Out with the Old and in with the New - New BLOG!

Hello fellow readers,

As usual I am behind on my updates.  I do have a good reason this time though.... I've been updating and replacing the old(s) with the new(s).  I now have a new site along with a new blog.
New blog can be found here
Which now means that I will not be using Blogspot any longer.... I won't be shutting this blog down ... not for some time anyway, but I will be moving to the new one.  So please do make note of the new address (www.nadiac.com/blog).  You can either bookmark it or create an RSS feed of it.  You can also get to my blog through my new site.  Yes lots of new things!!!

I'm going to make an update on my new blog.  Some announcements and other random updates.

Cheers and hope to see you there! :)

Beauty Photography Workshop

It's that time of year!  It's school time everyone and this year I've decided to host my own workshop.  I've been receiving a lot of comments and requests on doing up my on workshop so I decided to host a subject that I'm best at.... Beauty.

I started Fashion photography by first doing Beauty.  I found doing beauty photography was quite challenging since you're not only capturing every single detail, but also trying to convey a feeling in that one single frame.  For those who aren't sure what a beauty photography is... it's a method used both in commercial/fashion photography and for model portfolios.  It's a closeup shot that shows anything from makeup styles to jewelry worn or adorned by the model.

People who are wanting to take this workshop don't need to be or going into Fashion photography.  It's a good skill to use in portraiture as well.  You'll learn what to look for in terms of body placement and building a connection with your subject.

You can click on the image for times and dates:

Photography:  Nadia Cheema

MUA/Hair:  Kelly Armstrong

Model:  Jessica @ PUSH

You can contact me at nadia@nadiac.com for further details and info.

I look forward to both hearing and meeting you :)

Back from another trip - NY!

I just recently got back from a 5 day trip to NY.  Manhattan to be exact...and it was great.
Main reason I had gone was to visit the McQueen show before it ended.  The exhibit was aptly named Savage Beauty...which is exactly what it was.  It was graceful and beautiful yet cruel and vicious at the same time.  I was in such a thrall that I wanted to literally stay there for the whole day and keep staring at all the amazingly gorgeous pieces that Alexander McQueen has ever created.  His heart and soul was in every piece and what more can a art and fashion lover could ask for.  I found the show to be extremely inspiring.  Just reminds me why I love shooting fashion so much.  It's not just about photographing a clothing on a model, but to show off the fabric and colors and all the wonderful textures that come with it.  To photograph a complete picture where it makes the person who's looking at that image go 'wow!' and wanting to keep looking at it.  That's what I strive for in my photographs.... I want people to keep looking at a photograph taken by me.  I want to be so enamored by it that it is engraved in their mind.  What I've been grateful to know is that I have been achieving this thus far.  I've had followers state that they can't help but stare at my works.  Thank you :)

I also wanted to share that I've recently updated both my site and my blog header. 
Here are some teasers:

 

Photographer:  Nadia Cheema

Stylist:  Luis Zulayhka @ PUSH

MUA:  Marcia Garnes

Model:  Alex @ PUSH

Assistant:  Adriana Garcia

Photographer:  Nadia Cheema

Stylist:  Luis Zulayhka @ PUSH

MUA:  Keirsten Morris

Model:  Jordan @ PUSH

Assistant:  Adriana Garcia

It's my first time really shooting men and I have to say that it was very challenging, but fun at the same time!  Everyone was great.  I look forward to shooting more men in the future as I enjoyed the challenge very much and have to say very pleased with the results.

Stay tuned for more images as there have been more shoots and a fall fashion shoot publication coming up. 

Off to Paris!

So... I haven't blogged in a while.... a good while actually.
I'll be going off to Paris very soon.  I'm leaving Sunday night and will be back on the 27th.  Very excited.  I'm going mainly because I've never been and want to.  Strange thing is the amount of people that have been congratulating me thinking I'm going there for a job.  A job would be nice, but why not just go for the sake of it?  I think Canadians are conditioned to think that one should not bother traveling unless it's vacation time.  I guess you could say I'm going on vacation, but to be honest I just feel like traveling and wanting to go to places I've always wanted to visit and explore a bit.

I'm going with a friend who randomly told me one night that she's going.  So I randomly asked 'Can I come?', she said 'Sure!!!'.  I wasn't expecting that ..... and this was just about 3 weeks ago.... so I decided why not?!  So here I am...writing to you to tell you I'll be off to Paris :D  I'm packing light and just taking a small Canon S95 camera with me.  It's a 10 megapixel camera that also shoots raw should I feel the need to photograph something.  I don't normally take pictures when I go off to somewhere.  I want to look with my own eyes and not through a viewfinder constantly.  This way I remember the actual trip and places and scents and tastes.... you get the idea.

I managed to find a flat to rent at a very short notice.  Luckily it's in Les Halles, which is pretty much a central area in Paris and almost everything is within walking distance.  My landlady seems very nice and enormously friendly!  She's gotten great reviews and after I get back from my trip I'll be blogging about my trip and what my stay there was like.  I've been fortunate enough to establish a connection there through a friend here in Toronto.  Great friends are hard to come by, but when you do have them it just makes life that much better.  Thank you friend!  I'm very much looking forward to my trip :)

I also wanted to provide other updates as I've been lacking sorely with providing news.
I was featured in May on a blog called Fusion of Effects.  Marcus Kan is the creator of the blog and does a fantastic job with showcasing up and coming photographers, illustrators, designers, etc.  All mainly related to fashion.  I recommend that you add this blog to your bookmark!  Thank you Marcus for the feature and interview :)

Through Marcus Kan I was able to get one of my photograph's featured on Swide Magazine run by Dolce & Gabbana.  The article was based on Lace in commemoration of introducing Dolce & Gabbana's Lace Sunglasses.   Here's the image that was used in the article:

Photography:  Nadia Cheema

MUA/Hair:  Greg B. @ PUSH

Stylist:  Luis Zulaykha @ PUSH

Model:  Katherine Hastings @ PUSH

I was able to muster up a quick shoot with a fantastic team provided by PUSH  agency.  Absolutely great team!  

