Rather than pontificate as others here often do...
Here is my BIO from our team's Web Portal:

About the ARTIST

"STUDIO director Thomas Van Dyke is an Associate Member of the American Society of Media Photographers. A Stock Boston contributor whose work has graced the halls of Washington County Museum of Fine Art, Coolfont Recreation and other distinguished venues throughout the area.

Thomas attained his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Maryland. It was during his studies at the university that he became proficient in photographic media.

Of merit, Thomas holds a Cosmetologist License in make-up artistry thus brings a unique blend of art and technology to the image equation...

TEMPTU PRO Artisan Accomplished in airbrush (TEMPTU Pro Artisan) and traditional technique. Experienced in working with talent of all ethnicities.

Additionally Thomas is MAC Professional
Professionally trained makeup artist with a specialist kit of premier-quality multi-vendor product designed expressly for digital & high definition imagery

Here is our Team's Mission Statement

The RESTON STUDIO

"Excels at visualizing a narrative to underscore its meaning and translate concepts into compelling editorial renderings...

Our goal is to present an enchanting visual experience to mind's eye...

Our mission is that of proactive facilitator for those individuals or entities who desire the ultimate in a visual statement...

Whether you are an emerging talent or tenured professional we have the expertise to create breathtaking visuals to showcase your definitive persona..."

cindo51 the aforementioned BIO & Mission Statement have endured unchanged for well over a decade.
Of merit Bridal Makeup is by far and away the most lucrative of our revenue stream.
Hope this helps answer your query or is at least food for thought...

Wishing you much success on your upcoming Show... And all the best on your career journey...
Cheers! Thomas

Totally Loving your third image Wayne...
Stellar loop lighting...
Superbly crafted Makeup Artistry...
Did you have an MUA on your team?
Or did Kristal accomplish this polished "look" solo?
Epic lashes, perfectly shaped and filled in brows...
If she is guilty of makeup on your session I would hire her in an instant for my beauty & glamour narratives

Accessory necklace is a perfect touch for this neutral midnight black wardrobe with it's enchantingly exposed midriff... Her piercings blend in well and work in harmony with this iconic LBD ensemble..

Such a radiant alluring smile... highlighted with the twinkling catch-lights in her golden iris...

Beautiful done Wayne... Thank you for sharing...
Cheers! Thomas

...unsure which board I should post so here we are... John superb aesthetics latent within... it is wonderful to see those with an artist's perception posting on UHH... Truly a welcome change from the clinical snaps that abound on this portal...

As for your query? I would suggest you invest time on UHH's Sports Photography Forum. I have found it to be one of the last sections on UHH that are frequented by those who's work is at the zenith of the craft... Please do visit and post on the Sports Forum John where you can find Inspirational and Gifted Talent like this Example. Thus I still visit the Sports UHH Forum occasionally albeit the lion's share what little online time I do is on flickr where the truly gifted abound...

UHH is a wonderful portal for the gerontological crowd who seem to invest far more time online rather than pursuing excellence in our craft. I get this, and wish all UHH members a joyful and pleasurable journey in their golden years.

Wishing you much success on your stellar journey John...
Cheers! Thomas

Fabulous series of pivotal moments... the clarity and color saturation on the downloads is simply superb... While I'm impressed with your kit i.e. "shutter speed of 1/1000, f2.8 and auto ISO" it is the stellar framing and precise timing of capture that you brought to the table that reflects your breathtaking aesthetics and keen knowledge of the sport...

UHH is fortunate to have members who work at the zenith of our craft aboard... I'm typically only seeing this level of excellence on flickr... It's UHH members like you that occasionally bring me back to UHH...

All the best on your inspirational journey... I trust that the players you captured have been able to see your superb renderings of their finest moments...

Cheers! Thomas

"on pointe" albeit without a ballerina's pointe shoes...

Going on pointe is a rite of passage for so many aspiring young ballerinas...
Thank you for sharing this unique of "pseudo" ballet imagery...
You certainly get your pointe across...

btw, ballerinas are oft considered the highest developed professional athletes in existence...
Precious few can withstand the trials and tribulations latent within the aforementioned pursuit.

