Monthly Featured Photographer - April 2016

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Our Monthly Featured Photographer for April is jackbeenimble:

Blue Rose Anniversary

It’s been one year since Minmei, a 156cm Ordoll Sara E model, left China to live with me in the States. Sino-US relations have been heating up since. What better way to commemorate the first anniversary than with a photo shoot for CoverDoll?!?
So she got all, um, dolled up, which you might think was easy because she’s, well, a doll, but actually it meant I had to do all the work.
First, the makeup, which was indeed a first for us. She demanded a cat eye, so I gave her two. The eyes were easier than the lips. We used more makeup remover than makeup, but eventually the lips had color.
Second, the bath. Third, the hair. Fourth the powdering. Fifth, the clothing.
Pin this. Hook that. Loop it over. Just tape it. Ok jeez. Don’t forget the shoes! It’s been hours and we haven’t shot a single frame yet. Does it always take dolls this long to get dolled up?
Well it is a special occasion and all, so I decided to keep my complaints to this column. No dolls are reading this, right? I mean, even if they are, surely they wouldn’t find out and tell Minmei. Nah.
Anyway, I gave her blue roses, because... mystery and secrecy, lust and love, something wonderful and impossible and surreal. Ya know, dolls.

But what about the photos!? Click the image above for the whole set.
For the shutterbugs...camera was Fuji X-E1, 23mm 1.4 lens for the wider shots; 56mm 1.2 lens on the closer ones. Shutter speed usually about 1/125; 1/2000 on that B&W shot. Apertures between f/1.2 and f/2. ISOs of 200 to 1000. Auto white balance. Lit by natural light from two windows. Silver reflector used here and there to bounce a little light into the face.
In post, first round: made some crops, lightened exposure on a few shots for consistency. Second round in photoshop: corrected a couple makeup lines on the lips; beautified the downstairs privates; added a tilt-shift blur and vignette on that rose-bed shot; and yeah I know, the rose in mouth shot is totally cliche — when I told her that, she just laughed and bit down on the stem. Hard.

Take care!
jackbeenimble

 

Note from the Editor: Each month we will feature a different

photographer's work. We invite doll owners and manufacturers
alike to participate in this new monthly feature. Photo shoots must meet
a minimum quality level. If you do not meet that level we are happy to
work with you, critique your photos and help you to raise the bar on
your photography. Good photo shoots can be had with low cost digital
cameras. It is all in the technique.

Submit your inquiries and sample entry photos to featuredphotographer@coverdoll.com

Comments

Very nice set of pics. My girls all understand the time it takes to get a model ready for a photoshoot. Looking at your shots it was well worth the effort.

 

You have captured Minmei beautifully in every shot. Very well done.

 

Really lovely photos and well worth the effort.

It's nice to see OR ladies bring the essence of being exquisite to life

Best wishes

Harem

Love the white lingerie & Minmei looks beautiful.

 

Nice job Jack!

Wow, really nice series, Jack. I love the softness in your photos. It makes Minmei look very gentle and feminin. Well done! 

Stellai

Hi Minmei, I think I just learned some chinese just looking at you. Minmei means "beautiful flower in full bloom"? Just a guess, but it would be perfectly fitting. Great series jackbeenimble. Laughing Chris

Each month I'm surprised by the great pictures of the featured photographer :)

So this month.  Minmei couldn't be portraited any better! Thank you Jack 8)

Nescio50

We certainly have some really talented photographers out there. Great work :) :)

Kharn

CoverDoll Publisher To err is human to forgive divine.

I like the gallery, well done! Is there a certain brand of makeup you like to use?

Very nice set of pics jackbeenimble. You have captured Minmei's beauty in every shot and with great care to the detail. Very well done.

- SF -