Behind the Scenes of Photographing Stefano Paturi

Guest Blogger Evy Edelman

 

As most of you reading LaRae’s blog, you’re familiar with the photography aspect of a photo shoot. As a guest blogger, you now get a backstage pass to MY world: Makeup and Beauty Artistry. This most times, includes makeup, hair and male grooming. However, I’ve been known to throw in wardrobe and nails when the occasion calls for it.

It all starts with my most recent photo shoot with European Male Fashion Model, Stefano Paturi and your very own, LaRae Lobdell.

A sweltering summer morning/midday shoot, dead of summer in Miami. A day of weather most makeup artists dread. “Humid”, is a 5 letter bad word. The “d” standing for DIE, as in what I want to do when makeup and hair DO NOT cooperate. Which tends to happen here in our “Oh-so-tropical” city the minute you step foot outside. Yet, somehow a serious can of hairspray, a makeup brush and blotting papers become a makeup artist’s best friend. Luckily, half of the shoot was photographed indoors while the second half was captured outdoors. As you will get to see in the Final and “Behind The Scenes” photos below and on LaRae’s preceding blog post.

A photo shoot is somewhat of a puzzle the team must collaborate in piecing together. For instance, choosing what order the looks are to be shot. This plays a big role in how the model/talent is groomed. As you will notice with Stefano, we wanted to make the transition and preparation from look to look fairly seamless. This is when you save the looks/styles that are most labor intensive for later. Notice the first look was clean and distinguished yet we saved the casual wet look with the model and his surf board closer to the end of the photo shoot.

Behind the scenes of Stefano Paturi photo shoot July 31, 2014

Behind the scenes of Stefano Paturi photo shoot July 31, 2014

The distinguished clean look I mentioned. This dignified look suits Stefano quite nicely.
The distinguished clean look I mentioned. This dignified look suits Stefano quite nicely.
Behind The Scenes: Larae captured this shot of my hand as I'm adjusting Stefano's stray hair. Being detail oriented is both a blessing and a curse. The smallest strand of hair drives me crazy. Plus, I rather fix it during the shoot, rather than leave the photographer/retoucher more work for editing in post.
Behind The Scenes: Larae captured this shot of my hand as I’m adjusting Stefano’s stray hair. Being detail oriented is both a blessing and a curse. The smallest strand of hair drives me crazy. Plus, I rather fix it during the shoot, rather than leave the photographer/retoucher more work for editing in post.
One of the final images for the distinguished clean look.
One of the final images for the distinguished clean look.

Behind the scenes of Stefano Paturi photo shoot July 31, 2014

Behind the scenes: Part of the storyboard LaRae created to communicate to the team the selected wardrobe, locations, and looks for each look.
Behind the scenes: Part of the storyboard LaRae created to communicate to the team the selected wardrobe, locations, and looks for each look.
Behind the scenes: Part of the storyboard LaRae created to communicate to the team the selected wardrobe, locations, and looks for each look.
Behind the scenes: Part of the storyboard LaRae created to communicate to the team the selected wardrobe, locations, and looks for each look.
Artist Stefano Paturi on location in Miami, Florida July 31, 2014
The final headshot of Stefano in this leather jacket.
Artist Stefano Paturi on location in Miami, Florida July 31, 2014
Stefano in this leather jacket is one of my favorite looks from the shoot. I used molding hair wax to give his hair a shaggy textured feel. Which lends itself to the rugged “I just rode my Harley Bike and my hair is wind blown look”
Behind The Scenes: Larae capturing Stefano's wet look after "shredding waves" on his surf board. This look was taken closer towards the end of the photo shoot.
Behind The Scenes: LaRae capturing Stefano’s wet look after “shredding waves” on his surf board. This look was taken closer towards the end of the photo shoot.
Final shot of Stefano Paturi on location in Miami by LaRae Lobdell
LaRae’s final shot of Stefano’s “wet surfer look.”

 

One of the last shots of the shoot was shot at a multi-level parking garage on historic Lincoln Road in Miami Beach. At times wind can be a blessing, blowing the hair just right. However, during this portion of the shoot, the wind was not playing nice. Not only with the hair, but it blew around the lighting equipment and made photographing the look even more challenging.

 

Behind The Scenes: Taking a photograph of the photographer while she takes a photograph, love action shots! Haley (photographer assistant) holding the lighting equipment from getting knocked down. The models hair was also doused with hair spray and touched up often since the wind was very strong and being quite a nuisance.
Behind The Scenes: Taking a photograph of the photographer while she takes a photograph, love action shots! Haley (photographer assistant) holding the lighting equipment from getting knocked down. The models hair was also doused with hair spray and touched up often since the wind was very strong and being quite a nuisance.
Behind The Scenes: LaRae photographing the last look. The models hair was also doused with hair spray and touched up often since the wind was very strong and being quite a nuisance. It was so windy it took two of us to hold the lighting equipment from getting knocked down for this last shot.
Stefano Paturi photo shoot July 31, 2014
The final shot LaRae captured of Stefano in the windy parking garage.

After your glimpse behind the scenes, you can now see how unglamorous and challenging the life of a Makeup Artist/ Hairstylist can be. However, I was lucky to work with a great team and the final results were well worth the effort!!

Thank you LaRae, Stefano, and Haley!

Until next time!

Evy Edelman

 

See the full photo shoot of Stefano HERE:
5 Hours and 48 Minutes with Stefano Paturi

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