canon

From Haiti to America

October 2018, I was heading home from work when I saw Jean walking in the direction of where I live. I quickly pulled my car over hopped out and proceeded to introduce myself. I saw potential and I did not want it to get away, I expressed my interest in shooting we then exchanged contacts. Months had passed before I heard from Jean I didn’t think he was interested in shooting until I received a text from him at the beginning of the year. He informed me he would be ready to shoot sometime in May, it couldn’t get here fast enough. Through texted we talked life, photography, modeling, shooting, etc, I told him I wanted to create something striking and he was sold. I took him over to one of my favorite places to create here in Lincoln Park and we made some magic happen. With the use of natural and strobe lighting we were able to create some stunning imagery.

To see more images from the shoot please visit http://lorenzopphotography.com/jean-mary/nso10xxqdbd3w50nbfehi1245relju

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"Happy Father's Day"

          The start of 2014 was a little rough for me, I have encountered a lot of loss in the past four months six family members to be exact. I guess saying a little rough is a bit of an understatement. Throughout all of the heartache and pain so many things have been revealed to me, this is my personal intake. Although death is rather painful it is a humbling thing to witness. it communicates to us how special life truly is. Tragedy or not God has selected the perfect equation for helping the soul transition. Isn't it a beautiful thing to have the ability to reflect upon the many memories? Life is a continuous algorithm, the spirit lives on!

          I lost my dad in 1995 at the age of 9 at that current state things took a turn for the absolute worst. I felt like so much was taken from me, but in the same return so much was given it was a fair exchange of the bad and good. I felt lost without my dad, miserable, distort, and depressed, the list can go on for the rest of this paragraph but I will save you the agony.  In the midst of all the destruction I discovered my ability to draw. I did not ask to be an artist, it chose me. There was an increased level of propensity, my life begun to change at that very moment because I found hope, an escape, a little piece of solace. I felt like I was blessed with this ability, this was a gift from my dad, a way to reconnect, a way to remember that he will always be at my side. I vowed to always honor that by giving it my all when it came to using this talent.

          Shooting this past Father's Day was truly humbling, not only did I shoot someone who is a positive role model, advocate and supporter of our young Black African American Males doing positive things. He is a teacher, educator, and coach at the High School I graduated from. He is literally the epitome of what an amazing father is. Interacting and Shooting with him and his son 2 years ago on Father's Day was the initial blessing, because not only did I use my ability to capture those intimate moments, their relationship remind me of my dad and I. So you see this is really full circle for me. At times I would wonder how things would be if my dad was still here, then I  look at these two together and no longer wonder!!!!!

          Dear Dad thank you for helping me through life, and blessing me with this gift. I will always love you, you will remain apart of me until we meet again. May your soul rest in peace!!! 

Father's Day 2013`

Shot in Lincoln Park, Jersey City. 

Shot in Lincoln Park, Jersey City. 

Shot in Lincoln Park, Jersey City. 

Shot in Lincoln Park, Jersey City. 

This is actually one of the image on my home page, I put it there as a reminder! 

This is actually one of the image on my home page, I put it there as a reminder! 

Father Day 2014   

These images are raw and untouched

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Reading this was gratifying, I am honored!! 

Reading this was gratifying, I am honored!! 

"The Beauty Dish"

The Beauty Dish is one of the most versatile and essential lighting modifiers in my little arsenal. Using the "BD" has dramatically improved the quality of my images, It is used on 95% of my shoots. I acquired the Beauty Dish in 2011 after my good friend John David Pittman, who is an amazing and talented photographer http://johndavidpittman.com/ ,highly recommended I immediately get one.  I was in limbo on making the investment so I called him up. He said to me, "Dude, don't think about it, just buy the 22" Beauty Dish...I promise you will not regret it!" I came to realization he was telling me to get one for some really beneficial reasons. I have to secretly admit I was not sold on it initially, I guess that can be contributed to my previous lack of knowledge on how to use it. I actually tucked it away for some time while I educated myself on its uses and functionalities. It was now time to experiment and put it to the test.

I had an up coming on location shoot I was preparing for and as I was loading my gear something just clicked. I scraped all of the soft boxes I packed and brought along a single Gridded Beauty Dish accompanied with a battery powered 600w Bowens strobe. My goodness, I was simply marveled at the quality of light I was able to produce with it. Not only did I have enough light to over power the sun, I had the perfect tool for sculpting it. I quickly caught on and now I'm using the "BD" on almost every shoot both on location and studio.

Mixed lighting became a thing of mine. Playing around with the "BD" I would mix and combine ambient, gelled, bare bulb, diffused, and gridded light to shape my subjects. I Once used only the modeling light from the "BD" at it's lowest power, to produce a dramatically lit low key image. Literally over night It became one of my "go to" lighting modifiers. The "BD" is infamously used throughout the fashion and beauty industry, hence the word "Beauty Dish." Some of the world's leading professional photographers such as Scott Kelby, Lindsay Adler, Joey L., Jeremy Cowart, Joel Grimes, and many more use the "BD" to create some absolutely stunning work. Your very own Kurt Von http://kurtvon.com/ ,founder of the "Light Shapers" website and fellow photographer also uses the Beauty Dish.

The "Beauty Dish" can be summarized as to providing 3 type of light sources:

1.Bare Bulb- Which is very intense, punchy, and dramatic

2.Diffusion Sock - Produces very soft flattering yet sculpted light

3. Gridded- The grid can be wrapped up as being very controlled and tightly focused light that ultimately has a fast fall off with little to no spill

Here are a some images I produce with the beauty dish:

Model: Casey. S.

Model: Casey. S.

Model: Dalilah. 

Model: Dalilah. 

Model: Teriana.

Model: Teriana.

Model: Latrice. 

Model: Latrice. 

Model: Casey. S.

Model: Casey. S.

Model: Amarie. S.

Model: Amarie. S.

Model: Casey. S.

Model: Casey. S.

Model: Angie. T.

Model: Angie. T.

Model: Eliza. L. 

Model: Eliza. L. 

Rapper: Serious Jones 

Rapper: Serious Jones 

Selfie lol 

Selfie lol 

Here are some great "BTS" videos using the Beauty Dish

Lindsay Adler 

http://www.lindsayadlerphotography.com

 

Andrea Belluso

http://www.belluso.com/

 

Now understand that I am not at all trying to advertise a product, or force anyone to go run out and purchase one, however if you are in the real estate of portrait and beauty photography I recommend taking the dive. I just wanted to share my experience and info on one of my favorite modifiers. Photographers who already own a Beauty Dish will concur with it's wonders. Hope you guys enjoyed!!!