Yanna is top-notch when it comes to customer service, and she even helped the producer and me set up the shoot. I traveled from Texas to do the shoot, so I did not have all of my lighting gear. She supplemented my lighting with two Excalibur strobes – fun, nifty lights that reminded me of my AlienBees. I lit the white seamless background with two lights, and to make the models stand out from the background, I added two rim lights. I used one broad light source for the main light, a white umbrella.

I worked with some of the original crew from Dex Studios, so the atmosphere felt comfortable and fun. Peony Red booked Lisa Ramos as one of the models, and if anyone watched this season’s America’s Next Top Model (Cycle 13), you may remember Lisa as one of the contenders. How can anyone forget her! The models looked amazing in the traditional Mandarin dresses, and Yanna expertly accessorized the dresses with these beautiful bangles and cuffs on display at Peony Red.

I want. Gimme.

I ended up falling in love with the citrus-colored qi pao shown below, so I now have a similar one in my closet–ready for a self-portrait. Some accessories would greatly enhance the dress, and I know to look no further than Peony Red. It’s okay to buy myself a Christmas present…right?

Photographer: Amy Dunn
Makeup artist: Alice An for Candifiend Studios
Hair stylist: Naomi Porto
Clothing: Peony Red
Model: Lisa Ramos

New York City, 2009

Gear: Canon 5D Mark II
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM Lens

© Amy Dunn
All rights reserved

Anybody in New York City last week could identify with Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind.” The Yankees won the World Series, and everyone cheered up and down 5th Avenue outside of the Empire State Building after the game. Later that week, New York City had a parade, and everyone could hear Alicia Keys belt out the chorus to Jay-Z’s song:

New York
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There’s nothin’ you can’t do
Now you’re in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let’s hear it for New York, New York,
New York

The city has pulse, that’s for sure. In the last two months in Texas, I shot once or twice; in New York, I squeezed in a dozen shoots in a week. I worked with dancers from the NJ Nets and Knicks City Dancers–and dancers that taught me a bit of choreography from this year’s VMAs as they got to dance onstage with Beyonce. I expressed interest in photographing an iconic group from the 70’s, and I worked with Lisa Ramos, a contestant from this cycle’s America’s Next Top Model. I met the coolest people and heard the most interesting stories, and of course, I have pictures to prove it. (Coming soon) Before I launch a series of blog posts from my trip, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that made last week a tremendous success.

Thank you…

Alayna Simpson
Angel Pai
Barry Mullineaux
Candifiend Studios
Cecilia
Daisha G.
Dex Studios
Diana Manzanares.com
Elizabeth W. & Miss Cindy
El Leo
Jaclyn Sabol
James Dentel & Andrea G.
Jeff Fuller
Kesha Nichols
Lisa Ramos
Loris Diran
Marla
Naomi Porto
Nina Soriano
Peter Yang
Scott Wasserman
Stephen Eastwood
Sugar & Spice
Tami McCarthy
Peony Red (Thanks for the 旗袍!)
Vickie A.

Special thanks to Jon Slevec for sending me an external hard drive to back up all my ginormous files.

Just like Jay-Z and Alicia Keys said, in New York, the big lights inspire you and make you feel like you can do anything. I went to the Big Apple and did what I love doing most: take amazing photos. I certainly could not have had such a delightful trip had it not been for the beautiful, talented and generous New Yorkers (and some NJ’ers) listed above. Now I want any excuse to go back!