Have you ever looked at the pages of a magazine and, just a little tiny bit, wondered what it would be like to be a model on one of those slick, shiny pages?  Maybe not, but a lot of us have!

I recently did a joint shoot with LAB Hair and Makeup Artistry, and we wanted to put together a shoot that looked very "magazine", or as close to that look as we could get in a shopping center parking lot.  We gave the girls a few guidelines on outfit combinations. LAB did their hair and makeup in varied styles. They wore prom dresses with boots, and sundresses with boots, and shorts with boots.....ok, it was all about boots!!

I set up a backdrop behind the shopping center.  We started actual shooting about 8 a.m.  In Florida, you try to beat the heat, plus we wanted that killer morning light. The light showing through the backdrop gave us the perfect "studio" look. We used one off camera light and umbrella for fill light.

The girls were fantastic!  We coached them on stance and position and then most of them just took it from there.  The images are amazing.  You would never know we are behind a shopping center in a very dingy environment.  One of my favorite photographers to follow, Amanda Holloway, shoots a majority of her famous shots behind the building where her studio is located.  You can take a beautiful and striking photograph just about anywehere, providing you use the right lens and have good light. I believe that the mark of a good photographer is someone who can use almost any environment and get THE shot.