Introducing Rachel. I’ve known her about two years. We’ve never had any significant interaction. We say “hi” to each other in the hallways, but that was about it.

Rachel probably isn’t the average man’s idea of a model. She didn’t wear tons of make up. She didn’t wear designer clothes.  She wasn’t loud and boisterous.  But I knew better. “How so” you ask?

I knew better because I have seen every 1980’s movie EVER.

In these 1980’s movies their is always a mousy nerdy girl. Then she gets a makeover and BAM!! She becomes hot enough to get the attention of everyone in the room.

With this in mind I asked Rachel if she was interested in shooting with me. She agreed, and then for the next few months we played phone tag.

Then one day I was on Facebook and made an ambush message attack. I was like, “Rachel lets shoot Saturday!” She replied, “I thought you only did boudoir?” I told Rachel that as much as i’d love to have a boudoir shoot with her I was more interested in this film noir kick i’ve been on. However, whats wrong with doing a boudoir session Rachel? Don’t be such a prude!

When Rachel arrived at my place I was shocked. I had never seen her so dressed up. She looked absolutely amazing.  She stepped in front of the camera and brought some serious sexiness. Although she had never posed before, she wasn’t even nervous, she was a natural!

Rachel and I shot for the next hour and a half. We had the greatest time talking about video games, movie nights, and her plans to become a high school art teacher.

Speaking of art, Rachel is a pretty talented illustrator. This is her with her sketchbook. Before I forget, Rachel has a sister that looks like that lady from Silence of the Lambs. She is supposed to visit pretty soon, and it looks like she may shoot with Oni Studio as well!! Totally stoked because that movie freakin ROCKS! Well guys, that’s it for this shoot. Hope you liked Rachel, she says she’ll be back to shoot again so stay tuned!

That’s all for this week! Become a fan on the Oni Studio boudoir Instagram and Facebook page. Follow Oni Studio on 500PX, Pinterest, and Model Mayhem!

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This entry is more directed at my fellow photographers. Many of the more accomplished photographers won’t need the advice. However those of you who are new may find a few useful tips.

The rest of you can enjoy the pics of the hot model. It’s been a little while since I’ve been able to take photos like the ones you see here. In order to do that a bit more effectively

SO lets start how I got the look of the B&W noir photos. First thing, get your ass over to the Paul C. Buff aka Alienbee website. Google Paul C. Buff and usually its the first that pops up. Go to the “accessories” portion at the top and click “softboxes” from the drop down and once the next page loads scroll down  and buy the foldable stripbox. Just so were clear the part number at the time of this writing is: FSB1036

Before I forget, here s short interview I did with the star of the entry, Desi Diver.

Now I know Alienbee’s aren’t the only retailer of light modifiers. I have another striplight made by photoflex which I love and recommend. Now what do you do with those strip lights? Move them to the back corners and aim them at the camera. You can use a third stripbox or beauty dish to light the face. Heres a diagram to help explain:

Notice that you’ll have to move the model out away from the backdrop. Play around with the light placement to produce some cool effects. Look at the photo below for an example.

Now back to Desi Diver. Desi gave me some exciting news as she is now the co-owner of a burlesque troupe called Bless Your Heart Burlesque. I asked Desi who exactly was supposed to be blessing hearts. She told me it was Zuul, the gate keeper of Gozer.

If Desi looks familiar that because she’s been at Oni Studio before. She was the silly model making all the faces at the camera. Also, the writer of the poetry about nailing screws in peoples heads.

The coolest thing Desi did while she was over here? She shamed me for not having an Instagram account. I finally gave in and made one, if the mood hits you you can follow me here.

Desi spent most of her time talking about her new troupes upcoming show. Now allegedly its in October, you all will have to go become friends with the page to stay up on current events.

That’s all for this week! Become a fan on the Oni Studio boudoir Instagram and Facebook page. Follow Oni Studio on 500PX, Pinterest, and Model Mayhem!

