studio photography

Amore' Vlok, 2017 IMTA Contestant, photographed by Naomi Estment

Modeling Portfolio Magic

Do you or someone you know need a professional talent or modeling portfolio? Or do you simply enjoy beautiful portraits? Either way, you’re in the right place! If you’ve followed our blog for a while, you’ll know that personal portfolios are a specialty of ours, that I particularly love to shoot. This time of year is always exciting too because models, actors, singers and dancers all over the world are preparing for the IMTA (International Modeling and Talent Association) convention, which takes place next month in New York.

International Model of the Year

I’ve recently had the privilege and pleasure of photographing three stunning contestants from Figures Models Randburg. Above is a photo of Amore’ Vlok, who won the Figures Models SA International Model of the Year award, including an all expenses paid trip to the convention. She wanted some versatility in her portfolio, including indoor and outdoor images, so we set up a special portable lighting scenario in our garden, which is adjacent to our studio. This made it super quick and easy to incorporate natural, shallow-depth-of-field shots, as well as co-ordinate changes of outfits and backdrops. Here are a few more photos from her shoot:

Modeling Portfolio of Amore' Vlok - by Naomi Estment

Capturing Personality

As you can see, Amore’ brought along a hat, which really suits her. This is something that I suggest clients do for their individual portfolios, so that we can try it out and include a few photos with a hat in their final selection. Without fail, I find that it helps to bring out personality and inject a bit of fun into the shoot. We generally include a mix of casual and more formal clothing, which we go through together in order to match different outfits, hairstyles and make-up with various backdrops, props and lighting arrangements.

Talented Young Stars

It was a treat to photograph Amore’, who brims with talent, both on camera and in person. She is fabulously tall, giving her a great advantage on the ramp as well. To see more of her photos, view my Facebook album Amore’ Vlok in Studio. While you’re there, have a look at the albums featuring modeling portfolios of two more gorgeous contestants: Mwila Masongo and Nicole Morgan:

2017 IMTA Contestants, photographed by Naomi Estment

Each has their own signature brand of beauty, which I’ve no doubt will shine in New York just as it does here in Johannesburg.

Please join me in wishing all three of these talented young stars everything of the best for their trip!

African Sunset with Glasses of Wine

Cheers to 2017

Happy New Year to you and yours! May 2017 be filled with happiness, health and abundant prosperity. In numerology terms, this is year 1 in a brand new cycle, so full of extra promise for a fresh start, renewed focus and recharged energy. Can you feel it?

For us, Outdoor Video & Photographic turns 16 this month and we’re so grateful for our journey so far with all of our clients, associates, suppliers, family and friends. Thank you each and every one! Looking ahead, we anticipate another exciting year, including a range of inspiring photography and videography, creative studio and location shoots, and Dave’s favourite – advancements in technology. He already has his eye on some cutting edge equipment, so keep a lookout for news on that in future blog posts.

As you can see from our Home page, the main focus areas for our business are Corporate, Commercial and Events, Aerial, Architecture and Construction, as well as Game Lodges, Safaris and Wildlife. We also shoot plenty of products and modelling portfolios in our Johannesburg-based studio. So if you need professional photo or video shoots in these genres, please contact us. We’d love to help.

Of course balance is important, so we’ll be adding pleasure and rest into the mix, likely including downtime in the African bushveld – such as we were enjoying in the photo above with special friends. Follow this link for Dave’s article about our trip, which explores the question Wildlife Video – for Fun? It includes a short video that features fabulous wildlife interaction and fun stuff. This is where OV&P was born, with Dave and I sharing a deep passion for wildlife and being in the bush. I include a story about it in my first weekly video of 2017, which takes you behind-the-scenes in my recent intensive Confidence on Camera workshop:

For more videos in this series and ongoing tips to improve your confidence on camera, subscribe to my YouTube channel and sign up at my website www.naomiestment.com. In the meantime, stay tuned for what’s happening here at OV&P, as well as insight and inspiration to help you maximise your marketing via expert photography and videography. If you have any comments or questions, please leave a reply below. We look forward to connecting . . . and wish you all the very best for a brilliant year!

Natasha Faber Modelling in OV&P Studio

Special Talent Portfolio

We had immense fun with talented Natasha Faber in our studio again, and although the first shoot I did for her was 10 years ago, it felt as if it was just the other day. That shoot was to assist with her portfolio photos for an international agency trip that she went on to Europe, and I must highlight that this gorgeous lady hasn’t aged a bit since then. Now she is expanding her horizons into acting, as she expertly portrayed during her recent shoot, embodying different attitudes and expressions needed for her new portfolio, not to mention looking stunning. Casting agents are in for a real treat, as you can see: Continue reading “Special Talent Portfolio”