Evolution
of a Photoshoot
This is a lot of detail, if you just want the fun stuff then skip to the end watch the video and see the images. I won’t be offended!
The Idea is Born
Early February 2010
“Where do you get your ideas?” is probably the most common question I get, and the answer is… it depends. In this particular case the idea was born over a turkey sandwich at Trolley Square Mall, I was meeting with Emily Edmunds (owner of The Hive Gallery) about a fashion photography hanging in June and we got to talking about her newly opened gallery and the plans she had in mind. That’s when she mentioned doing a show about the artistry of cakes in April and she shared her dilemma with me, there would be cakes on display but you can’t really hang them on the walls… what do you put on the walls at a cake show?
To me the answer to this question couldn’t be easier, give me a whole bunch of cakes and I’ll have something to put on the walls. With opening night almost a full 2 months away I figure I have plenty of time to plan something amazing.
Pre-shoot Planning
March 22nd – 23rd, 2010
I don’t like to think of myself as a procrastinator, but let’s face it, when you have a to-do list averaging 10 projects long things more than two weeks away tend to get pushed to the back of your mind. Then it’s less than one week away and you realize something, this project is in SERIOUS need of a promotion to the top of my to-do list!
First things first, I asked how many cakes I’d be getting to use. The answer? Nine cakes with a dozen decorative cupcakes. Had it been 1-3 cakes it would have been an easy one model shoot with a hairstylist and makeup artist…. but nine meant I’d get the opportunity to turn up the volume a bit, so-to-speak.
I decided I wanted six models and three separate styling teams (one person for makeup and one person for hair on each team) plus a fashion designer to provide the wardrobe.
That sounded just about right… even with just several days notice this shouldn’t be a problem at all – one of the advantages of knowing lots of talented people! Even though I knew it wouldn’t be a problem it still takes a lot of coordination to get 12 talented people all in the same place at the same time. Beyond the styling team and the models and the cakes I also needed a couple assistants and wanted a behind the scenes video, so of course I asked the amazing John Paul if he’d like to join us, which leads me to a funny story.
John Paul Is Unimpressed
When you are booking 15+ people for a shoot (in four days) it requires dozens and dozens of phone calls, text messages and emails. It can get mind-boggling to get organized, especially with such a tight deadline, but for some strange reason I LOVE it! The thing is everyone uses a different form of communication more regualarly, so I need to know that this certain model needs to be texted, I can email some of the stylists but if I need an immediate answer on availability then a phone call may be necessary. In order to pull it off it means my descriptions of the shoot tend to be very brief, mainly just confirming availability and giving a general idea of the concept. So I send a quick Facebook message to John Paul (who has made several behind-the-scenes videos for me), since I was online and thinking about it.
…the communication continued over instant chat…
John Paul: What is the shoot for?
Jake Garn: It’s for a gallery show in a couple weeks, they told me they could get a TV and show your behind the scenes video at the opening if you’d like!
John Paul: I’m not sure that would be very interesting to watch, just a video of people standing next to cakes? Unless they just want a simple behind-the-scenes video, I don’t know…
Jake Garn: J.P. I don’t think you understand… I, Jake Garn, am doing a shoot with nine cakes, a dozen cupcakes and six models. If you think those cakes are leaving the set in one piece then you are mistaken.
John Paul: I will be there.
Directing the Styling
March 23rd, 2010
I have an extraordinarily talented group of stylists I work with and we’ve worked together enough that I don’t need to discuss the exact details of the looks I want, generally I just need to give a starting point and let them run with it… that formula has made some amazing things happen! I’ll give you all a sneak peek at the actual email I sent to the styling team while pre-planning the shoot (not all stylists had been confirmed quite yet).
Everyone is Booked!
March 24th, 2010
After dozens of phone calls, emails, and facebook messages everyone is booked. Six models, three hairstylists, three makeup artists, three photo-assistants, one fashion designer, one videographer, all the cakes and the shoot location. It’s at this point that I always send out a confirmation email with details and instructions for everyone, here is the actual email. Notice it is sent just two days prior to the shooting date, when I say I work well under pressure I wasn’t kidding! (also I still didn’t have the name of our final makeup artist)
Day of the Shoot
March 26th, 2010
I double checked google to make sure I had sent the right address, I had. But then I had a thought, I double checked a business card at the reception desk and sure enough – the address in google was WRONG! It wasn’t 1992 East, the actual location was 1992 west. Everyone was 40 blocks away. Crap.
About 45 minutes of phone calls later everyone is either on their way, or at, the correct location. Man that was stressful, and really weird. How does Google have an address wrong?
After that everyone gets to work! Except for me, I don’t really need to do anything for a couple hours, so I go get pizza for everyone. Oh, and if you think that the beautiful, thin girls I shoot are thin because they starve themselves then you’ve obviously never been to one of my shoots! Five pizzas and an order of hot wings later the styling is getting close so I focus my attention on the light and backdrop setup.
The assistants have already unloaded and put together the lighting equipment and backdrop so I let them know which light modifiers I’m using and what the placement will be, then I start hassling the stylists about staying on schedule. This would also be the time I gave direction or suggestions if I wanted something in the styling to look differently but on this occasion everything was looking perfectly whimsical!
Which means it was finally, almost time to shoot… and the shooting is better described without words:
Behind-the-scenes Video by John Paul
And it’s a Wrap!
Richard Hinton was the lucky winner of the Facebook Contest which means he won a print of his choice AND a blog post covering a topic of his choice! What did he choose? Well he wanted a behind the scenes look at the prepping, the shooting, and the wrap of a big production photoshoot. Sir, your request is granted!
MY Favorites ARE NUMBER 5 AND 11, great video too! i really like this idea 🙂
Great ideas, great execution by all, and the video is a blast to watch. Thanks!
Looks like fun shoot, and great results 🙂
Jake, I love your look, I have been wanting to more highly produced shoots myself, but I am not sure the best way to begin networking contacts. Especially MUA’s/stylists and finding designers to help with all of elements of a shoot. How does one find these people and approach them to work with you.
I know in the past you said that most of your contacts are on Facebook, that is great if you know the people already, where in the heck does someone find a designer in a place like salt lake that is interested in working with an up and comer like myself.
Adam,
We actually devote 10-20 minutes talking about it at my workshop. I wish I had an easy answer but it’s just one of those things where once you meet them you’ve met them, until then it’s hard to meet them. Try sites like http://www.modelmayhem.com and start some networking there. That’s a good starting point! Or assist photographers (and I have your application – it is being considered!!!).
thank you so much for sharing the “evolution of a photo shoot.” it boggles my mind how something like this comes to together…it is amazing. the video and images are over the top and JUST AWESOME. one of my very shoots of yours. and the models…and the wardrobe…and the hair and makeup…JUST PERFECT.
Love your work Jake, thanks for sharing!
I love the concept, you are just awesome!!
Jake, Thanks for the reply to my post,I appreciate the feedback. I am hoping to make my budget and one of your workshops come together later this year, in the fall or winter. Until then I plan on making use of some of the great information you share on your blogs. thanks again for the feedback and inspiration.
Adam
That was an awesome video and looks like it was a fun shoot. The orange background worked great
hey jake, great work here. just wondering, how does one become a photo assistant on one of your shoots? i’d love the opportunity!
Jordan,
Best way is to attend a workshop and meet me in person. Second best way is to send me an email, include samples of your work a photo of yourself and personal info like city you live in, age, favorite photographers, experience, all that jazz! But I do get several requests.
Tasty shoot! Thanks for sharing the creation of these wonderful photographs!
very good post, i certainly enjoy this site, go on it