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Introduction of Aries

Lesson 12 from: Inside the Studio

Anne Geddes

Introduction of Aries

Lesson 12 from: Inside the Studio

Anne Geddes

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Lesson Info

12. Introduction of Aries

Lesson Info

Introduction of Aries

What we're doing is you at home are seeing and create what will be her two thousand seventeen calendar signs of the zodiac yes exactly and today's areas that's right yes so today is aires yesterday was leo and let's talk a little bit about yesterday and how it went if we fulfilled expectations of what you thought it was going to be it was a great day is today it was good to get the first one down yeah and it's always like that with a chute in a respect but it's really for me it's kind of like good karma when that happens and you know today I want hope yesterday they got a sense of what it's actually like in the studio today's gonna be a little bit different because we've got newborns how is it different on a set with newborn? Well, you know yesterday six months I know yesterday I kind of got a st ah frustrated that people people may not actually know what's involved in it because the six months you need all this attention you know and lots of you know, bright lights and what is it that...

makes dogs around the world? I heard all the yeah yeah that was actually a little squeaky toy that was from the pit section can't find many squeaky things you know for baby sooner should anyway that's that that's another matter today within you wants a little bit it's a little bit quieter and we're going to have a little bit more time I think teo, you know, talk through exactly what else is involved in doing all of this and talk to the safety aspects ok as well, especially you, especially with every baby and it's really, really important. Um this is really professional important work that I'm doing and I really want to emphasize that if you're watching here I everybody had created live nice said always adamant I didn't want to do it cast because I'm not suggesting to people that you can do this and I'm working with a very professional team that I worked with many, many years and there are is this such a huge level of trust involved and many, many years of experience in terms of what we're doing? Because, you know, for thirty years and I've been photographing babies are very, very aware that there precious little beings little treasures who belong to these families and I never take that for granted so what I want teo really going to in ward it today is exactly you know what links we go toe to achieve this and is at top of top of mind for me in every single ship that we do on dh you were with us yesterday afternoon and even when I have one of our goals in position in a sit while realizing I still have someone standing next to that door because to me, that doll represents a baby. And so it's it's complete respect and trust and one hundred percent care at all times. And so I think people are going to see a little bit of that today. And that's a very, very important for me to demonstrate. I found that fascinating. I was not something I expected that yes, when even the baby was there. And where? Setting arson. Oh, yeah. Setting, staring at it all. All the lighting and everything getting all that creation part done. But who, yes, there was always somebody standing there eyes laser focused on the baby, which is something which is a doll. Wait right there. Yeah. See, I'm even just using the word that's the way I always think about her on dh that's. That's. What? I want to get across here tonight, you know? Yeah, well, it was really exciting yesterday afternoon. Like you said, we got to see you, uh put it together so that we are ready to go with the newborns. But that was really thie intensity of you coming alive in your creation of that is what you less I like too. I love to light sits, you know, I'm fascinated with light that's why I'm talking dipped about it, and I can do it as we go today, you know, in terms ofthe using light meters and how I go about lighting that's it. So if anyone's there, you know who is interested in that, and I'm sure there's a lot of you out there who are photographers a swell as a people who aren't photographers and maybe just interested in the whole process because a lot goes on out off the time that the baby said here, and I'll show you what exactly how we're sitting up this image today. Yeah, when you can see this. Yeah, exactly. We'll do that in a second yesterday when you really get teo, get to all those technical details were focused on those six month old and a lot of people were those photographers who you are in our audience were asking those questions so we will talk a little bit about that today. But we also talked a lot about that in some of that bonus footage that we did yesterday, so let's, why don't why don't you go on checking in with on okay, who is creating putting finishing touches on our some of the pieces for today? So and that's all you have to say for now but let's let me come on over and see what's going on over here and then we can go check out what's going on on this yes well don't putting final touches to the custom it's ah that the baby is going to be wearing so when we go and sit you'll see we've got a big ship's horn would you call it a ram's horn? Dawn aram yeah on dh so we've got a little newborn baby who's sort of lying in the curse of the horn here is a baby it was a little lamb on dh these babies today a lot of asian descent because obviously we wanna have, you know, equal racial diversity and all of these images but but also twenty fifteen is the year of the sheep in china and so I thought, well, that's just perfect have a nation baby effect on dh so we've got four little asian babies warns of what ages I hear weird that they're just beautiful within their old beautiful on that's a great example of, you know, my regular team are coming in saying they're just so beautiful and how many years we've been doing this it's just the magic of new it's absolutely like the first time every time, so we're going to complete the city two hundred should we walk around and explain what way we're gonna integrate this peacefully I hear find exactly what way do because a lot of the images that I create a very deceiving in terms ofthe you know how we place the baby for instance now this printed the background yesterday which was a major mathematical feet in terms of figuring you know how does I join it together and so on yeah and the placement of the background and in terms of this horn now this horn is totally it's doing come and talk about the horn because it's very very strong it's very rigid at the back you guys can we've got a camera in the back maybe and you can see exactly what what we've done but it's been bolted onto this