The post Striplight appeared first on Oni Studio San Diego Boudoir Photography.

This shoot showcases a technique I had not tried in a long while. Its called “high key” . I had not attempted this technique in quite sometime as I didn’t have the required equipment. This type of shoot requires a lot of light, and an all white background. After ordering the background and getting in my giant softbox from Paul C. Buff I decided to try it out. The first thing I did was go on Pinterest, which is my go to spot these days for photographic inspiration. After awhile I happened on a photo that would serve as a spring board for this shoot. The photo below is NOT my photograph, but the photo I found on Pinterest.

This photo is gorgeous right?!  It was taken by a Russian photographer Vladimir Sagadeev. I thought I would be able to recreate this photo almost exactly. I promptly put out a notice on Facebook looking for a model. Once I got her in the studio and started to experiment with this photo concept I started to run into challenges I hadn’t anticipated. The photo below with the model Desi Diver was the first attempt.

I loved the photo the way it came out, but as you can see its a bit different than what I set out to do. My biggest complaint was on the quality of the fabric, and that it was a bit wrinkled, something I didn’t notice until after I was in the edit process.

The entire studio portion was a basic three light set up. The key light was a large Paul C. Buff soft box, with two other alienbee strobes pointed directly at the background.

 The model for this evening is Desi Diver. She’s a simple girl. Prone to being a stage kitten at burlesque dancing events and bouts of cannibalism.

Unlike some of the models I’ve met here in San Diego, Desi was down to earth, funny, and had not an ounce of annoying divaness.

Desi also brought along her poor man to torture while on the shoot.

Beyond the fact that Desi loves hairless sphinx cats, she was a sadly, a mystery.

Just when you thought it was all serious, Desi takes it to another level.

Desi in her own words:

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Recently I had a friend who got interested in photography. I had seen her post some work before, mostly nature and shots of her kids. When Christmas came her husband went out and bought her an entire studio set.

They got right to work and set up the studio and wasted no time in getting a model in for a shoot. They had caught my attention so I always looked at every update they posted. Most of the pics they posted included the studio lighting equipment. Their was so much of it, flashheads, modifiers, syncs, and so on.

The reason my friends new purchases got my attention is because it reminded me of exactly what I did when I first became interested in studio photography. I had no idea what to buy. I had no idea what company was gonna be worth the money. I believe the first set of studio lights I ever had was from a company called Square Perfect. Now square perfect lighting did work for me. However, you could definitely tell it wasn’t the top of the line quality.

Over time, I must have wasted close to a thousand dollars on studio equipment I didn’t need. Finally I got smart and started asking successful photographers what equipment they used. Most of the photographers I wrote to didn’t answer. However one of them finally did. What did they tell me to buy? Alienbees! Now Alienbees arent cheap. But then again they are not ungodly expensive either. Now Alienbees have been around for quite awhile. They have excellent customer service, and they stand by thier products. Also, NO, I dont get any money or any benefits for writing about them. In fact I doubt the company will ever read this entry.

If you’re starting a studio and want a invest your money in studio lighting, Alienbees is one of the best investments you can make.  Now its not the only good photo equipment company out there. Personally i’m not a huge fan of the light stands from Alienbees, and much prefer Manfrotto, Avenger or photoflex brands.

One of these days I really am gonna get off my ass and write some educational entries on the art of boudoir and studio photography. Trouble is I dont think too many people read what I write.

The sexy model you’re seeing in the photos is Michele “Miss Hell” Monique. We’ve  had a few photoshoots. In case you missed them you can see them here, and here.

That’s all for this week! Become a fan on the Oni Studio boudoir facebook page. Follow Oni Studio on 500PX, Pinterest, and Model Mayhem!

The post Alienbees Boudoir appeared first on Oni Studio San Diego Boudoir Photography.

