Lights! Almost action!

Photo by Mr. Snapper.

Part of upping my game over the past year has been investing in equipment for the home studio. This means buying backdrops, a backdrop stand, and a lighting kit.

Next up is a new camera. I have to replace my trusty but deceased digital video camera after years of service. We need a still camera anyway, so why not invest in a camera that can do both very well?

In the meantime, we can do home shoots with one of our $600+ iPhones. (They may be $800 each. I don’t remember. Damn good camera for a cell phone.)

I’m still shooting with photographers who come to visit or when I travel. However, there is a wonderful convenience to having a home setup.

Some of the benefits:

· Shooting a new costume when it’s ready.

· Shooting promo photos in nerdlesque and cosplay costumes that I’d rather not spend money shooting with a fancy photographer.

· Nudes. (Mr. Snapper knows where all of my stuff is, and he can shove it into place for a shot. He’s often on set assisting when I do shoots because he can move things around and no one says “boo.”)

· Shooting costume commissions when they’re ready so I have shots for my portfolio under decent lighting.

· Having fewer worries about content and quality photos.

· Video!!!

If the backdrops were larger and my floor wasn’t carpeted, I might consider shooting my “full reveal” photos at home. I’ll be in a dance studio for those for a bit.

One major thing I learned in Hollywood was the importance of good lighting. I’m glad we have it for this sort of thing.

Thank you for the support!

(By the way, this is the boa I got from Blaze earlier this year. It’s the big-ass, 24-ply boa in “apricot.” It’s totally coral, but whatever. I have another one like this on the way in baby blue. The boas for my insane fans aren’t nearly this thick. I think they’re 8 ply, but they get doubled up on the fan staves.)