...The ballet student must be at least 11 years old to go on pointe. The bones of the feet do not fully develop and harden until approximately 13-15 years old. A dancer must be strong enough to protect the bones before they are fully developed. Beginning pointe to early can permanently damage immature bones...Source

Epic display of the physics of a rocket projectile...
... as they fly, they cover distance both horizontally and vertically – but only the latter is affected by the force of gravity, which bends the path of the projectile into a parabola. For long-range rockets, things are a tad more complex. For example, air resistance must also be taken into account..."Source
It's an excellent read... please check it out... (beautiful parabola btw).

I still remember a chuckle from my university years that Architects are simply engineers that couldn't pass calculus... There is actually some truth to the aforementioned, don't believe this? Ask an Architect how he/she enjoyed their College Calculus classes... :) Terms like "what does y approach as x goes to negative infinity" can (and does) challenge those who adhere i.e. cling to Newtonian Mechanics albeit Albert Einstein got this... If you are interested I suggest you study a mathematical proof i.e. explanation of "The Limit as x goes to negative infinity" there are lot's of YouTube videos on this, enjoy!

Thank you for the Epic image of a Parabolic Arc Don!

btw if you are interested in an exact explanation "Detailed calculations will ultimately reveal that the true rocket trajectory is not a parabola, but part of an ellipse"

Thank you so much for your kind words Don...
Albeit all credit here goes to this talented duo!
She did the entire moodboard for the shoot and provided all the wardrobe...
And he was the lighting assistant on the session, couldn't have done it without both team members.

I simply recreated the narratives she wanted... my only input was to optimize shadow placement, depth and density to best serve and enhance the narratives within.

btw, I totally love the collection of your jaguar imagery on flickr feed.
That team at Coventry took sport car design to the zenith of automotive artistry.
Cheers! Thomas

Couple of images from a recent maternity session...
And a look at workflow and a very cost effective Studio Monolight Key that paid the bills.

Enjoy!
Wishing all aboard a fabulous New Year ahead!
btw, please don't forget to change your embedded copyright from 2023 to 2024

Agency Fashion Model on Maternity Leave... Camera: (Nikon D810 @ f/11; 1/200; ISO: 80) (Lens: Tokina AT-X AF f2.8 50-135mm 535 DX Nikon @ 50mm)

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Silhouette of an Agency Fashion Model on Maternity Leave... Camera: (Nikon D810 @ f/18; 1/200; ISO: 80) (Lens: Tokina AT-X AF f2.8 50-135mm 535 DX Nikon @ 75mm)

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Camera RAW initial settings (Background Illumination: Paul C. Buff Alien Bee 1600 @ 35% Full Power thru a Giant Octabox) (Key: Smith-Victor Flashlite 120i Head (120 ws) at 60% Full Power))

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Control Interface on the Smith Victor Flashlite 120i Head (120 ws) bounched off PhotoGenic 28" Silver Parabolic; mounted on an Impact Aluminum Mid-Range Boom Arm; held by Paul Buff 13' Air-Cushioned Light Stand

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This post is an adjunct to my previous post on 12-27 Studio Photography: Christmas Eve Maternity Photoshoot with Agency Fashion Model which strangely disappeared from this Forum.
Possibly because the two images posted within same apparently offended and caused emotional trauma to another UHH member. I get this, since UHH has to uphold it's Mission Purpose? I would certainly never want to cause emotional trauma to anyone under any circumstances... Period!

Anyway I felt compelled to follow up on several genuine requests received on this initial post from long time UHH colleagues for a more in-depth look on how the imagery was created. So below are several BTS glimpses into on how the shoot happened. Hope this may answers at least some of those queries. Albeit I'm actually hoping this post doesn't meet the same fate as the initial one since the model (AD on the shoot) chose an "implied" for one of these narratives. If it offends I apologize, however it seems to have been well received on other social media sites/platforms that are a little more main stream.