Abigail had been running. She had taken the spirit molecule from the vagrant. At first she didn’t even know what she had. She could feel it in her bag. It was whispering to her. She could feel it moving. It touched the edge of her consciousness.  Was this real? At the very heart of it, she could feel a presence. She could hear his voice, faint. She could see his image in her dreams, dark, his face full of needles. It couldn’t be real.

For as long as she could remember she had been searching. Mystic experiences, LSD, DMT, and the spirit. It was never enough.

She never stopped moving. Never stopped searching. A brothel in New Orleans, BDSM in Berlin. Sometimes when she woke up she didn’t know what city she was in.

Is this all there was? Had she reached the limits of experience? Their had to be more.

She tried Wicca. The goddess rejected her. She tried Buddhism, but nirvana eluded her. What else was there? Their had to be something. Another guy bought her a drink. Where was she again? She thought hard. Her last clear memory was an alley in Paris. This didn’t smell like Paris. Was this Morocco? She had hit bottom.

She had heard of the vagrant. They said when nothing was left he would come. You couldn’t find him, he had to find you. She could feel him now. She finished her drink and stepped outside. She saw him outside the Pyramid Gallery. Their eyes locked. She approached. He took out a box, designs seems to melt and form. She couldn’t take her eyes off it.

She walked away, forgetting about the vagrant. He stared after her with empty eyes. His job was finished. Back in her room she sat down. Fingers tracing patterns. She could feel something traveling. Getting closer. Movement from the mirror. He had came. The light reflected from the pins in his face. She smiled. No more running, no more moving. She had come home.

That’s all for this week! Thanks for being with us for another year! Become a fan on the Oni Studio boudoir facebook page. Follow Oni Studio on 500PX, Pinterest, and Model Mayhem!

The post Spirit Molecule appeared first on Oni Studio San Diego Boudoir Photography.

For as long as I can remember I’ve had a thing with vampires. I think my first vampire film was “Lost Boys” and to this day it’s still one of my favorites.

I think the vampire genre took a huge hit with Interview with a Vampire. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse Twilight turned one of my childhood heroes into a sparkling atrocity more geared for female fifth graders than a serious lurking horror for all of humanity.

Why am I talking about vampires?

Because the star of this entry, Chary, was the embodiment of the perfect vampire. She was old world, poised and strangely, had one of the most alluring mysterious scents about her. She was like an other worldly ethereal creature. At the risk of making myself seem creepy, I could smell her two hours after she left. I have no other way to describe the experience other than wonderful!

Speaking of wonderful, if you’re a lady looking for some great Pinup inspired outfits, check out Pinup Culture in Escondido, CA!

I woke up one early Sunday morning and saw a post on my Facebook newsfeed from fellow photographer Neil Van Niekerk who had written his own entry on a Boudoir photographer by the name of Petra Herrmann.

Petra recently was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Neil was showcasing her photography not only to promote her, but to let people know about the gofundme campaign. Which would help her with her medical bills.

The entry itself highlighted five of the top selling images Petra takes and how to take your own.

I decided to take Petra up on this challenge and put an ad out on Facebook.

If you click on the link to Petra’s work you’ll be able to compare and contrast the images Chary and I shot.

Did you all know Chary likes Cannibal Corpse?

Now I usually work exclusively with Alienbee strobes and Photoflex modifiers. This was one of the few shoots I’ve done in a long time that relied on natural light.

That’s all for this week! Become a fan on the Oni Studio boudoir facebook page. Follow Oni Studio on 500PX, and Model Mayhem!

The post Vampire Goddess appeared first on Oni Studio San Diego Boudoir Photography.

Physics. How did I come up with the title for this? Well the models name is Elena, and she isn’t a physics professor.

For some odd reason while I was shooting her I was fixated on just how Dark Energy was increasing the expansion of the universe.

I think its become an unhealthy obsession. But then again, once you learn the fate of the universe is to eventually die in a big freeze it would tend to weigh heavily on any sane individual.

