Levi Test Shoot
Building Reps and Executing Ideas
I’m thrilled to share my recent collaboration from last weekend!
As many of you know, this project is a sequel to my previous post about scouting in Old Katy, Texas.
If you haven’t had a chance to read that yet, I encourage you to catch up for all the exciting details that led to this moment.
This time, I partnered with the talented Angelique for a Levi Test Shoot that was inspired by our creative vision.
Stay with me until the end to see the stunning results we captured together!
Sunset:
As the hour for me to meet up with Angelique in Old Katy crept closer, I felt fully prepared and ready to go.
I gathered all my belongings and gear, determined to make this shoot a success.
But something was different this time.
Usually, I’m filled with anticipation and a touch of anxiety.
Yet, this time, my nerves were calm, and I was confident in how everything would turn out.
The only concern on my way to Old Katy was the traffic.
It was rush hour on a Friday evening, which typically means heavier traffic and longer wait times.
So, I decided to take the back roads to the location.
The drive was peaceful and brought me a sense of clarity.
Everything was going to be a success, I reminded myself.
As I got closer to my destination, the sun seemed to be racing off through the horizon.
With summer transitioning into fall, it meant we only had a brief moment left for golden hour.
Going Dark:
After about 30 minutes into our shoot, moving from location to location, it was time to bring out my AD200 strobe because there was no longer any main source of natural light.
As I began setting up the strobe, I quickly dialed in a random setting since it had been a while since I used it—I’d been focusing on practicing natural light techniques and learning to read exposure.
I snapped a few photos, and to my surprise, I was right on the money.
Angelique and I strolled up and down Old Katy, scouting spots that offered the best scenery, and one of the locations we landed on was a white bench in front of a small salon.
The biggest challenge here was dealing with the window in the background, and to the right of the frame, a truck threatened to creep into the shot.
I had to carefully position myself and my light to avoid the glare from the window and keep the truck out of frame.
Having Angelique sit on the bench was a good start, but it only emphasized the distractions in the background.
So, I guided her to sit on the ground in front of the bench instead.
The way Angelique posed, combined with the shot I captured, created something completely different—it felt like I was snapping the cover of a magazine.
After a few more shots, it was time to move to the next spot.
Final Stretch:
Two hours later, we were approaching the end of our shoot.
The weather was great, a little windy, but it was calm.
The moon was rising, and it seemed to be a full moon.
The last few shots really put the icing on the cake.
Everything went smoothly, and we were both blown away by the photos.
We stopped periodically to review the shots taken.
It was an outstanding collaboration.
Wrapping up the shoot, I realized and learned two things.
It’s okay to adjust and experiment with ideas, and to master anything you want to achieve, you must be willing to do it over and over again.
Building reps.
This second attempt at creating the Levi Test Shoot was amazing.
I can’t wait to put together a mock campaign with the work Angelique and I created.
If you've made it this far, thank you!
I invite you to join my mailing list for exclusive updates.
If you're already a member, you’re a true rockstar for supporting my publication!
Also, check out my new website and view some of my most recent photography work. I will be doing a a breakdown of why I decided to switch to Pixpa from Adobe Portfolio.
Socials
Website: Joseph Baldwin
Instagram: @jlbaldwin_
LinkedIn: Joseph Baldwin
Let’s connect.
If you’re a photographer looking to elevate your craft and become part of a supportive, engaging community, consider joining The Carty Method.
Are you tired of the 9-to-5 grind and ready to make a living with your camera?
Make sure to join the waitlist for The Carty Method Pro Accelerator.
This six-phase roadmap is designed to help struggling photographers develop the skills and knowledge needed to thrive as professionals.
Ready to embark on your journey?
Sign up now, as the waitlist is almost full, and the next round starts in January 2025.
The qualifier opens up in December!
New to what CARTY is doing?
👉🏾 Carty a Pro Photographer, Director, and Educator based in Toronto, CA.
His goal is to educate and connect a global network of visual creators.
👉🏾 Mindset shifts and Immersive Pro Education on YouTube 👈🏾
Learn more about CARTY and see his work at 👉🏾 SteveCarty.com
Join his photographers community 👉🏾 TheCartyMethod.com/community
Work with him 👉🏾 theCartyMethod.com
Become a smarter photographer in 5m a week by Subscribing to CARTY on Substack.
The Carty Method (Over 1900 Subscribers)