The shoot went off without a hitch!

After worrying about the possibility of rain and wind on our shoot day and deciding to go ahead anyway, we were rewarded with a picture-perfect day at the beach…70 degrees and not a cloud in the sky!

We started the day off bright and early to get the most daylight, this is January afterall.  The models, hair/make-up artist, Jamie, Pete, and myself met at 7:30am to organize the wardrobe and get the models made up for the beach.

Meghan, the make-up artist, and I looked at the jewelry I was planning to use for the shoot and discussed a color palate and mood for the models’ make-up and hair styling.

Jamie, my assistant, and I went over the wardrobe and added a few more pieces before we packed everything into the cars and headed for Malibu.

Photographer, Peter Bohler, and his two assistants, Kevin and Carell, picked up all the equipment and met us at the beach at 10:30am.

Once we arrived at the beach, the real work began.  We parked our cars on a bluff above the beach and had to move our crew of eight and everything we would need for the day down several steep sets of stairs to the sand below.

Jamie and Pete set up the tent we would use as a changing room for the models, while the lovely Sharlene and Dominique along with Meghan found a small square of shade to keep themselves beautiful while we set up to shoot.

Eight people on set for a shoot may seem like a lot, but each one of us had a specific job (sometimes three) and the day would not have been nearly as successful without the full crew.

Because we were using natural light, Kevin and Carell were essential in directing the light toward the models and away from the camera lens.  They used scrims to diffuse the harsh midday light and reflectors to fill in the shadows.

When Jamie wasn’t helping me dress and adorn the models, she was our second photographer, documenting the shoot from behind the scenes.

Meghan touched up the models’ make-up before each shot and was constantly adjusting their hair or attending to a shiny spot or a smudge while Pete photographed.

I was busy not only styling the models, but also making sure I was satisfied with the images Pete got from each set-up.  I spent most of the day looking over Pete’s shoulder and wearing at least three necklaces and several bracelets so I could easily switch a piece out while we continued to shoot.

I had no idea how exhausting a photo shoot can be, but also how much fun with everyone working together to produce some beautiful images.

In the end the day was a huge success and I’m sure everyone slept soundly that night.