pole now this pole would disappear in um post in photo shop afterwards and so obviously I'm not photographing the baby on this horn like this but I have created a original plate which will will use in photo shop later on and what we're going to do now that the baby's there on set is way did a big experiment with lighting and everything with today we've got a person what do you call it we called me this fix you call a perspex we call it plexi table yeah andi I have two custom made plexiglass tables that I have used for years and years in my studio in australia and we're going to bring them into the sit on dh we've already got the right height from yesterday, so the plexiglass table is going to come in underneath, and we need to get this horn at exactly the same angle as it is here now and currently it's being held by a piece of string and multiple sandbanks on the floor two and that's, because you've you've arranged the light so specific as such, it is that very, very specific, and I could talk about the lighting once they start moving in the plexiglass table, which we need to do, but we've got an angling misha what's it called john, what is that thing called an angle finder, which I just found out about today? Yeah, if you kind of turn in an angled on camera and I actually lay this on the bank and the touching, how many degrees off straight, it is off the vertical very, very thanks, john, that when this horn is on the top of the plexi glass table that it's at exactly same angle, because obviously you'll see we'll build up the back of it. So the baby is not actually lying on this horn it's actually lying on. We'll have sandbags and and cost diapers and bits of foam and things like that, so we'll just see the front of the baby here, but it's actually going to be flattened soft all the way through, you'll see as we do and it's not something that you'll explain to the parents as well because I know a lot about the trust if that these parents have ewing in you but there's a huge amount of trust and you know I can't I can't emphasize this enough there's a lot of people out there I know I started a trend in photographing babies I've been doing this for thirty years and thirty years, thirty years and, you know, it's it's, not a form of newborn photography when you look at this today, I appreciate that people are doing newborn photography this isn't this, I have no connection with that are all right? This is about a message, you know, it's story telling this is here is the room and a baby lamb and yes, it's really beautiful on these newborns are really beautiful, but it is something different to that, and so I don't want people who are doing you born photography to think, oh, you know, maybe I should try this try that do not do not do this because it's very serious work, and I'm working with a very professional team who are completely trust, and when this baby is here, we're going to have you'll see that there are two people theater to people who have ever trusted to stand by a baby as I mentioned yesterday and walk away without even thinking about it write so and they totally focused on this baby even though this baby's not going anywhere because the baby's just sweeping you know but anything could happen and no one takes care of that baby and I need that level of trust I think it's really important and I appreciate that you're sort of putting emphasis on not only on all those safety factors but that what you're creating is you're not creating this necessarily for the baby's parents it's not for a personal client for say this is uh a creation that you've been creating more months and months and months as every project is for you and that the babies are part of that symbolism, right? I mean that that's what I've learned that's exactly right there part of that story telling I want somebody to look at this image that we're going to create um and understand the preciousness of new life and the vulnerability of new life, the miracle of pregnancy and and new life and the promise of it all right and that's what I actually think about when I'm photographing these babies, you know they're not props and that's a very, very important message to get through would you consider them symbols? Are there definitely symbols this the symbols of going forward? They're symbols of new beginnings, their symbols off family's family renewal they're symbols of so many important things and you will have seen you know, the mothers and the dead sea was some deads here yesterday who who came in and I heard there's a grammar here this morning you know, they all come in and I say come and have a look and and they're like oh no it's fine, I totally trust you, you know, but it's very very important that that appearance feel a part of the process and a part of the morning and I have a connection with and that will make all of the people who are going to be around there, baby, you know, so we never, ever take for granted the fact that everything is totally centered on this baby. Well, I just got notice that the baby first baby might be ready in a few minutes so I think we should get moving on your little magic thing in your you do magic e o I have to be I just got word. Yeah, well, you know, someone I don't know, john, can we start bringing in the table and dawn will will maybe just guys want to see how this table tennis and I'd love to see and what's actually involved we got the final shot, everything good? I did want to ask you about that when you said you have a plate almost what do you mean by that? For people who aren't familiar with that term what I have it it's a plate that will constitute the final image in the final image on dh and your see it asai show the mothers in the mother's womb that could keep going with the table yeah the table's going to be out of the way right out of the whole same the whole scene is just going to be this horn to symbolize the europe the ram and the little baby on it so it'll be floating in the middle on dh obviously now that's why we need the angle fighter on our threatened them with news of exactly exactly rather plate is an image so you know that it is an image that I've shot in the camera and the camera's already look down now so we're just going to get all this sort of and you'll see how they build up behind the porn it just looks really totally unlike what finally just going to be but now it's all about the comfort of the baby and the safety of the baby so it's not good no you go I was going to say let's talk a little bit more about everybody at home yesterday when when you were setting this this whole scene up which is which is a little bit tighter a little bit closer so you were changing the lighting way were able to capture that and because it's a different time then we're doing the live portion that again will be edited and we'll be we'll be part of what you can access