Another shoot I had recently did was done by some old and new friends who put our heads together and came up with a vintage inspired shoot with some antiques used as props.  Here are the images:

Photography:  Nadia Cheema

 MUA:  Rhia Amio

Hair:  Keirsten Morris

Stylist:  Cisya Paramita

Model:  Gabriela Otis @ PUSH

Assistant:  Antoinette Scott

Aside from just doing creatives I also did a lookbook for a local designer named Carrie Hayes.  She's a fantastic designer and very inspirational to shoot for.  Lookbooks tend to be normally on a plain background where you have a model wear the clothing desired to be photographed.  You're basically showing off the clothing.  Well Carrie was kind enough to give me some freedom with the shoot.  She wanted the lookbook to have a slight editorial feel to be.  Yay!!!  I can do that!  Here are some of the images:

 

Photography:  Nadia Cheema

MUA/Hair:  Vanessa Jarmen @ Page One

Stylist:  Cisya Paramita

Designer:  Carrie Hayes

Model:  Jillian Kelly @ PUSH

We photographed 5 looks in total.  You can see the layout and the rest of the photographs on Carrie Hayes' site.  It's the first collection in the lookbook that will show up when you enter the site.

Another news to add on top of so many other things.... I was asked if I could present discussing Beauty photography for a local photographers all-in-one summer workshop named Rob Davidson.   He's an absolutely talented photographer and teacher!  I have learned a great deal from him and when he asked that I speak I was honored and nervous as hell.  Key is not to show it...and apparently I did well not showing it.  I hide it well I guess.   I presented both workshop nights, Tuesday and Thursday.  It was a great experience and the response was great.  This has motivated me to throw my own Beauty Workshop in August.  Once I get back from my trip I'll be planning towards that.  

Here are some quick images from the workshop.  I decided to keep everything clean since the core reason of the workshop was to display some lighting examples, tools used and providing direction to the model and how to interact during the actual shoot.  

Model:  Nicole Baptiste @ PUSH

Model:  Sarah Newman @ PUSH

None of these shots have been retouched except for basic work in Lightroom.  The key idea in the workshop was to shoot as if you were shooting film.  Get as much as you can in the shot and always remember what you are selling.  You're not selling the model, but the clothing, accessories, concept, etc.  You are all-in-all selling fashion!  I wanted to thank PUSH for kindly providing us with models for the workshop and Keirsten Morris for doing Makeup and Hair on set.  Response after the workshop was just phenomenal.  I couldn't have asked for anything better.  Therefore, do keep an eye out for the August workshop announcement.

Well...phew!.... I'm going to say that's it for now.   Cheers everyone :)

RedBubble

I've decided to open up an account on RedBubble.com to help sell some of my fine art prints online on a more worldwide basis.

For those of you who don't know what RedBubble is about...it's basically an online based 'shop' where you get to create your own personal store to help showcase your work online.  You setup the profile and upload high res images of your best artwork.  Be it paintings, illustrations, digital art or photography.  Any medium of art is most welcomed....even mixed mediums.  You upload your images and they take care of the back end work.  Back end work includes printing, mounting and shipping.  If you don't feel that you are quite ready to manage the printing and logistics of your artwork this is one venue to use.

Mind you....you will still need to promote your work yourself.  The whole point is to show your work to the outside world.  No matter how fantastic of an artist you are will not matter till you actually show your work.  You will receive constructive, positive and/or negative criticism.  No need to shy away because art is very subjective and take it with a grain of salt.  If you feel someone's suggestions are worthwhile listening to then do so otherwise still acknowledge what the other person is saying, but in the end it's up to you whether you'd like to follow it or not.  Be confident and continue to practice.  Picasso painted an abundance of mediocre art.  He painted everyday, but out of all that mass amount of works only some were absolutely brilliant.  Now keep in mind... he did paint everyday...so that 'some' is in his case...quite a bit of brilliant paintings! Don't think that you'll be able to produce fantastic work every time.  Fine art is producing and showcasing your best, which means you are expected to create a plenty of mediocre work that very few or no one will ever see.  It's a part of growth...so embrace it wholly.  You'll greatly benefit from it.... trust me ;)

I will be providing custom sized resin coated prints which will be showcased on my Etsy shop once I have it all figured out.  I do have a shop open on Etsy.com under NadiaCheema profile, but nothing is there yet to view.  It will be the same artwork as shown on RedBubble, but resin will be applied on the prints... and I have to say.... the images do look beautiful.  Much more so with the resin.  It gives it a beautiful contrast and pop and the details stand out much more.

All of my fine artwork is available for purchase.  Please feel free to either go through RedBubble or contact me directly at nadia@nadiac.com.  I will be posting these as Still Life on my site as well.  Stay tuned for more as this is a work in progress!

All images are copyright.   Nadia Cheema © 2010  www.nadiac.com