With all the controversy over my previous post I realize that I may not an appropriate fit for posting in the Main Forum on UHH... As one of the very few commercial studio photographers here I believe it may be in everyone's best interest that I simply cease posting on the Main Forum altogether since Studio Photography and/or Fashion Photography obviously isn't on the Lion's share of UHH member's radar.

Of merit in my over half decade on UHH I did meet one other fabulous Commercial Studio Photographer who's work I truly admired and followed. That being a United Airlines senior pilot who's mission was providing his combat veterans with absolutely Superb Portraiture... His moniker was "Captain" and sadly he left UHH several years ago... I dearly miss him... In hindsight I now realize that maybe I possibly should do same. Besides I have way too much client work in my queue now with more pending assignments in January. No rest to the weary...

Also owing to some concern my over use of Industry generally accepted Studio & Fashion Photography terminology I'm providing a brief glossary of terms which I typically use when communicating with other colleagues without even thinking... Thus the aforementioned are for those here who may be either a tad naive on the commercial side of the image equation or the precious few that may actually be interested in working (i.e. assisting) in a commercial studio or in the commercial fashion industry.

Glossary of Terms

AD: Art Director, in responsible charge of the narrative, theme and overall direction of a shoot.

Baby's Breath Bouquet: A floral accent (typically provided by an AD on a maternity shoot)
Baby's Breath has long been used as a symbol of purity, innocence, hope, and new beginnings. For these reasons, it has been traditionally used in wedding bouquets and baby showers. In many cultures, Baby's Breath is given to new mothers for good luck, which is how this flower got its name.

BTS: Behind the Scenes (photo or video documentation of session workflow)

Call Back: Model who has been selected for a second audition.

Casting: When an Agency Booker (or Client) sends out invitations to models and their agencies to audition for a job

Cattle Call: A mass interview where hundreds of aspiring models can show up in the hopes of being discovered.

Catwalk (aka Runway): A theatrical production showcasing clothing designer's creations

Comp Card (Zed Card or Z-Card) Concise aggregate of a Model's portfolio

G&E (Grip & Electric Department) on a production set responsible for rigging, staging, moving and manipulating lights

Hair: Hair Stylist (typically are licensed Cosmetologist)

Hair Light: An overhead light that provides separation of a model's hair from background/foreground

Implied: A narrative where the model appears to be partially nude on set

Key: Main Light (source of illumination) controls the actual position of shadows within an image

Kicker: A light used to give more contrast between the background and the model. Very common setup when photographing corporate headshots.

MUA: Makeup Artist (typically hold a Makeup license in Cosmetology)

Mood Board: A compilation of photographs that represents the desired style for a photoshoot

Lighting Assistant: Analogous to G&E (see above)

Set: Actual physical location where a session is conducted.

Stops: Value or f-Stop being used by the camera (also plus/minus which indicate image exposure adjustment)

Tearsheet: A page featuring a model (or Photographer) taken from a magazine or other publication essentially proving their experience. They work as evidence that you have worked or been featured for a specific brand or publication.

Testing: Sessions with agency talent where a model (or Photographer) work pro-bono (without charge). This is commonplace within the Fashion & Beauty Genre where talent on both sides of the camera need quality imagery (as well as all team members involved). I've meet many of my team players via testing shoots... They are ubiquitous within the industry

Tethering: Real-Time monitoring of studio/location captures via a computer during a photo session

Wardrobe: Responsible for assembling the model's attire for the shoot.

Please Note: All images from the Maternity Session are the result of the Client's Mood Board which she provided on set via her IPhone. My task was simply to recreate same as best I could with the resources available. The only direction I provided was to optimize shadow dimension, density and placement within the image to create the optimum desired narrative effect.