as later with that bonus footage but let's talk through a little bit a summary of how do you got to where we are right now with of course the horn in the final image will be floating um I wanted the whole area too basically replicated big soft books on dh so we've got two heads at the back here talking to photographers with heads going into the corners of this polly and it's lighting the background and also throwing a bit of a glow onto the back of the horn on dh here like obviously is touching the top of the horn and we'll throw a little bit of the highlight across the back of the baby things cross because you never know how the baby and the baby's not gonna be oh, by the way, you should be fine so we've got two soft boxes are my one of my favorite lights here this big to twenty it's just a bit of orson it's a beautiful life because it's got a ring a ring flesh inside you can adjust it in terms of contrast and the soft miss of the night I know it looks like a big light for a tiny little baby but um it's a trick of the light just interesting sex trade and this is a new for me today because I'm trialling and start about yeah I love this phase one camera what did you use yesterday I used to hustle hustle blood you call it has her blood way call it and which I have for years and the face on people have bean kind enough to drop one off for me to experiment with was that the first time you used it yesterday afternoon? Yes first time on dh first time I've ever had one of my hands I've just never got around to it you know but I've always been intrigued and and it's you know I've got to be honest this is just a vessel for creating an image yes on dino there someplace there's something fantastic lenses and with all of these different systems but you know what? We're going to try this today and and see how cars it's kind of great I know way tried it yesterday but I think that's what I wanted to impress upon people was the way that I have observed you work is you're setting up the lighting and you're not changing it after we've after you've gotten that you're not changing the placement of the camera the camera whatever camera yeah, whatever camera people are working with and whatever you know lighting they're working with that's that's the way you're working is camera lighting set everything said so it's so important and so nothing changes now the exact angle of the horn everything that camera is that exactly same place? So when I photographed the baby in this horn or hopefully for babies because we'll try the more one we'll just one one image or dis mold into the other yeah that's all said fingers crossed fingers crossed yeah, yeah I uh loved yesterday being able to actually look through, uh the camera and be able to see the perspective that existed with ah horn too the backdrop told me about that the design and who you worked with for this backdrop well, this is the same modestly only button who hopefully she's watching though it's very early and sydney, australia but she has created she will create all of the backdrops here for the zodiac we've just really conceived the first three of course there was going to be tomorrow and they're not sit with dorn we've we've got a pretty good idea of the next three that will do going forward talking back, then talk to leonie and we'll come up with, you know, the color schemes as well because they all need thio sit beautifully together and people will see later that we've got a print off the little leo the line sitting in the sunflower on dso we've gotto up that up on the wall it's just preliminary and I got a few skitch marks on earth and things like that because it's a work in progress but hopefully by this afternoon and we'll have two images up there on the wall so we can get an idea of the color schemes that are going and whether the storytelling is working cohesively on dh, whether there's anything that we need to adjust for tomorrow as we go forward and I think that's really fascinating about what I've observed from you and your creative process is that you have been you have been playing this project for months and months and yet you still are tweaking and creating as it's happening well, this is how it finally comes to life which that's this is the best part that all of the keeps saying or the right ingredients are coming together and it's actually really gratifying to see that happen on dh that said, you know way need to wait until the baby comes into the picture as well. You know, I was there anything that did happen yesterday that influence or made you think any differently about today or about the future images so far is it to think well, I think no, no, no, no it's yesterday the colors a very bribe vibrant tomorrow the colors are going to be very bright, vibrant and this's a little bit more ethereal mohr more subdued so that would mean that in terms of balance of twelve images that maybe two, six and six you know you have tio something more subjects so when you think about a calendar so you think that people turning the pages on dh it needs to have a nice flow tow us yeah, I have got him pence in my pocket and then got really hot so there's something you always have if my daughter kelly is watching honey, I'm not wearing white clothes because I've been banned because normally I wear white cotton gloves for some reason I just really cold hands and when you have the wrong camera when you have newborns and I go anywhere near them I have to make sure that I've got really warm hands so they're I've got them and we're also cem warm let's talk about other warm things that we do here for the baby so it's warmer in the studio yesterday it's warmer in the studio not as warm as were generally have it if the babies were naked it's always nice to from our point of view you think second where driver you know so you have it's just easier on they put little based on underneath and you'll see is we do it this this time we just need to put the little hat on which has got a fabulous fabulous little horn and the risk stripes over the top and I'm going to tell you the cuter pair of shoes you've ever seen that they are cute eso doing back here, they're good, they're old, and so we don't have a right angle you want? Is it good for them and come in the way? As long as the foot doesn't come below? Yeah, I don't think it will. We should be right or else jonathan, put a finger underneath, can you take it back a tiny little bit? So because of the foot goes, why don't we just take it this way? Fix what's gonna be this side? I'll get good plan, good bolt in there, too. You should be saying thank you to see what we're doing here, because when the baby's lying on the horn, if if they're littlefoot, comes down below, we want the light to come up under the shoe, and we've got a white it's actually table cloth on the floor, but it will reflect the light up.

