Breast Cancer Awareness with Ann & Ashley

1. What y'all are seeing is a Breast Cancer Awareness shoot w/ Ashley & her mom Ann. The original intent was to make it as simple as I could get - a black & white rendering with only the pink ribbon (or the tatoo) being the only thing in color. 

I put out a casting on one of the many social media sites I used at the time & Ashley responded & her mom, a Breast Cancer survivor tagged along. I did a number of shots of Ashley & asked if her mom if wanted to participate herself despite being 2 weeks post-op from a double mastectomy. She was all for it.

We were both in the moment. Anne doing her thing, me focusing on camera setting & composition & simply trying to stay focused (no pun intended). At one point, she was about to showcase her still visible sutures & me about to shoot her when her daughter put a stop to it. It was probably for the best.

With the exception of documenting Ground Zero less than 2 months after the attacks, this remains one of my most emotionally grueling shoots. 

Hope you enjoy.

2. I'm currently selling my work. If anything particular shot, any model, or any set interests you, please email me at farenell.photography@gmail.com.

Just tell me what interests you & I'll see what I can do. I try to work within people's budgets but I'm also not going to like give them away for pennies on the US dollar.

Playfully Inviting with Lisa

1. I'm currently selling my work. If anything particular shot, any model, or any set interests you, please email me at farenell.photography@gmail.com. 

Just tell me what interests you & I'll see what I can do. I try to work within people's budgets but I'm also not going to like give them away for pennies on the US dollar.

2. This is Lisa.

When this was shot, she was coming off of a not-so-great relationship & wanted to do something fun & suggested as part of her own psychological liberation of doing a boudoir type shot. I was invited to her house & saw this lovely overcast sunlight shining through her bedroom window & knew I had to use it.

I like this shot because it suggestively reveal yet remains playfully & am happy that the model herself loved what was produced.

Theater Portrait with Ciara

1. This is Ciara. I forget how or who found who but we were doing this session at her college.

Most of my shoots have a pretty loose structure. Enough to get something done but not so bound where we're not able to toss the book out the window if a situation presents itself.

We were wandering around the performing arts center where the theater hall itself gave me an idea. I lugged out my photo-strobe light (a piece of equipment I loathe using simply because it changes my shooting style) & set it up & shot.

Afterwards Ciara expressed how happy she was because "As a theater major, it never occurred to shoot in the very theater I've loved." If my model friends are happy, so am I.

2. I'm currently selling my work. If anything particular shot, any model, or any set interests you, please email me at farenell.photography@gmail.com.

Just tell me what interests you & I'll see what I can do. I try to work within people's budgets but I'm also not going to like give them away for pennies on the US dollar.

In the Oven with Crystal

1. I'm currently selling my work. If anything particular shot, any model, or any set interests you, please email me at farenell.photography@gmail.com. 

Just tell me what interests you & I'll see what I can do. I try to work within people's budgets but I'm also not going to like give them away for pennies on the US dollar.


2. This is Crystal.

I'm weird & get random stupid ideas. Sometimes after explaining them, I have models who are adventurous enough to take me up on said ideas. This shot arose from one of those times.

After I a few test shots, the models just weren't getting what I had in my head. I pulled them out & to illustrate better what I wanted from them, I physically got in the oven myself. THAT was when they got it! LOL.

I almost never pick out my model's wardrobe but I later thought the blue star socks being the same shade as this model's undies was a pleasant surprise.

Years later I'd submit this same piece & hang & frame it in a small local show & was told the piece was the most complained-about. Yet out of the 12 others pieces submitted, this was my mother's favorite. She found the concept of a person physically getting in an oven hysterical.

Rear ends illicit very strong opinions apparently.

Adirondack Group Shoot with Erin

1. I'm currently selling my work. If anything particular shot, any model, or any set interests you, please email me at farenell.photography@gmail.com. 

Just tell me what interests you & I'll see what I can do. I try to work within people's budgets but I'm also not going to like give them away for pennies on the US dollar.


2. I used to go to group shoots. Basically, its sorta like a get-together models & photographers & them shooting each other in relatively short segments. I have nothing against them par say but unless I know the person arranging it, they no longer played to my strengths. Meaning, I believe my creative strength is best when establishing & developing a rapport with said models over the time available. 15 minutes rarely doesn't do much for me. Nothing against other people doing them, they're just not my thing.

I schooled at SUNY Potsdam in Northern NY. Its a stunningly beautiful part of the state but ultimately a not-well traveled model route. There is more lucrative places to hit up in more dense population centers, maximizing earnings in a shorter amount of time.

I got thinking, why not a group shoot?

I discussed it with another photographer friend & he told his friends & soon enough there were 5 us willing to shell out money for this. We put out a casting-call & 7 models were interested. 1.4 model to 1 photographer seemed about as good a ratio as we could expect considering where it was to take place.

