Pictures!

[parasitegirl]

How did I go from photo-phobic to being a photoshoot junky?

So, this weekend’s schedule now looks like this:

Wednesday: Work on arms, pose flows, and do some costume evaluation.

Thursday Evening: 1 1/2 hours of zill and percussion with the band leader...and then costume duty.

Friday night: Meet Wataguy for a before-gig coffee in Ginza. Dance at Ginza , Istanbul.

Saturday: SURPRISE! Photoshoot with the Harajuku Crew. Dance at Shinjuku, Istanbul. Jetison any plans  I had had to do anything after my gig.

Sunday: Hot baths and bed rest as my body is gonna be SPENT.

 

 

Tim Porter, the odd man who organizes and mentors the Harajuku photographers, suggested that when I came back from America we should set up a shoot. So, this morning I though “This could take a few weeks or they might be ready next week…and who knows how busy I’m gonna get when Jo is ready with the studio… so I should send him an email…”

Tim drinks espresso in the morning. He was back to me in about 5 minutes. This Saturday? Why the fuck not?!

Do I have a pressing need for photos? Nope, so I can’t use any specific need to help focus my attack. I have up-to-date shots with a variety of poses and angles. I have exactly the sort of shots that show what sort of dance teacher I might be (high-energy, Turkish Oriental-oriented, be-zilled) when it comes to Jo’s studio…but I’ve come to realize that I rather enjoy the challenge of photoshoots with these girls and guys. I’ve also mailed Jo about coming by to meet the crew, as she will need more images for promo soon.

I like groups of artists. DUH. You never know who you’re going to get in the mix of 3-5 photographers any given Saturday. One of my favs, Lars, is back in his homeland…but I’ve gotten to a point where I think I know how to perform for new photographers not used to so much dance motion and how to react and work with the more experienced photographers.

They seem to like me. They seem to like the motion and attitude I bring, which is why they ask me back a few times each year even when I don’t have a pressing need. I’m a change from the model-models. I love the organic experimentation that comes from the structure and mix here. Of course, like any photographers I might work with…they tend to have some minor anxiety about, well, my shoot-blogging. I am a such a mixed-bag to work with...mostly good! (my photoshoot history is under the photoshoot tag...duuuh)

When I was in America I took a train down to Sunnyvale to do a long dinner with Michael Baxter. It’s been…3 years…since we worked together. We’ve kept in touch and I try to thank him when I finish a photoshoot with ANYONE because of how much I learned working with him for a day…how much we both figured some stuff out that day.

It’s this Saturday. Could I have said “Um, I am dancing that evening..reschedule”? Sure…but I sort of like the deadline, the rush. I like the challenge. I like thinking about what I can improve in my photo-shoot. This time I hope to apply some of the practicing with poses and slower flows I’ve been drilling for a few more quiet, shape, mood shots…because I know I can blitzkrieg a shoot and get good photos but that my weak spot is slower pose-y stuff.

It’s not like I have nothing to wear…it’s not like I don’t have a backlog of my costumes to document.

I also have a sword…hehehe....we can totally kick it old-school if we want.

I need to start thinking where to begin.

I can usually get through two costumes in these shoots, sometimes three. I tend to go 1-full skirt and motion oriented 1-sleeker costume and one “maybe” standby. I also take requests.