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!

have you seen these girls?

figphoto’s fashion photographer billy rood was in Miami shooting some editorials for FACTIO magazine w/ his makeup & hair team of Jessica Mazik & Anthony Baltazar.  It was billy rood’s first time in Miami and working with agencies such as 301 Models, NEXT, & MC2 Models in Miami.  His models were selected based upon 3 stories that he developed, to show a side of Miami that Chicago hasn’t seen and also to show a new softer side of his photography.  From lighting, to using new filters and dealing w/ mother nature on his shoots, we are very excited to show the final images that will be appearing in FACTIO Online in less than 7 days!

Here are some exclusive behind the scenes photos and videos from his shoot!

figphoto fashion photographer billy rood’s new slick & shiny fashion film reel from 2009-2010.  this year is looking even more bigger and better for our fashion films & imagery.  exciting news in the future with new editorials and fashion stories!

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

Fashion Focus wrapped up on Sunday October 25^th and ended a long weekend beginning on Thursday night.  From exclusive backstage coverage, fashion shows featuring designers from students to up-and-coming – everything was about fashion.

figphoto photographers & videographers covered the shows and backstage during Fashion Focus Chicago! Check out photo galleries, & videos.  You can also view the coverage on factio magazine, chicago reader, chicago magazine, Style Admirer, & More.  Make sure you check out the videos done by billy rood on vimeo!

Macys Fashion Show- VIDEO -

Abigail Glaum Lathbury Fashion Show – VIDEO -

Dress Code Fashion Show – VIDEO -

Horacio Nieto Fashion Show – VIDEO -

Elise Bergman Fashion Presentation - VIDEO -

GenART Behind the Scenes & Fashion Focus Show – VIDEO -

New Photos up from figphoto fashion photographer billy rood. This is Marta from Elite Chicago.  Both in the figstudio and on location in Rogers Park Chicago, IL.  Makeup by Krystyn Johnson, & Hair and Styling by Ellen Flood (previous intern at fig!).

figphoto © 2009 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

On March 26, billy rood was at the Four Seasons to photograph the Annual CS Evening of Bridal Luxury with an exclusive runway show of VERA WANG 2009 Bridal Collection.

This event is always easy to shoot due to the eye candy around every corner. From models, gowns, exquisite lighting & design by frost and heffernan morgan, everything is really well lit and well thought of. What I had to do as a photographer is document the event with a creative eye to give it all justice.

“I was also working with the fig team, from DJ Megan Taylor, Video by Emily Hard, & Video Projection/playback from Tim Musho & Alvin Black III. I was to photograph the event and also had my photos played back live on the screens to integrate the whole experience. So when you arrived, I would take your photo and then you could see yourself at the event just a few minutes later on the screen. It helps to create a unique experience for everyone and keep people entertained.

Shooting the fashion show is a very important factor also. It’s what everyone is there for. So I do extra tests before the show and make sure I see the lighting to set my levels and exposure before hand. This runway was especially bigger and lit extremely well so it was a pretty easy test. I used the natural light so I could get all the colors and a 70-200mm zoom lens. I wanted to cover the models as soon as they stepped under the vera wang logo, get a full body shot (w/ movement and w/o) and then be able to do Close Ups and zoom in to show the beauty of the dress and the model. I take a lot of photos during the fashion show in the beginning, until I see certain areas where the exposure is better than the rest and then strategically shoot the models at those specific places. Usually as soon as they step out, 1/4 in as they walk, 1/2 way in, 3/4, a close up or 2 (gown & model), accessory shot (necklace) & then a few back side shot. So its quite a few.”

- billy rood

If your looking to book a well experienced fashion show photographer, figphoto will deliver. From the biggest bridal show in Chicago to fashion shows for boutiques, we understand what needs to be captured. If you’d like to hire us please contact billy@figgy.net.