Slowly but surely the cancellations came in, a disappointing prospect but not entirely unexpected. Come shoot day, the only model who showed up was from VA who I picked up at the bus station. & for the record, she seemed pretty enthusiastic about the trek. So we all carpooled to various scenic sites in the autumnal Adirondacks (a stunning sight in its own right) & all did our photoshoot thing.

It comes time to pay the model & the rest of us photographers were so grateful she showed, we decided to give her all the pay that was meant the canceled models. It was easily quadruple what was initially promised. The look on that undergrad face was priceless.

I certainly hope you've enjoyed today's edition.

Danielle and her New Ring

1. I'm currently selling my work. If anything particular shot, any model, or any set interests you, please email me at farenell.photography@gmail.com.

Just tell me what interests you & I'll see what I can do. I try to work within people's budgets but I'm also not going to like give them away for pennies on the US dollar.

2. During this shoot with Danielle, she kept maneuvering her hand in a particular way & I couldn't figure out why. Only then did I realize she was trying to show off her new engagement ring.

Yes, I know I'm slow & not great at picking up on social ques everyone else takes for granted. I'm sorry.

(Apparently the blogging system, will cropping the width if I go any larger so you're going to just have to deal with this not-so-great size)

I certainly hope you've enjoyed today's edition.

Birth of Slutty Minnie Series with Brennan

1. I'm currently selling my work. If anything interests you, don't hesitate in emailing me at farenell.photography@gmail.com.

Just tell me what pics or sets interest you, I'll see what I can do. I try to work within people's budgets but I'm also not going to like give them away.

I posted the picture below a number of years ago back when I was opining about the current issues of the day but I'm re-presenting for different reasons.


2. This is part of the "Slutty Minnie" series with Brennan. 

The idea arose when I got ahold of a headband version of Minnie Mouse ears. There was a pair of leather bondage cuffs leftover from a previous shoot & how fun & messed up if I paired the two.

We were shooting in a photographer friend's living room & could hear him in the next room. We easily got what we needed early in the set but continued shooting as an excuse for him to see us since it'd be fun to see his reaction. And he did.

The model & I would find out later that he was pissed off! Fear not, it was the "I'm pissed because I didn't think of it first" version.

& thus the series was born.

I certainly hope you've enjoyed today's edition.

Shadow Lines with Naureen

1. I'm currently selling my work. If anything particular shot, any model, or any set interests you, please email me at farenell.photography@gmail.com.

Just tell me what interests you & I'll see what I can do. I try to work within people's budgets but I'm also not going to like give them away for pennies on the US dollar.

2. This is Naureen.

I found her after she posted an online ad seeking a "real" photographer to shoot boudoir-type pics as a gift for a recent ex. It sounded like it was an amicable split, him moving across the country & her staying behind to finish law school...but I digress. I found the phrasing humorous but in an era where everyone has a camera & can call themselves a "professional," I get why. 

I emailed her back with several website links, giving samples of my work, met her criteria, & set something up.

I get there & do our shoot, doing a variety of sets. & come to find out later she was utterly astonished at how (& I quote), "here I was half-naked, hugging you, & flirting with you, & you were super professional. My (college) friends think I'm full of sh*t." My response was & I quote, "Sweetie, I'm Italian. We hug everyone." 

We had lovely little friendship but the distance, combined with us both being in college, combined with us being on very different life trajectories, it was simply not to be. 

Ashley the Mindless Doll

1.  I'm currently selling my work. If anything interests you, don't hesitate in emailing me at farenell.photography@gmail.com.

Just tell me what pics or sets or which model interest you & I'll see what I can do. I try to work within people's budgets but I'm also not going to like give them away for free.

2. Ashley had an idea & I helped her run with it. It goes something like this:

"The doll idea came into my mind as a response to the ways girls allow themselves to be looked at. Many girls think that to be desired by men they must become this party girl, drinking beer, dressing revealingly, using everything but their brains and real personality to attract men. People say that women are exploited by society but the truth is, women exploit themselves." 

"Instead of embracing who they are and what they have to offer, they try to mold themselves into something which they think is desirable, whether it is being skinnier, acting a certain way at parties, or any number of self-transforming, attention grabbing devices." 

"Women love attention, that is nothing new but, I see my friends become other people when put in these situations. They become mindless dolls without a thought in their heads."

Bohemian Meghan

1. I'm currently selling my work. If anything particular shot, any model, or any set interests you, please email me at farenell.photography@gmail.com.

Just tell me what interests you & I'll see what I can do. I try to work within people's budgets but I'm also not going to like give them away for pennies on the US dollar.


2. Meghan is still the most put together 15-year old I've ever met.

Upon me arriving at her dad's restaurant, she already had multiple wardrobe layouts ready, got a choice of makeup style, & hairstyling all being done by herself. By contrast, I periodically have models in their mid-20's doing shoots in the clothes they arrive in & then wondering why we only did one wardrobe change. LOL. Since I do photography more out of choice (versus using it to pay my bills), I've learned not complain to much & play the hand I'm dealt.

