PhotoPesuasion

Contacts
Address:
Irving
Phone:
940-387-9345
E-mail: Brian@photopersuasion.net
About me

 

I think the most rewarding part about being a photographer is when after a photoshoot, the model looks at their photos and squee's "That's me!"

My journey started in 2001 when my parents gave me a  Minolta SLR. I forget which brand it was, but it was grey and awesome. I took it everywhere, did a ton of shoots with my friends and quickly realized how expensive it was get the pictures developed.

In 2005 I made the switch to digital with the Canon 20D. I was still very much an enthusiast, but my work was getting better as I could quickly see what the finished product was and I could take more images without having to run to the store to get them developed.

I was always taking my friends out for mini photoshoots, and pestering them to pose.

It wasn't till 2011 that I found my niche. I rented some mono lights from the local camera shop and loved the lighting control they provided. Soon afterwards I built my first studio, invested in my own lights and modifiers and have slowly been growing my collection since then.

While randomly at the Hyatt Regency, I stumbled across A-Kon and discovered cosplay. The cosplayers there put so much work into their craft and the costumes were so unique that I couldn't help but wanting to get more involved. Plus, I'd get to do shoots of some of my favorite fandoms. (Final Fantasy, Doctor Who, Disney mashups)

While working with cosplayers both at conventions and in the studio, I focused more on posing and lighting. Honing my skill set in order to best capture the character. A cosplayer may know how their character looks and practice in a mirror to get everything right, but there still might need to be minor adjustments made for the camera. I also worked on being able to give posing direction and to this day it is still one of main areas of continuous study.

I've had some pretty amazing adventures over the years, and have the pictures to prove it. Through it all, it is the pictures of mine that you share, that makes me love photography.

(c) PhotoPersuasion

Ever since I built out the new studio, I’ve been wanting to a Pinup style swing shoot. The problem was, I didn’t have a swing, and I only had a single point to hang something from.

At one point, after searching the web for various types of equipment, I found a metal bar that was designed for this, but it was $180. More then I wanted to spend. 

I moved on to other shoots and styles and put this one on the back burner. It wasn’t until after doing the Silks shoot that I returned to planning it in earnest. 

Challenges:

  • Creating a stable swing that could hang from a single point.
  • Not breaking the bank while building it.

First step was the design. The materials I had to work with was wood and rope which made it a lot easier.

This was my first design. I would drill two holes into a 2×4 which would keep the swing ropes separated. The rope would run down through the holes and to a board for the seat that would have another set of holes drilled into them.

The build went smoothly, once I figured out how to adjust the miter saw and I only made a couple small changes.

I added an eye bolt to the center of the 2×4 as a safety and used both a bowline and a metal cincher to secure the seat. I used an all in one wood stain for the final finish.

Each of the connection pieces and ropes were rated for 10 times the amount I would actually need. The shoot didn’t entail anything dangers, but I didn’t want to take any chances.

My wife had the idea to use garlands on the rope and after a last minute trip to Michaels we were all set.

Leave a comment