shoot up @ memorial park– houston tx
we shot up, yep! a budding photographer friend and I– her name is Gracie Soza by the way…. and not only is she a good photographer but an amazing MUA [that’s MakeUp Artist for those of you who don’t know].
we took our lovely model out and did a few photo’s at the Sculptural Garden to start. we also got stopped by security but hey– that’s the life of a photographer trying to get the shot!
we used no light modifiers/no flash on the first shot you see here:
we then moved over to a nice cement bench where again we used Zero modifications: 
post processing was done with my secret sepia recipe and grain was added in the post.
all images– as far as i remember were shot with the kit lens or the 50 mm 1.4. nothing special here folks– just good ole shooting! feel free to check the meta data– for more info on each shot.
enjoy a few more on the house…. until the next shoot up
xoxox,
Donna
Behind the scenes– Camera Settings + Gear Tips
i got an email from Doug this morning and it read:
I love your Web site.
Your fashion and engagement photos are very inspirational.
What camera and ASA settings are you using for your engagements and weddings? Do you have a favorite lens? I am shopping for the first time in 7 years.I see allot of available light photos in your samples. Do you use bounced/bulb flash for any fill light?
I decided to only do weddings for family as a gift. ….A cousin asked me to shoot her Laguna Beach, CA wedding on Memorial Day weekend, so I thought it was time to upgrade the Rebel. I am doing it as a gift.
I really like how wedding photographers are now using more still-life shooting and ultra wide-angle images in their albums. I have been working in Photoshop since 1994, so I am used to editing my digital images. Studios are really breaking the rules these days and it looks great.
Thank you for any gear tips you can provide.
Sincerely,
Doug
Here was my reply:
Hi! Thanks for checking out my work! I do use mostly available light– except when needed in fahion portraits– the last shoot i used a reflector that’s about 48in on the silver side. But i have to admit it was very cloudy sunday when i shot those so the bounced light was very soft and flattering. For example, in some shots like the one attached, i shot it at anywhere from 500 iso to 1000 iso at about 1/50th of a second f 2.2 to 2.8 with the reflector in some shots to give her catchlights in the eyes.
For gear it really depends on the look you want to go for. If you like a lot of natural light i say skip a quantum and buy a canon 580 for the reception if it’s indoors– you should also think about expanding the firmware on your camera to reach its peak for high ISO. i use a canon 5d and plan to get a 7d within about a month or so. i am choosing it over the 5dmkII for cost and 60fps video that the mkII doesnt offfer. the iso reaches the same point, the MP are close enough– true you don’t get the full frame but that can compensate for that by using wider lenses like the 10-20mm or stepping back a few feet. my fav lens is the 50 1.4– its a great compromise between the too cheap 50 1.8 and the way too expensive 50 1.2! …..and with the 1.6x crop factor your 50mm is now a 85mm which is a great portrait lens and fab for details!
for a wedding kit this is what i would buy:
budget kit:
rebel t2i and/or 60d
50mm 1.8
18mm-200mm 3.5-5.6
off brand [sunpack or other] tilt and swivel flash head
8gig x3 and 16 gigx2 SD cards
not so budget kit:
canon 7d and canon 5d [5d for the color and its a workhorse]
50mm 1.4
70-200mm 2.8
10-20mm sigma 3.5
canon 580 flash
8gig x4 and 16 gigx4 CF cards
no budget at all kit:
canon 5dmkII x2
70-200mm 2.8
16-35mm 2.8
50mm 1.2
85mm 1.4
quantum flash, 2 580’s with lightstands and popup softboxes 36 or 48 in from ailen bees, and vagabond portable power system
Hope that answers your question! Let me know if you have questions!
Feel free to send me emails for any questions you have about shoots! check out the full post on model Jasmine Salinas here until i post the behind the scenes on the blog: http://donnatellaphoto.wordpress.com/2011/01/18/too-haute-jasmine-salinas-donnatella-mackenzie-fashion-photography/
xoxox,
donna
BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S
THE CONCEPT:
THE RESULT:
without flash
so we had to do it…… yeah, we did. Deana Dean of KODE Productions in Houston called and informed me of the concept. she said i was the one who could pull it off {FYI flattery will get you everything}…..
Del Friscos in the Galleria was the setting. B@Tiff’s was the concept. we had 1 hour….. 1 wine cellar…. 1 light [on camera external flash]….. one model…. 1 hot ass shoot….
check it out.
now there are 2 schools of thought– the FLASH Dance School of Performing Arts and the Society for the Fine Arts Acadamy— let me break it down…
you have the group that feels Flash is KING. then you have the natural light “artists” who believe you can acomplish a great photo using only natural light and often times higher ISO. i am of the second school {the SFAA}. i L-O-V-E shooting with no additional lighting for most shoots. i think its in my blood! i shot film for a number of years, processed and developed. i couldn’t afford a flash so maybe it reminds me of the “good old days”.
check out a few more shots:
We Shoot Up
designed by photographers for photographers………. it’s somewhere between a shoot out and a meet up…. with much more fun.
come and shoot a model, food, set, or pet….. then come kick it with some cool ass photog’s! you know you wanna….
this group is intended to take your photography and networking to the next level. there will be models, couples, kids, and pets. there will be super fine and high-styled sets. there will be love, passion, joy, and most of all YOU! call or e-mail the group for more info, shoot dates, and to suggest a concept or location or model or anything!
i look forward to shooting up with you.
Donnatella❤
The Ultimate Shoot UP for Photographers 
