Story Time: Kids At Play

We hope everyone had as much fun, family time over the weekend as we did. N also got to photograph an adorable brother-sister duo. Too cute for words!!

Contest: Senior Portrait Package

Aaahhh…memories of senior year. You take all your tests, you find out if you  “got accepted” to your first choice and of course, you plan what you’re going to wear for your senior photos. What if we told you that you had a chance to win a senior portrait session unlike anyone else’s? We specialize in capturing personalities in the most creative way.

One lucky winner will win the full package with us. Simply go to our Facebook page or email us at info@chin-azzaro.com and tell us why you deserve to win. (Parents, you can enter your son or daughter too)! Check it out and pass it along to all the Class of 2014 seniors you know (in the Ann Arbor area). Enter now through June 30th. But if you can’t wait to win and want to book your session now, see your choices below. Good luck!

Photo Menus: Kids + Adults

We’re creating new photo menus for all our categories. Click to enlarge and print out!

Teen Model Contest

We’re partnering with a client of ours, zoey + joey | Children’s Hair Studio and Boutique to endorse the new teen salon they’re putting in this summer. The teen salon will include private waiting area, Playstation 3 video games and extra goodies and package deals in the future. The winning model(s) will not only get a year of free haircuts but N will photograph them for the print campaign as well as a mini photo session the day of the shoot. Their parents will receive one retouched digital portrait to share or print as much as they please.

If you know a photogenic teen (ages 11-18), send them to zoey + joey’s Facebook or our Facebook page for the details. The contest runs through June 30th. Good luck, everyone!

Rules: Rules: Winners will be notified by phone/email by 7/3/13. All models 17 and under must have parent signed consent to be photographed for advertisement publication and be available July 9th or Aug. 6th for the photo shoot. Prizes carry no cash value and cannot be traded for such. Photos remain the property of zoey + joey and can be used for future promotion. A year’s worth of haircuts is 5 per winner and expires one year from first haircut. A digital photo shoot will be taken by Chin-Azzaro | Art Consulting + Commercial Photography and one image will be retouched and sent to parent of winner(s). Winner(s) will be photographed and be seen in at least one printed advertisement in the local area. For questions, please email marketing@zoeyjoeystudio.com

Alone in 1000 Square Feet, Update

Alone in 1000 Square Feet is an ongoing project, adding one or more new photos every week.

For those new to this series, there are only two guidelines: only I can be in the photo and they must all be captured in my apartment, common area or basement. Using these restrictions I’ve created six characters:

The Turbulent Mob Associate

The Clever Spy

The Distressed Burglar

The Afflicted War Veteran

The Flamboyant Detective

The Brilliant Psychopath

So far there’s been overlap through conflict, time and chance… but everybody’s still alive…

L’Meese then and now

I’ve already had a stellar photo career with many great experiences. Along the way I’ve worked with some wonderful people. On occasion I’m lucky enough to work with the same subject at yearly intervals. Such is the case with L’Meese.

I first worked with her in 2008 when I exhibited in a two-person show with renowned fashion photographer Stan Malinowski in Chicago. From Fantasy to Fashion drew an incredible crowd of collectors and I was proud to show my interpretation of fashion photography with Stan’s photographs for such publications as Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue and Playboy. From Janice Dickinson to Iman in Valentino’s atelier, it was a smashing success. More of Stan’s work can be seen here.

Catalog page from the exhibit. Images by Stan Malinowski.

Catalog page from the exhibit. Images by Nick Azzaro.

From left, Stan Malinowski taking a picture while I look on with Victor Skrebneski and his colleague. Photo by Art Azzaro.

I showed new work, inspired by Stan’s big budget shoots of yesteryear. L’Meese’s portrait below was included in the exhibit.

I recently had the chance to work with L’Meese again, this time in Ann Arbor. The only thing that’s changed is her elevated level of experience.

Kenta: Hair Stylist, Musician, Astro

After an amazing photo shoot with friend, hair stylist and musician, Kenta, I had an opportunity for some Q and A. His band Locus can be seen and heard here.

N- How did you become a stylist?

K- After high school I was searching for a job and went in for a haircut at a local salon for my interviews. I gave such detailed order to the stylist, he said “you should become a hairstylist!” So I did. I still believe that moment was meant to be, this job is the only job I’ve never wanted to quit! (Kenta has been styling hair going on eleven years and currently works at Da Vinci’s in downtown Ann Arbor).

N- When did you get into music?

K- The 4th grade. I really liked this girl and she played flute. I wanted to be with her in music class so I begged my ma. I only played for four months or so… At that time I was very shy about being the only boy in flute class so I converted to trumpet! Since then I’ve played a little tuba, guitar, and drum. My friend taught me how to DJ but I was never good in any instruments… so I highly respect people who practice instrumental music.

N- Describe your personal musical interest and your bands interest.

K- I have very broad musical interests, but grew up listening to a lot of punk, ska, rock, hip-hop, J-pop, trance, house, and techno and was never good at remembering the bands name or the song title.Band mate Ajekt (DJ/Programmer) also has a very broad interests and digs deep on all types of music. It’s crazy how much he knows about the history behind a band or the songs. I call him the Wiki of Locus! He can answer most of your musical questions! Band mate Qp (Bass/Programmer) is deeply rooted in rock and J-pop and listens to everything he likes. His bass playing style is heavily influenced by what he heard in his youth. He has also produced a few Japanese Pop songs for local talents as well.

As a band all three of us comes from very different musical backgrounds. The first few years we were suffering to find a point of interest, but we’re now gradually finding a solid Locus sound. We’re still in search of “creating something new, something never heard before”. I know its a long journey but feel like we’re definitely on the right track. The energy and atmosphere Locus creates is something I’ve never experienced in any other music or shows.

N- Tell me about Astro.

K- I’ve wanted people listen to our music rather than judge us by our looks, so it was my idea to put a mask on at a show one day. I’ve asked the band members to wear the masks too, but we’ve had some clashes on this idea. Astro is like a messenger for me, he’s the one who shouts my thoughts and emotions through the microphone. He’s a little cocky, spiritual, and loves women. He’ll do things I can’t and thinks what I can’t.

Thank you, Kenta for a great session and for sharing your stories. To have your own portait narrative photographed, contact us here.

Nia Sees the Light.

Nia is a model that’s well ahead of the game and a fabulous person to work with. That’s what allowed us to be more creative during our shoot. Not only did she own the in studio strobe sets with her many looks, but she handled daylight and lengthy fluorescent bulb exposures with the same style and grace.

Below are two looks from two different strobe sets:

In the sun, she shines:

Even a one second exposure. No problem:

Thank you, Nia.

 

 

 

Studio Lighting Tips

There are two studio lighting setups that tend to appear in ads today. By no means are they new, but they’ll never go out of style. Both place the model on a white background, but the first only uses one light, causing a shadow and making the background go gray, while the other uses three lights creating an “infinity” look. Below are diagrams and samples of how to achieve each.

Simple, one light setup.

The result.

Three light setup, removing the environment.

The result.

Acting the Part

You may have seen some of these photos of N on our Facebook page, but we had to share them here too. He has a knack for creating gritty movie scenes and people love it. Thing is, we’re still mostly getting requests for traditional portrait. So our question to you is, are you game for some dramatic fun?

We’re booking holiday sessions right now. A la carte packages include up to four “costume” changes, styling, lighting and multiple locations plus all rights and usage. It would be the ultimate present. Contact us for all the details.