after a fashion

As my images of handmade knitwear, yarn company projects and handcraft-displaying artisans have accumulated into a bonafide fashion portfolio,  I've become a niche fashion photographer. It feels right, and real. 

So I jumped at the challenge I was given by the ArtsPaper in New Haven, to show what Elm City style looks like in the streets.

It was a blast, especially interviewing the subjects about their personal fashion philosophies.
To see the full set of a dozen photos, and the text, go the The Arts Paper  .

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see more of my knitwear fashion photography in the She Shoots Sheep Shots portfolio, on my website

it's always fine weather for location work

There was a drive-in movie where I grew up, every September this appeared on their marquee:
"Closed for the Season. Reason: Freezin'" . 

Not so for commercial location photographers. Like me. We keep shooting, even if the calendar says springtime and the thermometer disagrees.  Last week, it was all about photographing knitwear fashion, for my wonderful client, Green Mountain Spinnery. At least there was a little wool involved. Brrrr!

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See more behind-the-scenes from this project, over on my knitblog SheShoots Sheep Shots.
And more wool, often on the hoof, over on my website, in the She Shoots Sheep Shots portfolio.

my (recent) checkered past

A few peeks at this Pinterest board celebrating gingham, by fiber artist/stylist/designer Mary Jane Mucklestone, and I caught the textile virus. Next thing I know, I'm shooting this job in Washington DC.......

 I was supposed to be photographing the kindergarten field trip to the Capitol.

 All I saw was the gingham.

 You can see more of my educational work (but not  more gingham) in my corporate/ institutional portfolio, over on my website.

RIP Phyllis Diller: a photo shoot to remember

A decade ago I was assigned to shoot a portrait of Phyllis Diller, the great comedian. I walked in to her hotel suite at the arranged time.  No fuss, no publicist.   Just me, my assistant and her famous big laugh. After talking for a few minutes, one thing was clear. Phyllis Diller was a brilliant woman. Trained as a concert pianist, she became a comedian to support her family, at a time when women just didn't do that. All the domestic ineptness, over-the-top shtik? A persona. Phyllis Diller was a performance artist, before we knew what that was.

She was wearing a perfectly tailored royal blue suit. After making some photos in the sitting area, we decided to play around with the location--a large suite at a spa hotel. A fluffy robe was borrowed from the gift shop, my assistant  overfilled a bath with bubbles, Ms Diller made a wardrobe  change.  Somewhere in the mix, I found myself standing there talking to her, in a marble and brass bathroom, with my camera in one hand and her bra in the other. I'm glad to say I had the presence of mind to stop and just appreciate the moment, before we started shooting again.

What an honor.  Rest in peace, Ms Diller.

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See more portraits of brilliant people (some funnier than others) on my website.

the joy of organization

There are people who organize linearly. Everything in a row, filed away off the desk, alphabetized and outlined using roman numerals and letters. Then there are those  who need some randomness to function. Maybe they just don't like to follow rules?

sept 99 1st day of kindergarten........last day of high school 2012

I might be one of those people. But yesterday, having a system made my day.

The concept: It was my younger son's last day of high school. On his way out, I insisted he stop to pose on the front step, just like he did starting kindergarten. Maybe, um,  a little less eagerly.

Next idea: I'd pair the photos. The kindergarten shot was 1999, pre-digital. I had to really think hard to recall what my filing system was for color negs then- and there they were, in the 8/99 box

Mission accomplished. 

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see more family life moments sprinkled in my portfolio at www.gzucker.com

the wait

A few months ago--6 to be precise- I was in Minneapolis for a few days photographing for a new book of knitwear designs.  It was a joy of a shoot.  And it's a beaut of a book.

Working with the Wear With All creative team was what the joy was all about --from the big concepts, to the marathon photo shoot, to the very last detail.  Not to mention the post-shoot celebratory local beer and tater tots dinner.

 

detail from Stole by Theresa Gaffey

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More  photos of wooly subjects over on my website , in the She Shoots Sheep Shots portfolio.

consistency

So, I took a writing workshop from Beverly Army Williams  and was all inspired. I mind-mapped! I have ideas! I shall create regular features! New blogposts will go up weekly! ...and then I left to work in California for a week. 

 

Sweetest little motel ever,  in Los Angeles.

In LA, I upgraded my phone. My long established Hipsta addiction is back. See what I mean? Consistency.