Class Materials

bonus material with purchase

Lighting Diagram - Aries
Lighting Diagram - Leo
Reef Wallpaper
Urchin Wallpaper
Lighting Diagram - Aquarius
Stories From A Labor of Love Part 1
Stories From A Labor of Love Part 2
Stories From A Labor of Love Part 3
Stories From A Labor of Love Part 4
Stories From A Labor of Love Part 5

Ratings and Reviews

Jeff Petersen Studios
 

I just read the other reviews and think people may not have watched the preview video or listened to Kenna's explanation of what was going to happen. I felt the class was exactly what was advertised, and thought Kenna did an excellent job keeping things moving when there were obvious delays or unexpected events with "the talent" (the babies). I felt like I was at Anne's studio and experiencing what actually happens when she is working on a project. You can't script babies and pets, so you go with the flow and adapt. I think that's what they said and did. Kenna was always prepared to discuss Anne's books, or other topics and did a great job getting personal/and professional with Anne-just as they said they were going to. It is Creative "Live" so it could have been Much less organized, and much more chaotic, but I was actually Very impressed with the production and smoothness of the Creative Live team. I did feel like my view was blocked at times when I wanted to see how they were setting up some of the actual shots- but in general I think they did just about as well as you could in those conditions. I am not paid by Creative Live nor do they probably even know me, but I'm very happy to support and actually buy their content-because I don't know another place/format that teaches so many different, practical, and interesting topics as they do and I Love that they take chances like this and really do Deliver. Anne was very clear that she is not a technician. Creative Live has Tons of Great Technician classes in So many genres of photography (and of course other area)- with Anne's class there is Plenty to Learn from her, but the value does not come in the Wam Bam machine gun delivery of latest tech and tools, it is in the methodical, patient, But Driven pace that is anything but chaotic (as one reviewer said). As I said at the beginning, I think they delivered exactly what was advertised and I am very happy with my purchase. There is a wealth of information and frankly entertainment, for someone who is interested in really seeing behind the doors... AND, it is good for new people and experienced people, who are looking to get better in their craft, more successful, or maybe even famous-if they are honest...to see that not every day in a studio (or in any profession really)-Even for Anne Geddes- is Glamourous, Exciting and "Sexy": sometimes it is crying babies that need their diapers changed.

user-e90efa
 

I had the honor of supporting Anne in her launch of her beautiful line of baby clothing here in Washington ( as her fulfillment provider ) and her attention to every detail, their willingness to share their commitment to an unforgettable experience for every customer - it was such a pleasure to see the magic on the photography side of the business that I never had the opportunity to witness. Pure perfection, and thank you so much for sharing. Best to Anne and Kel! Michelle Harden

Nathan Ivie
 

Watched the first day of this event and it was very different than other creative live workshops. Different is sometimes good and sometimes bad, this session was just that good and bad. It really lacked the teaching aspect, they did not go over her equipment, basic camera and lighting settings used to create the look she wants in her images etc...The lady who was interviewing her was terrible Anne seemed really open to share but the questions were very poor and lacked follow up and really diving into what Anne was doing. It was really neat to get to watch her work, she has an amazing personality that really is soft and kind and it showed in the way she worked with the parents, babies, and her team. It was a great overview of how she approaches the studio and a project and the detail that goes into making a top notch image. It is however weak on giving you the info strait up on how to improve your own work. If you want to see what it's like to work with a big team on a major project this is a great workshop. If you want technical teaching it is not so great.

Student Work

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