On to more mundane conversation. Elena was the first major shoot i’ve had since returning to San Diego. I’ve had an extended business trip down in South America.

I wasn’t just in South America. Ever heard of Mississippi? Yes, I was there as well. Whatever you do, stay out of that place!

I actually have to be fair. Mississippi had one saving grace. A place called Canes. Best fried chicken I think I’ve ever ate. Just to illustrate how good it was, I don’t even eat fried chicken!

Back to Elena. She was super nice, and she even brought along a helpful assistant who tried to keep her focused on the shoot. As you can see we failed. 

I didn’t have a plan for the lighting on this shoot. I hadn’t had a shoot in six months and just decided to wing it.

I decided to bring out my alienbees. I did much of the shoot using a beauty dish as the key light.

Fortunately Elena saved the shoot with her immaculate posing!

That’s all for this week! Become a fan on the Oni Studio boudoir facebook page. Follow Oni Studio on 500PX, and Model Mayhem!

The post Physics of Sexy appeared first on Oni Studio San Diego Boudoir Photography.

Introducing Eva. She’s a gorgeous model and burlesque dancer here in San Diego.

We originally met at the face of Temptress Fashion event over in Ocean Beach. I know I pimp their store a lot but i’ve met so many interesting people there. Also, the clothes they sell make for some absolutely great photos.

Back to Eva. I didn’t coordinate the shoot like a usually do. I do that through Model Mayhem. In fact both my last shoots have been coordinated solely through facebook.

In my opinion this is a superior method of coordinating. Model Mayhem has always gave me some serious heartburn. Most people only check their accounts every few days. This makes communication unreliable and sporadic. Its also anonymous. Anyone can make a profile. This is not safe for the model and photographer alike. What burns me up the new models. You seriously want to try and charge people when your portfolio looks like it was taken by pervo photographers and an Iphone? Idiots!

If you’re a photographers who’s giving these models money do everyone a favor and stop. Ok, i’ll get off my soapbox now, promise!

Back to Eva. Sorry to say ladies and gentleman she is taken! I’ll give you a second to digest this terrible news.

Have you all ever heard of burlesque dancing? Well thats what Eva does. I got the privilege of watching her dance at the Temptress event.

Eva and some of her fellow models are excellent dancers. Before you get dirty minded its not stripping. Although the dances they do have some erotic overtones its still classy.

Eva dances for the Drop Dead Dames Burlesque Revue. They have a host of lovely ladies that dance for them. If i’m lucky you’ll see them here at Oni Studio. Check out Eva dancing at one of their events.

If you have a quick minute become a fan of the Drop Dead Dames facebook page!

I’ll leave you with one of those odd moments that sometimes happen on a shoot. While we were in the parking lot a guy pulled up who knew Eva. He was carrying a pie and I asked him to present it to her. I gave no further instructions, and this is what happened. I was laughing my ass off but managed to get a decent shot.

That’s all for this week! Become a fan on the Oni Studio boudoir facebook page. Follow Oni Studio on 500PX, and Model Mayhem!

The post Rhinestone Cowgirl appeared first on Oni Studio San Diego Boudoir Photography.

If Jessica seems familiar to you, thats because i’ve shot with her before. She came booked by Janeiro, who runs a model agency here in San Diego.

Like many models Jessica is way into fitness. We had spoke at length about doing a fitness shoot. The only problem was trying to sneak into the gym with cameras.

The only problem was that I hadn’t done a fitness shoot in about five years. In fact the only fitness shoot I had ever done is back when I was still married with a now semi-famous model named Jen.

Even then I only took one or two shots. My ex, who was and is still an amazing photographer took most of the shots. I was mainly only involved in the edit process.

I puzzled over what type of lighting to use with the shoot. The gym we were going to use was quite small so it limited my choices. We used a medium Paul C. Buff soft box in the last shoot. So I automatically dismissed using it this time.  I wanted to do something a bit different.

