having flashes and my female assistant helping adjust this and that makes this just a fantasy, and fantasy is what great boudoir is all about!

I take this idea one step further and have used it for my maternity photography clients. It is not to be sexy, but to create a very intimate photograph. It sets a mood of a quiet time when the mom to be is relaxing, enjoying some time to herself.

I like to give my clients something different, so every shoot may have it’s standards, but I always like to shooting something I haven’t done before. This is how the shower/bath became one of my maternity classics. Of course it helps that I have a bathtub set in my studio.

E-mail me at [email protected] to get coupons just in time for the holidays!


Setting the Mood

This week as I was reviewing some of my boudoir photography I started thinking about how critical mood is to these photographs.  This photo for example would look very different if the tones were not subdued.

Doorjam Boudoir Photography Phoenix Arizona Photographer Scottsdale AZ Orcatek

These soft colors help to set the mood and bring the mind to another place.

As I retouch the photographs I use to create the custom designed boudoir albums and calendars, I work to make each one unique.   My work is not about assembly line productions, it is creating the prefect memory, telling your story, creating your fantasy.

These design rules apply to all areas of my work.   Maternity photography is another great place for setting moods and telling stories.  Capturing the joy and happiness of your pregnancy in your photographs takes planning.   I tend to have a picture in my head of what a final photograph will look like before I even take the shot.

This week will be busy with two casting calls and teaching an Introduction to Photography class.

Photographs preserve memories, so grab your camera and take a picture of your friends and family this week.   Many years from now you’ll be glad you did.