Los Angeles preparations and new work w/ Sparrow to Dragonfly creator!

Hey, Steemit! I’m back at the writing table at @caffetto late on a Sunday night. It’s been a busy weekend. My mom, @bonni, arrived in Minnesota on Friday, just hours after @vermillionfox left to visit @lonniedi in Chicago. We’ve been doing the family thing, taking her to eat at some of my favorite places in the Twin Cities. I’ve also been struggling to set up and find time to use my new 12.9” iPad Pro. I’m underwater on a deadline and leave for Los Angeles Tuesday afternoon. It’s near impossible to find the headspace to draw for a few hours. Once I’m in LA, it’ll be back to back shoots for a straight week.

Tonight’s photography is of a dear friend of mine named Jamie. She’s a lovely person, vintage enthusiast and wonderful artist. She upcycles antique jewelry and creates custom dresses and outfits under her brand, Sparrow to Dragonfly. I first met Jamie through a friend and fellow photographer, Ana Jenkins. For the last few years, I’ve come on as a guest photographer for an event that Ana holds just before the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend. Jamie has always provided the jewelry and wardrobe. Over the last couple of years, we’ve become good friends.

I almost never do TF shoots. If you’re not familiar with the term “TF”, it basically means “trade for”. Sometimes that means “trade for print”, other times it can just be “trade for…”, as a bartering system for services or whatever. As a dad and a homeowner with a mortgage, it’s rare that someone can offer me something that would equate to a $1000 dark pinup shoot. Jamie was, though. She has a ownership with a luxury condo/timeshare company throughout LA and Vegas and she’s allowed me to stay as a guest […often with my own room], many times. She’s been a lifesaver on the road.

This shoot was to uphold my end of the bargain. A full session with hair and make-up at a giant estate in Southern California. I really loved shooting with Jamie. She’s sassy and beautiful, in her 40’s, which is a great experience for me, always. I have a lot of clients that assume I only shoot size 2 models in their 20’s and I pride myself on being able to capture the beauty with any client, regardless of age, race or size. Jamie is full of life and she brought that energy to these moody photos. More to come from this shoot, hopefully sooner than later.

Thanks for reading. I had to take a couple days off from Steemit to fully enjoy my time with my family. I’m not looking forward to LA, especially with the fires and madness happening right now. I was hoping August would have been my last trip of the year, but alas, the crypto-market has stalled for most of 2018 and that dictates how often I’ll be traveling and shooting. Trying to keep my spirits up. It’s still a much cooler job than anything else I’ve done. Thanks for reading. For more photography, art, illustration and the stories behind the work, follow me here @kommienezuspadt!