Amber approached me to do a beach shoot, and I happily obliged. A lot of photographers freak out about beach shoots because of all the sand or possibility of losing or damaging equipment in the ocean, but I wanted to diversify my portfolio and took a chance. Amber sat with me in front of my computer one day, and we went through a gallery of inspiration consisting of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and Victoria’s Secret images. We talked about bikinis we liked and how to accessorize each look. While I usually do not have consultations prior to a shoot, this one proved beneficial.

II. Location

Because Amber is a beautiful model and because a lot of people like to rubberneck when photo shoots carry on, I needed a somewhat private beach. Good luck finding that on a warm, sunny day in NYC! I consulted with James, and he picked a beach halfway between Manhattan and the Hamptons. The traffic could not have been worse. Good weather + the weekend + the Hamptons = disaster on the L.I. Expressway.

When we arrived at 4:30 p.m., the beach was PACKED. I worried that my shots would be peppered with gawkers, and I really wanted privacy so I did not have to think about the safety of the model or my equipment. We made a long, painful trek away from beachgoers, and I prayed to the Lord Baby Jesus to give me strength. The heat penetrated my skin, the rocks kept cutting up my feet, and sand would uncomfortably fill up my shoes if I wore them. My equipment got heavier with each step, and I considered ways to pack lighter for the next shoot.

III. Gear

Despite my better judgment, I took my new Canon 5D Mark II even though I probably should have used my back-up camera. The sand made me nervous, but I love the ISO settings on the Mark II. I took two lenses, the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L USM and the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM, just in case. I hoped for a beautiful sunset shot and brought one AlienBee B1600 Flash Unit, the AB 22″ beauty dish and grid, reflectors, diffusers, and the 18.6 lbs. AlienBee Vagabond. Now do you see why the Lord Baby Jesus got a shout-out?

IV. Lessons

I have noticed a recent trend on working with Speedlites and may consider that as an option for future shoots. It lightens the load and may be more cost-effective. I brought a Vivitar 285 on my last bikini shoot, but the light was very inconsistent. (I may have had weak batteries.) If I could do it all over again–and I will in Texas–I would try shooting at a remote beach later in the year, perhaps October. Yes, the weather is chillier, but it eliminates a lot of the summer beach mongers and sweltering heat.

Other useful tips:

1. Bring an assistant or two. They can help schlep all the equipment and will hold the reflectors/diffusers. Just make sure they don’t sail away with a gust of wind like I almost  did holding a reflector at this shoot.

2. Bring and drink plenty of water!

3. And don’t forget the bug repellent–the thicker, the better. On the east coast, these giant black flies (possibly greenheads) mercilessly pierced our tender flesh. In addition to the heat, the weight of the equipment and the long walk, these nasty flies and mosquitoes relentlessly followed us everywhere we went. I had the foresight to bring repellent after this hellacious experience in 2007 (see below). Stephen had the right idea by wearing long sleeves and jeans.

V. Results

Beach shoots are harder than they look, but they are well worth the effort. In this first shot, James diffused the harsh afternoon sun coming in from camera-left. Amber’s boyfriend, Andy, added some fill with a silver reflector on the opposite side. We waited for the sun to set for the bottom shot and set up a beauty dish and kept it dry on the coast. I did not bring a light stand, so Andy and James took turns holding the big light source like a handsome human sun.

Hope you enjoyed the photos and learned something from my experience on the beach–I sure did!
See other photos from the shoot in my Commercial section!

Photographer: Amy Dunn
Photo assistant: James Dentel
Model: Amber

Gear: Canon 5D Mark II
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L USM

Long Island, NY 2009
© Amy Dunn
All rights reserved

Stephen and I set up a small softbox camera-right and added a gridded kicker light in case I pulled back. Erin worked her magic on Anka’s delicate features, and we got a nice series of beauty shots today. My lens did a lot of hunting in a low-light setting, and the focus did not always lock properly. I wish I brought a different lens, maybe the 100 mm Macro or 180 mm Macro if my arms could keep it up and steady. I really like the 70-200 mm f/4.0, but if you can afford Image Stabilization, I say make that splurge.

I have one outtake to show my blog readers, but please forgive the ruddiness of the shot. I will have the whole series ready and retouched in a few weeks, and I promise they look ten times better! Thanks for checking in, and I look forward to seeing you at the next blog post.

Photographer: Amy Dunn
Lighting consultant: Stephen Eastwood
Makeup artist: Erin McCarthy
Model: Anka

Gear: Canon 5D Mark II
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L USM
Hensel Studio Lights

New York City, 2009
© Amy Dunn
All rights reserved

A photographer is only as good as her assistant.

Working without an assistant is tough, but Amber and I have amazing chemistry and enjoyed a relaxing shoot. Jeanine Mangan did a brilliant job on Amber’s hair and makeup, and once she left, Amber and I ventured out to work alone. I love shooting a select few models over and over again. Doing so allows me to monitor my growth, and it builds rapport that shows in the photographs. Besides Amber, I adore shooting with Catherine Frances Scott, Diana VSL, Keltie Colleen, Kesha Nichols and Marketa Belonoha. These models need little direction and make my job easy and fun.

Amber and I have worked together four times now, and we have at least two more shoots in mind. Stay tuned for our beach shoot and our summer pool party pics, and don’t forget to check out Canon Digital Learning Center for my interview on the Lens of the Month, the 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM!

Photographer: Amy Dunn
Hair & Makeup: Jeanine Mangan
Model: Amber

Gear: Canon 5D Mark II, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L USM, Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
New York City, 2009
© Amy Dunn
All rights reserved

We had a fantastic view, but passersby gawked at Marketa more than they admired Lady Liberty.

Diana expertly applying makeup…

I fix all the settings on my camera so we’re good to go when the model’s ready.
Here, I set the ISO to 400 in the shade and then to 200-250 when I had a little more sunlight.

After a few shots, I always let the creative team see the image and make minor tweaks.

• This is good for the model in case she needs more direction on expression(s) or posing.
• This is good for the makeup artist so she can see how the makeup looks “on film.”
• And this is great for the photographer so everyone can pat her on the back and tell her she’s awesome.

Jon is the best self-proclaimed “Reflector Bitch” in town! It’s hard work, gotta rest in between looks.

The Dream Team  Check out the final shots here.