I've also carefully avoided mention of any Vendor and/or Brand of Photographic Equipment in this post in hopes that it won't offend those who chose to establish and/or maintain their persona via the "Kit" they own. The "Fan Boy" syndrome unfortunately abounds here and elsewhere in the hobbyist photography community where Sony, Canon, Nikon and similar "Fans" cry heresy and sacrilege if you should even dare to mention let alone belong to another camp, i.e. tribe... Social group dynamics can (and often do) play heavily in the mix in on-line social forums.

Food for thought...
In the arena of Commercial Photography...
Your worth, credibility and professional reputation depend not only on your ability to create breathtaking imagery of publication quality unrivaled by your competitors but also your ability to nurture and assist in development of other aspiring talent emerging within the industry.

Camera Raw for the Initial 12-27 imagery

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Camera Raw for Lens Profile (High Key Silhouette)... Baby's Breath Bouquet with Giant Octa 2 stops over

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(High Key Silhouette)... Baby's Breath Bouquet

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Lifestyle Maternity session with Baby's Breath Bouquet floral accent

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Thank you so much for your very kind words Bubbee...
And those wonderfully enchanting renderings of your great grandchildren which totally made my day!
Assume this is "Baby Leo"? from your Oct 30, 2021 post?

I've always held dear that the greatest gift I've ever received is my son which is the most precious present his mom ever gave me... He has been the absolute Center of my Universe for the past 54 years!

Loving the Little Leo "Rock Star Image" working out on his acoustical six string... His large charismatic sparkling eyes are absolutely captivating! He's an amazing young man and I assume he has already captured the hearts of those who have viewed your lovely photos here... (Your Z50 rocks!)

Child Portraiture has always been a favorite genre of mine...
And I'm growing even more fond of it as I reach my "golden years"

An interesting aside is the Fashion Model in this Maternity Shoot (an ICU Nurse) has many patients who are nearing the end of their journeys... More then a few have shared with her that the thing they regretted most of all in their lives was not having children... She mentioned that this played into the mix in her wanting to start her own family...

btw, this is her first pregnancy and she's so super excited to bring her son into the world...

Again many thanks Bubbee!
Wishing you an Epic New Year ahead especially with your absolutely adorable Great Grandchildren...

Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback dancers...
I attempted to send you a link to the Model's IG account where you could review over 100 "Likes" and feedback she received when she posted these images but sadly you have blocked me on UHH...

Albeit I'll let her know that she possibly doesn't meet the mores, customs, and norms of behaviors that are acceptable to the society of Melbourne Victoria, Australia...

btw, she is an ICU Registered Nurse at her local hospital... And is still at work as I post this...
Yes she works 12 shifts in the Intensive Care Ward where there is zero tolerance of error...

What do you call someone who saves a life? A Hero!
"What do you call someone who saves a hundred lives? An ICU Nurse...

btw dancer she is going to have a Natural Delivery primarily because epidurals dull "feeling" of the contractions so a women won't know precisely when and how hard to push her baby out... Besides all analgesic and anaesthetic drugs are lipid soluble and will cross the placenta and can slow the baby's fetal heart rate.

Of merit in the UK and Australia nitrous oxide is a widely used inhaled anesthetic that doesn't adversely effect the baby... Albeit it isn't nearly as effective in reducing pain...

Wishing your much Joy over this Holiday Season dancer and much success in the New Year ahead!
Cheers! Thomas

Thank you so much for your very kind words and support Bill_de...
They are truly appreciated! btw, totally love the collection of your work posted on NIKON IMAGE SPACE

"What's an "AD"? the Art Director Longshadow

"The art director is the head honcho of the shoot. They figure out the overall visual direction of a shoot and how to execute that vision with the team and resources they have. The art director is responsible for communicating the vision to the team and managing the team."

"Art directors are a crucial part of a design team. They inspire and guide the vision of the design team, oversee the work of illustrators, graphic/visual designers, photographers, and others who are engaged in artwork or layout design."

Since this highly experienced Agency Fashion Model is indeed the client on the session as well as the Art Director her vision is paramount to the ultimate outcome of the deliverables.

Hope this helps Longshadow or at least brought some clarity to the narrative provided...
Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback...