I’ve been shooting a lot of moody lit portraits lately, and I finally decided to shoot this in a similar manner. I picked out a small photoflex half dome and set out to see what could be done.

I attached the halfdome to my trusty alienbee B800 and powered by my Vagabond Mini Lithium I was ready for war.

Unfortunately when we arrived to the small gym it was packed. You ever watch one of those old western movies? Ya know when a guy walks in a bar and conversation stops, the piano player quits playing and everyone stares? Ya that’s how this was. Awkward.

In the end I liked how the shoot came out. I got some great ideas on how i’d like to shoot one of these types of shoots in the future. If you’re into fitness and interested in shooting with me send me a note!

That’s all for this week! Become a fan on the Oni Studio boudoir facebook page. Follow Oni Studio on 500PX, and Model Mayhem!

The post Fitness Boudoir Armageddon appeared first on Oni Studio San Diego Boudoir Photography.

A man in a funny hat came running on the bus. He was screaming at the top of his lungs and people were moving fast. “Get your fucking asses out on my yellow foot prints, MOVE BITCHES!!”

She regretted her decision to make this move. She wondered not for the first time, if maybe operating a meth lab in Mississippi wasn’t the better career choice. At least when she was doing that no one was screaming.

Of course a Mississippi meth lab dealer had a terrible retirement plan. Maybe this Marine Corps thing would get better. She ran out of the bus and stood on the yellow foot prints. It seemed the man in the funny hat had brought friends. Their was so much yelling, and no one seemed to do anything right.

They finally were ushered into a barracks and were allowed to sleep. It seemed like she was asleep for fifteen minutes when the man in the funny hat came in screaming and beating a trash can. “Wake up bitches!!” The man noticed her. Fuck. “Well what do we have here?! Where you from private?” “Sir the private is from Mississippi sir!” The man just stared, then punched her straight in the boobs. She collapsed on the floor. Apparently the man didn’t like people from Mississippi.

13 weeks later she had graduated. It had been tough and she had received orders to a run of the mill administrative unit based in Santa Carla, CA.

Wait a minute, she read her orders again. Santa Carla?! She had never been out of Mississippi, and now Santa Carla? Wait a minute, where the hell is Santa Carla anyway? California. She boarded the plane and four hours later she was in Santa Carla, taking a cab to base. She passed a “welcome to Santa Carla” sign, and ominously spray painted on the back, “Santa Carla, murder capitol of the world”. Ya, this was gonna be interesting.

The people in her unit were pretty nice, but very odd. They were all into vampire comics. They insisted she read them. Even more weird, they insisted these comics would “save her life” here in Santa Carla. Since she wanted to fit in she took a look at them. Pretty gory stuff, and this is for nerds. She was more interested in becoming an NPC bikini competitor, not a comic book collecting nerd.

The weekend finally came. Luckily she didn’t have to work, so she went down to the boardwalk. Their were people everywhere, mostly seeing a band that had some muscly steroid guy playing a saxophone.  She saw a group of people riding bikes similar to hers.  The leader of the group David, asked her to race them on the beach. He was dressed in black leather and looked like Kiefer Sutherland. Yes, this was gonna be fun.

The race was on. It was dark, the sand kicked up in her eyes. The race ended, they came to a stop at the mouth of a huge cave. Apparently it was their hang out. It was odd, and they were probably serial killers, but she didn’t have anything else going on that night, so why not!  Everyone was drinking from a huge old jeweled bottle that looked like it contained red wine.

The bottle was passed around. It finally got to her and everyone got quite. One of the girls looked at her pleadingly. Don’t drink it Lyla…its blood. She laughed…then took a long drink.

To be continued…

That’s all for this week! Become a fan on the Oni Studio boudoir facebook page. Follow Oni Studio on 500PX, and Model Mayhem!

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