fig blog

Here is a taste of the new editorials shot in Miami from figphoto fashion photographer billy rood.

The stories have themes of nostalgia, dreams, luxury & of course Miami.  They were shot from sunrise to sunset, on South Beach, the Park Central Hotel, & the exclusive Fisher Island.  To view the rest of the stories make sure to check out http://www.figphoto.net.

If you haven’t already watched, make sure you check out the behind the scenes video from the 2 day editorial shoots!

fig photographer billy rood’s recent photos from some new faces at FACTOR Women & a video test w/ Kaitlyn with Agency Galatea.

Alyssa, Mariah, Sarah, Elia, Dana, & Kaitlyn (Agency Galatea) shot in a span of 3 days!  The photos show the range of studio, on location, movement & beauty photography.  Also using the shoots as experiments, billy rood shows some new post production ideas and techniques he might be developing for future shoots.  If your looking to update your portfolio or comp card, figphoto will be booking model tests & video tests all summer!

CREDITS

Models: Alyssa (Factor Women), Mariah (Factor Women), Sarah Claudy (Factor Women), Hayden (Factor Women), Dana Kelson (Factor Women) & Kaitlyn (Agency Galatea)

Styling by Megan Endlich, Alice Hayes, Ellen Flood
Hair by Ashley Vest, Carol Wood
Makeup by Ashley Vest, Laura Weathersby

Photography by Billy Rood
© billy rood & figphoto 2010

http://www.billyrood.com

http://www.figphoto.net

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

At fig we constantly look at ways to increase the quality and impact of our work.  This year we decided to start doing fashion photography.  But before we did, we did some research and invested into the world of fashion.  “You can never do enough research,” once said John Lassater at Pixar, and we agree.  So first we started at trying to understand the history of fashion photography and where it all came from.  From photographers like Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Martin Munkacsi, David Bailey, Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Helmut Newton, Herb Ritz, Patrick Demarchelier, Steven Meisel, Mario Testino, & Annie Leibovitz to name a few.  Why would we do this kind of research you might ask?

Well like all history, without understanding, it will repeat itself.  In photography and art, copying and duplicating what has been done is not what you want to be doing.  From all this research and understanding these artists, a true photographer will want to attempt to create more than a photograph but art.  So every shoot we do, we take everything into full consideration.  Light, clothes, makeup, model, hair, locations, what’s in trend, not in trend, and what would get us excited to create.  We feel that the more positive creative energy that is put into a project together as a collective, it reflects that energy in the photographs.

Here are some of our favorite inspirational photographers recently;  from Nick Knight, Paolo Reversi, Glen Luchford, Tim Walker, & Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.

Images from billy rood’s model test w/ elite model hannah.  All images done in camera in the figstudio and on granville ave. in edgewater.   Look for more updates to our photo page and also check more out at billy rood’s personal blog here:  http://billyrood.tumblr.com

photography by billy rood

model | hannah – elite models

styling by danielle sove

hair by anthony baltazar

makeup by krystyn johnson

© 2009 all rights reserved

New photos are up from fig-photographer Billy Rood and Arianne (with Ford Models Chicago) shoot on the Ford Models website.  His team included his team of Krystyn Johnson (makeup) and Anthony Baltazar (hair).  Also check out this hot video billy rood directed with her here:

http://www.vimeo.com/4519350

More fashion videos to come!   Also check out billy rood’s blog to see what else he is up to:  http://billyrood.tumblr.com.

These photos were shot by David Leslie Anthony. A fashion photographer in Chicago. I met with him last week and nervously tried to stand on my own. I was freaking out  because of his experience and skill. I  know that I also have a lot to offer. So, I got some starbucks and we talked about his blog and his previous work. I was amazed by some of his older photographs. They were really inspiring. Everyone should view his work, there’s a lot to it in addition to  great images. David is a very personable, passionate and substantial guy. He is immersed in his work. His studio is full of image inventories, magazines, an original Andy Warhol, and a closet full of cameras. I was surprised by his inventory and organization. I have since started my own. I also learned the importance of being original and not copying other peoples work and “making it your own.”

I’ve never believed in duplicating. It’s a waste of time and it defeats the purpose of your mind. I agreed with everything he said. We ended the meeting as he was packing up his gear to make sure he was prepared. David if your reading this, I hope it went well. Can’t wait to see what you got.

Every time I have talked to him, it has changes my life. From perspective to photography to the business. I’ve only been doing photography for about 2 1/2 years. I have a background in cinematography and filmmaking, so this is new to me, but very similar. From techniques to storytelling it is very similar. It has taught me a lot about directing and being able to tell a story through images-not words. Meeting Mr. Anthony was great, meeting someone who is doing exactly what I want to do is an inspiring and awakening experience. I hope for more and only wish I was as busy as he was…

billy rood

http://billyrood.tumblr.com/

So I just finished printing my new photos from my recent shoot and added it to my new fancy shmancy portfolio book.  Here are some hi-res iphone photos that give them NO justice.  But I’m pretty happy with what I got and couldn’t be more pleased to be working with my whole crew here at fig.  Look for more updates on a cool and slick case study of the recent shoots at the end of this week. 

© 2009 billyrood & © 2009 figmedia

I love these two photos together…my more artistic shots.

© 2009 billyrood & © 2009 figmedia

© 2009 billyrood & © 2009 figmedia

This is another great series together.  I love how you feel like your there in a moment with her.

© 2009 billyrood & © 2009 figmedia

© 2009 billyrood & © 2009 figmedia

© 2009 billyrood & © 2009 figmedia

This is Jason, this was his 2nd shoot.  After this shoot he took my photos to ELITE and was signed.  He’s going to be a supermodel one day.  I worked with Tania from Jenny Yoo on this shoot and she had recently worked with him before.  Very good find.  I call him Jason the accountant.

© 2009 billyrood & © 2009 figmedia

This is Megan from Elite.  She was great.  I felt really connected to her and what I was going for.  Make sure you check your emails by the end of the week to view the photos in their true form and view some kick ass video and testimonials.

Billy Rood

http://billyrood.tumblr.com