Katchlight - Photography by Mike Long » Pindora’s Box

New self portrait…

MikeLong — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 06:29:46 +0000

Photographers HATE having their picture taken. That’s why most of us became photographers so we could hide behind a camera!!

But the time has come for a new headshot…and being bored waiting for some products for a shoot to arrive the other day I had a quick go at a self portrait….I think it turned out rather well….

Amanda – Pin-Up Calendar Girl!

MikeLong — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 07:10:07 +0000

Meet Amanda – she came to Portland Pin-Ups wanting a calendar for her husband for Father’s Day – sure!!!

We had a ton of fun shooting this, and I hear he loved the calendar!!

Enjoy the video and images:

Pin-up training…Los Angeles workshop debrief!

MikeLong — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:47:49 +0000

Phew – that was fun!

First time I’ve been back to California since I left in 2008, and the weather didn’t disappoint!

The venue for my Pinned-Up workshop this time was the Santa Clarita Center for Photography run by Mel Carll (a new friend!) This workshop came about after I met the awesome William Innes at WPPI in Vegas this year, and he asked if I could bring the pin-up fun to Southern California…sure!

We had three great models, a bunch of fun students and had a blast. When I present these workshops we spend a day shooting, posing and lighting and then a day discussing marketing and intensive post-production.

Next stop for one of my pinned-up workshops is likely to be New York in September. If you want me to stop off in your town – send me an email!!

If you are a studio owner and want to host, get in touch! Let’s talk!

Here are a couple of the first images worked so far- the lovely Amy:

Live from PPOC Nationals, Mont Tremblant!

MikeLong — Tue, 11 May 2010 19:49:35 +0000

Hello from cold and (kind of ) snowy Quebec!

I’ve had a great time here with my Canadian friends, and met some awesome new ones! Hung out last night with David Beckstead (hands down winner for best business card ever!) who is a true rockstar photographer.

My presentation yesterday was fun, although being translated was weird! At least the translator was a good friend of mine, Julie, and her daughter, Joelle, was one of my models – so much fun was had!

Video coming later today, here is the first image I’ve processed from the live shoot of Joelle. My other model, Melissa, was equally awesome and I’ll work some images of them both next week.

This is my last day in Canada before heading home – traveling slows down now for wedding season…phew!

A Portland Pin-Ups Shoot

MikeLong — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:33:44 +0000

I’m often asked: “What’s it really like at one of your pin-up shoots?” – while I can give a pretty good answer, it’s always easier to see…so I’ve been working with an awesome pair of videographers, Christopher Alley and Chris Wilson who helped me put together a video of a typical shoot. Since most of my clients are having a pin-up as a gift for their husband, fiance or boyfriend – they generally don’t want to be videod and plastered all over the web! So, for this project I enlisted the help of one of my Portland Pin-Up Model Ambassadors…Mandy Apple!

Live, from Chicago!

MikeLong — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:49:58 +0000

Today is the last day of the NoBS Inferno convention where I’ve been since Saturday. I’m a moderator of the NoBS forum, and these conventions are just awesome. I get to hang out with my many friends I’ve made over the years – and these people have become best friends and family to me – and I also get to hear many amazing speakers. This year was no exception and I’m coming home with my head filled with ideas for the studio for the next year. Also, I was asked by Rob and James – the owners of NoBS – to put on a 3 hour seminar about my pin-up photography and I was thrilled to accept. I had a blast talking about what I love, and then we had a live model shoot which was awesome! Speaking to a group of photographers like this is truly something I love, next stop is Canada in May for a big conference, the PPOC Nationals, I’ll be speaking to around 250 photographers!

Here’s a quick video of me in action, along with the video of us getting ready for the group photo in the pool!

June Pinned-Up workshop – exciting news!

MikeLong — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 21:39:07 +0000

For those of you that follow my pin-up work, you’ll know that my very first pin-up model was the lovely Cherry Dollface – this is the first pin-up we shot together. Not very “pin-uppy” I’ll admit, but we did end up shooting some amazing images together.

She moved to LA a couple of years ago, so we haven’t shot together since. However, I can announce today that she will be modeling for me and the students at my Pinned-Up workshop in Santa Clarita in June!!

More details here…

Announcing Pinned-Up: Los Angeles

MikeLong — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 23:59:59 +0000

Yup – it’s workshop time! This is a big one (that’s what she said!).

This time, I’m headed to California – Los Angeles!

Pinned-Up. A full on, two day assault on your senses, featuring:

•Live Model Shoots
•Posing Instruction
•Lighting Instruction
•How to Promote Pin-Up photography
•How to Create that “Pin-up” look and feel.
•Hands-on Coaching, and
•Unbelievably intensive Photoshop Demonstration and Training

I’m in negotiations with my pin-up muse, and the girl who got me on the road to pin-uppy fun, Cherry Dollface, to be one of the models.

For more info, including registration, click here.

Sponsored by Mama Shan’s Digital Goodies, NoBSPhotosuccess, Friday Photoschool, Shootsmarter and Animoto.

Pinned Up Workshop – Sacramento style

MikeLong — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 05:08:20 +0000

This post travels to you from sunny California where I’m teaching one of my Pinned-Up classes. This time it’s a private workshop for an awesome company, XSiGHT USA. Run by the energetic Gail DeMarco, XSiGHT are a great bunch of guys and gals who have a wonderful studio and great business. They wanted to add pin-ups into their mix of portraits and weddings so I flew down to help them get started.

These are a few of the first shots from today’s workshop, of the very talented and lovely Darling Danika (All processed with my Pindora’s Box set)

If (s)he can do it…ANYONE can!

MikeLong — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 20:35:29 +0000

I often receive emails from ladies who really love pin-ups, and WANT to do it, but are shy, or scared. My answer is usually ‘if this guy can do it…so can you!’

Yup – that’s a guy. He’s James Hodgins, my friend from Sudbury in Canada. He owns and runs the NoBS Photosuccess forum, and is also an awesome photographer. At the NoBS Inferno Convention in Nashville in November last year I was demonstrating my pin-up photography with live model shoots – but at the last minute one of my models became a no-show and I needed a fresh one.

Drunk at the bar, I hit on an idea. The conversation went something like this….that I remember:

Me – “Hey Hodgy, I need a model…how do you fancy popping on a dress and strutting your stuff for me?”

Hodgy (he’s Canadian) – “ah fer sure you betcha eh”

Me – “Awesome, you’re serious right? Dress and everything”

Hodgy – “ohhhhh totally, sure. Eh. You better make me look hot though. Eh”

Me – “that’ll be a stretch, but I’ll try. Make-Up?”

Hodgy – “Why not, I wear it most weekends anyway!”

Me – “Great. Let’s go shopping. What size bra are you?”

At least…that’s how *I* remember the conversation going. He remembers it a little differently….

So – if James can dress to the nines, have his make up done, and play silly for my camera – so can you! Call me now to set up YOUR pin-up session!!

(And thanks again James for being such a good sport!)