This is probably an early indicator of Meghan graduating Summa Cum Laude years later.

The picture below was achieved with a reflector assist from her father.

Older Generation with the Younger Generation with Gabrielle

1. I'm currently selling my work. If anything particular shot, any model, or any set interests you, please email me at farenell.photography@gmail.com.

Just tell me what interests you & I'll see what I can do. I try to work within people's budgets but I'm also not going to like give them away for pennies on the US dollar.


2. I was visiting Gabrielle's family homestead & just so happened to have the extended family over. I decided I wanted a generational shot with her & her grandma but grandma however was NOT into the portrait thing.

I had to be sneaky.

I carefully arranged Grandma & Gabrielle into my camera frame while I tested my lighting setup. It wasn't very long before Grandma figured out what was happening & moved to another chair foiling the rest of my plans.

There were things that I would have changed IF I had the luxury of 2 willing participants but I'm still happy enough in capturing this Older Generation with the Younger Generation moment. I'm not one of those artists who needs my work to be pristine perfect if the vibe I'm going for speaks to me & I think its working enough here.

Despite the subterfuge, I'd do this sorta thing again. The methods would not be my first choice but sometimes there are things my subjects will not appreciate til long afterwards. This was one of those situations.

the Critique of the Unsatisfied Relationship with Jenna & Friend

1. I'm currently selling my work. If anything particular shot, any model, or any set interests you, please email me at farenell.photography@gmail.com.

Just tell me what interests you & I'll see what I can do. I try to work within people's budgets but I'm also not going to like give them away for pennies on the US dollar.


2. This shot takes on a VERY different context with the rise Me Too movement & the toxic male entitlement culture we're in. However the idea I had back when this was shot in 2006, went vaguely like this:

We were exploring the correlation that people often find themselves in their relationships, specifically the kind where at least one party isn't satisfied (whether it be sexually, physically, emotionally, or whatever) yet the person in question stays in said relationship...not because they are intimidated by the other but because they may not have the strength to get out of it OR they stay in it because they have nothing better to do, thereby perpetuating the cycle.

This particular set almost never happened. The model couldn't find another male model with whom she trusted enough to do this with until at the last minute she drafted her gay gymnastics partner. He had is cocky vibe about him where he could do really stupid stuff (in terms of the set's theme) & not have her take it personally.

We had a barrel of laughs about it afterwards.

Contemplating Hope

1. I'm currently selling my work. If anything particular shot, any model, or any set interests you, please email me at farenell.photography@gmail.com.

Just tell me what interests you & I'll see what I can do. I try to work within people's budgets but I'm also not going to like give them away for pennies on the US dollar.

2. The model put herself on my radar by sending me a message, "I was a girl who always said she'd never do nudes but after seeing your work, I'm might have to reconsider."

Sounds like a good intro to me!

We set up a shoot & made it happen soon thereafter. And as Rick said to Louie at the end of Casablanca, it was the "start of a beautiful friendship."

Kiss in Waiting with Benny & Moni

1. I'm currently selling my work. If anything interests you, don't hesitate in email me at farenell.photography@gmail.com.

Just tell me what pics or sets interest you, I'll see what I can do. I try to work within people's budgets but I'm also not going to like give them away. 


2. The story behind the "Kiss in Waiting."

The models are Benny & Monique. They were based out of Rochester at the time & were also involved.

There was a creative phase where I didn't want to be known by any one-shot. I felt it was to limiting to say nothing about having my creative interest in being all over the place.

During one of my visits to Western NY, I met up with Benny & a bunch of his friends & I would also be introduced as "the guy who shot 'Kiss in Waiting'." Their eyes would immediately light up with interest & they'd nod & smile.

The lesson being that there are certainly worse things in this world than being known for an iconic shot.

Columbia the Muse

1. As a lark when I was getting my Bachelors, I posted a flier looking for models. It went vaguely something like-

 

Wanted Photo Muse

Benefits:

1. Copies of the Pictures
2. Inspiration for the Arts
3. Fun Story to Tell your Grandkids when You're Old & Grey
4. Everlasting Glory.

I wasn't expecting much of any response but as happens so much in life, the model found me which led to the start of an exquisite work relationship. It was creatively hot & heavy & petered out once we went our separate ways. But man, was it memorable!

This shot below was a source of several different media variations, one was pastels & another was mixed media. I wish still had any of my collegiate (nonphotography) portfolio but they didn't survive several moves. Such is life.

2. I'm currently selling my work. If anything interests you, don't hesitate in emailing me at farenell.photography@gmail.com. 

Just tell me what pics or sets interest you, I'll see what I can do. I try to work within people's budgets but I'm also not going to like give them away.