The Assassin

Music | In the Waiting Line by Zero 7

Some sessions there is no time to think, prepare. From my initial contact with Courtney via email, our meeting, to our shoot, not more than 48 hours had passed by. I realize that maybe more importantly than our shoot day, our initial meeting was of more importance. Because there was so little time between our introduction to the actual shooting, it was good we spent 2 hours talking, getting to know each other. Having a great rapport going into game day was a good thing.

Courtney found a fabulous room in a upscale downtown hotel. The top floor rooms had windows angled up to the ceilings like a Parisian atelier. The buildings surrounding ours jetted way beyond the 12th floor of our vantage. I was inspired by the space and felt like I was in fact in a studio with amazing light streaming through the windows. The setting was movie like. Having just seen The Shadow Boxer, I saw our heroine as an assassin. My version of La Femme Nikita was about to take place...

We had moved thru 3 changes in short amount of time. I was really happy with what I had up to that point, but the best light of all was about to take place. The direct sunlight was about to hide behind another building, creating the perfect light. In hind site, having a pistol with a silencer or a scope mounted to a long range rifle would have been fabulous. But all I could quickly come up with was my own leather jacket and one of my cigarettes. Courtney immediately took to the props and without words, just moved... No time to think, preparation was for amateurs...

Visit to Chicago...

Music | New Genious by Gorillaz

10 days in Chicago, 5 jobs, personal business, new friends, new networks... This was one of the most fruitful visits back to my home town since I left over 10 years ago.

Anyone that knows me knows I'm always looking for great eats and my mission was accomplished by actually finding a new king for deep dish pizza. I also found my favorite soul food restaurant as well as visiting many of my old favorites! Food and Photography...

My shoots for Photo Privé went very well. My subjects, both extremely nervous before the shoot settled into their sessions in different ways. One used up our entire time to get to her comfort zone while the other literally man handled her way to get to hers. The most nervous of the 2, she just decided she was going to do it and came out on fire! I'm extremely proud of both of them as they managed to achieve something most recently was thought to as an impossible feat. They faced their fears and decided to go for it.

As I shoot more for Photo Privé, I do get a more meaningful understanding of what some of the women go thru when deciding to make the "dive". You women are very courageous and you have earned huge R E S P E C T !

Anne...Again

Music | Slum Goddess by The Fugs

The shoot with Anne brought out a lot of great images!

Testimonial...

Music | Come Here Boy by Imogen Heap

I work in the entertainment industry and often need photos for publicity and public relation purposes. I found Photo Privé thru a friend where we were able to both get a discount as we booked him at the same time. I was so happy with the results that I've used Ted several times through out the last 3 years. It is amazing that each and every time we shoot, he manages to get something new. I'm also especially happy that I have beautifully documented photographs of myself. I hope to continue to what I hope will become an annual tradition.

Thank you, Ted.

Sincerely,

Serena McIntosh

Anne

Music | My Foolish Heart by Linn Halliday

Photographing Anne was insightful, enjoyable, enlightening... It is great to be able to create a piece or in this case, a body of work and learn something about yourself. Anne was gracious enough to tell me she thought of this experience as a special event. She also gave me the impression like on game day, she had butterflies in her stomach. At the time, I didn't really think much of that idea, but now that I have been able to contemplate that thought, I take it as a great complement.

I think all of my photo shoots are somewhat of a collaboration, particularly when I'm shooting a portrait. Of course I have to have some control, especially when in the moment of a shoot I see something and feel a certain look is a great representation of that person. In the case of Anne, I think the shoot was a true collaboration as she just stepped up and started swinging. I loved the fact that she was comfortable enough to let go, to step off. Now I don't really know how much of the real Anne I have in my images, but I feel really great about them. At the time of this writing, she has seen only one image, this one below and I know she is at least approving of it.



This photo is all Anne. My only suggestion was where to stand and with all the butterflies and such, there she goes. Now that I think about it at this very moment, I'm sure I have captured the essence of Anne and the soul that lives within her.

This next photo has more of my signature within it. I remember having her guided into this pose. Though of course she took on her own interpretation of what I was asking, it was my asking that put her in this pose. I'm curious as to what she thinks is more her...



As I mentioned earlier, we managed to create more than a few images. There is a good body of work. Maybe later, more will show up here on the blog...

My Latest Testimonial...

Music | Somersault by Zero 7

I love my clients...

"In 2008 I made both personal and professional changes in my life and turned to Ted for completion of this transition. I had witnessed the artistry he captured behind the lens and knew he would be an integral part of the completion of my metamorphose.
Recently divorced and a mother of 2, I wished to honor the soft, seductive feminine side of my being a woman.

Ted's reputation and professionalism exceeded all expectations. His uncanny ability to place myself completely at ease, coupled with his keen sense of style and class created a permanent depicture of what I wished to celebrate.

I owe many thanks and gratitude to him for being a part of this process....:)

Thank you Ted,

Candace van Hoof"

First Newsletter!

Music | The Walk by Imogen Heap


To download, click on the image

Our very first newsletter... It will be refined and honed as time moves ahead, but I'm really happy with this first run thru design.