Kit Used:
Paul Buff Alien Bee 1600; Paul Buff 60” Foldable Octabox; Pro-Elite Bike Repair Stand; Paul Buff Cybersync Transmitter/Receiver; Smith Victor FLASHLITE 120i MONOLIGHT; Paul Buff 13' Air-Cushioned Light Stand; Impact Aluminum Mid-Range Boom Arm; Tokina AT-X AF f2.8 50-135mm 535 DX for Nikon; Nikon D810; Induro GHB1 Gimbal Head; Manfrotto 055XPROB Tripod

Lighting Gear Notes:
The Paul Buff 60” Foldable Octabox with Alien Bee 1600 is mounted on the Pro-Elite Bicycle Repair Stand (modified to hold Lighting Accessories (Load rating: 75 lbs))
The Smith Victor FLASHLITE 120i MONOLIGHT with PhotoGenic 28" Silver Parabolic is mounted on an Impact Aluminum Mid-Range Boom Arm which is mounted on the Paul Buff 13' Air-Cushioned Light Stand

This aforementioned "Kit Listing" is embedded in the .jpg file for posting on flickr where they are parsed out as "TAGS" same with IG where they are again added as "Image Tags"

This Maternity Session was shot several days ago... 12/24 (8 hours including prep and wardrobe changes)
The Model was the AD on the Shoot and managed Wardrobe
Her significant other was the lighting assistant
Both were absolutely critical for a successful outcome in as there is no way I would attempt this solo.

The greatest challenged was by far Illumination...
It took several days to setup and balance illumination
I used a Nikon D300s with an AF-S 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR-II DX Nikkor for that task (the D300s is pretty much identical to the D810 in required features & controls) and with the VR-II the Gimbal Mount was redundant i.e. only used for the actual session shoot.

Please realize that nearly all my Kit is either Refurbished or Previously Owned. What I'm sharing with you here is there actually is a relatively low barrier to entry for Studio Scenarios. In my experience as a commercial makeup artist on many many commercial jobs the greatest challenge to a DYI home studio are 11 foot ceilings. This is critical for working with 5'11" fashion models who can't do vertical narratives (jumps etc.) even without arms raised. Albeit I can Beauty Genre work with a typical 8' ceiling (however for serious Beauty Genre a Hair Light is Critical to the mix and thus requires at least 10' ceilings)

Posted Below is the AD's first pick... Delivered in 24 hours... another dozen to go (at a more civilized rate)

If you are serious about shooting commercial assignments you'll likely need a Studio (they are readily available in nearly all major Metro areas) many even have rental kit available also. However to master studio illumination by renting studio space is akin to taking an Uber for a cross-country vacation... a.k.a. It is very time intensive...

Hope this helps or is at least food for thought...
Wishing all a fabulous Holiday Season and an Epic successful Photographic Journey in the New Year ahead!
Cheers! Thomas

Baby Bump at 33 weeks

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Baby Bump at 33 weeks

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Thank you very much Bill Burkholder for sharing your White Paper...
You, kind sir, are one of few reason's I even bother to check into UHH anymore...
And yes I concur that transparency copy via camera is indeed expedient and cost effective.
Besides I had a high value transparency damaged by a clueless commercial scanning service... Never again...

Wishing you much Joy and Continued Success on your career journey Bill.

btw, had to smile at your comments on the younger generation's mindset.
Working with many brilliant young aspiring fashion & beauty models who's enthusiasm is a priceless and precises gift in itself which keeps me keenly focused and on an even keel...

Team synergy latent on a commercial fashion/beauty set is an amazing thing, which likely so very few are actually aware of... each player from a multitude of disciplines bring there own expertise to the mix...

Cheers! and happy Holidays to all who practice in the Art and Craft of photography

bts with a 12 year old Beauty Genre Model aspiring to gain agency repersentation

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Model: @ariannaharrisofficial (Currently Unsigned); Make-up: @_sammyanthaa (resident MUA for Reston Studio); Hair Styling: @devonbaltimore (formerally with VOGUE NYC)

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