ILP- What is the secret in your opinion of taking good pictures?
JC – Without a doubt it’s inspiration. Inspiration is everything to me. Without it, I wouldn’t have the drive to snap one single photo.
ILP – Where does your inspiration come from?
JC – For me, the inspiration comes from three things, the person I’m photographing, the location, and the vision I have of the finished product. To me I’m creating art. I’m not just creating a picture but something that’s beautiful, special and something you don’t see in everyday life.
ILP – Where do you get your ideas?
JC - I get most of my ideas from other glamour Magazines and from my own imagination. My picture taking approach varies depending on the situation. I like to indulge in my creativity but if I’m doing portraits for a client, lets say, I can’t get too artistic or bizarre because the client may just be looking for a headshot to give to an agency.
ILP- How much of your work is private, how much of your work is commercial and where do you strike a balance?
JC – It’s about even. I do a lot of private shoots for women who want quality sexy pictures either for themselves or to give to someone they may happen to be involved with. Occasionally I’ll do a print exchange with a model if I feel she has something special to bring to the camera.
ILP- How has your photography changed from when you first started?
JC – I’m a lot more technical now and I pay a lot more attention to detail, which is of utmost importance to the final impact of the picture. I’m much more critical of my work than I used to be.
ILP – Why is that?
JC - Because I know more than I did when I was first starting. I know what to look for and what goes into making a picture work.
ILP – Is technique the most important element in producing a good picture?
JC – No, like I said earlier, inspiration plays a big part as well. Technique and inspiration should work together in harmony. That’s the idea, one can have too much of one or the other and that’s not good.
ILP – On your non-paid shoots, like when you’re doing a print-exchange, let’s say, what do you look for in a model?
JC – First of all I look for a nice face. It all starts with the face! After that, I look for someone who can bring something to the camera. I love models who come to a photo shoot with lots of ideas. That enables me to try new things and see what works for that model and what doesn’t work.
ILP – What if a model does not have any ideas of her own, does that make the photo session more challenging?
JC - Not really, I usually find that once a model begins to feel more comfortable with the photographer, she will usually start to voice her own ideas if encouraged. It’s great! I always encourage a model to share in the creative process.
ILP – Where do you find your models, and is it difficult to get models to work with?
JC - Models are everywhere. There is no one single place that I find models. I find them through newspaper ads, in dance clubs, at coffee shops, through friends; I mean the list is endless. One has to be willing to tap every possible resource. You have to be professional in your approach and show that you are a serious photographer. Once you do that, at least in my experience, finding models is not such a difficult task.
ILP – Who is your favorite model?
JC – I don’t have a favorite model. Each girl has something unique unto herself that she brings to the photo shoot.
ILP – So each model has something special.
JC – That’s right! And you have to appreciate that special quality whatever that quality may be.
ILP – where do you do most of your shooting and what are your favorite places?
JC – Well, since I live in California, my favorite place is of course the beach. However, the beach is also the most dangerous place to shot with regard to ones equipment. If a huge wave splashes over your camera in the middle of a shot, there goes your camera! Despite this, if one is careful, the beach provides lots of fun for the model as well as the photographer. There is lots of adventure and grand photo opportunities if one uses their imagination. My favorite time of the day to do beach shooting is at sunset. I love the colors and the rays cast by the sun, as it appears to sink into the sea. I would be lying if I said I do most of my shooting at the beach. I do not. Most of my shoots are done either in a studio, in someone’s house, a suite, or a mansion. I like places that inspire when I’m shooting indoors. I like to let my imagination run wild that really turns me own.
ILP – What kind of film do you use on your shoots?
JC – I try to use Kodacrome 64 whenever possible, however most of the time I use Provia 100. They are both great films for the type of photography I do. Also, the lab I go to makes really good prints from them.
ILP – What type of Cameras do you use?
JC – Most all my stuff is shot with a Nikon 35mm camera. On occasion, I will use a medium format camera. Most of the time when I use a medium format camera it’s to take test Polaroids. The reason I don’t use medium format cameras often is because it drives the cost way up!
ILP – What’s the secret of taking a good glamour photo?
JC - The right location, the right model, the right photographer, the right makeup, but most importantly the right vibe! People on a photo shoot have to vibe together. I’ve been on shoots where that didn’t happen and it was a disaster!
ILP – tell us about your lighting approach to glamour.
JC – Personally, I like to keep the lighting as simple as possible. I know photographers who use lots of lights, a light for this, a light for that, sometimes the lightening can become so intricate that there’s no room for the model to really move around. Let me say, there’s nothing wrong with using multiple lights, but ion my experience I’ve found that one can set professional looking photos with a minimal amount of light. If I’m shooting inside, I try to use no more than three strobe lights; sometimes I use only two lights, sometimes only one. It all depends on how you manipulate your lights. The reason I like keeping my lights simple is because it allows me the opportunity to pay more attention to the model and what’s happening in front of the camera. It also gives the model more flexibility in movement. If I use a lot of lighting, then my lighting gets very specific and very technical. If I’m shooting outside, I’ll use either a flash or reflector. Sometimes I won’t use anything but natural light, especially around sunset.
ILP – So simplicity is the best technique.
JC – In my opinion, yes. IF one has just a basic understanding of light and how it relates to film and camera exposure, one can get some awesome pictures.
ILP – Where do you do most of your shooting?
JC – I do most of my shooting in the studio. Why? Because I have more control and it’s easier than packing all the equipment and going on location.
ILP – So, when you’re going on location, what’s the first thing you look for in a given location?
JC – Well, first of all, the location has to inspire me. It has to be a location that really speaks to me. Secondly, how much privacy does the location proved? I hate doing photo shoots with dozens of people walking by or stopping to ask me questions like, “What are you doing?” Or, “What is this for?” I don’t mind talking to people but when I’m doing a shoot, I need to be concentrating on what I’m doing. It’s also distracting for the model as well, which brings me to another point, the location has to be a place that speaks to the model and inspires her as well. I usually find a location, take the model I’m working with to that location and ask her what she thinks of it. If she’s comfortable, then I use the location. So the main things I look for are inspiration, the level of privacy and how the model reacts to it.
ILP – So how do you go about making the model feel comfortable?
JC – I try to create a situation where the model feels natural. I guess I talk to her a lot and try to figure out whew she’s coming from. I don’t have a real answer for that I guess I just try to be a human being who’s sensitive to their feelings. That’s the best answer I can give.
ILP - What’s the hardest thing for you in this field?
JC – Getting an image that I’m pleased with. I tend to be a harsh photo critic when it comes to my own work. I can always find something wrong with any picture I take. People have told me I’m way too critical. But every once in a while I find a picture where everything comes together, and I’m like “wow.” It’s such an exuberating feeling.
ILP – Do you work mostly with professional models?
JC – No, just the opposite. 95% of the girls I work with are not professional models. That’s part of the art and challenge of what I do, because with a few hours I have to get something special out of this person. To be honest, I can’t put into words how I go about this. I guess if I put it into words, I wouldn’t be able to do it.
ILP – What is your relationship to the models like?
JC – Very easy going. I create an environment that’s very fun so that the photo session is an enjoyable experience for myself as well as the model. We laugh and joke around a lot.
(To be continued on the members only section coming soon!)
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