markvelasquez

Hiding from the Light, Pt. 18

I love the energy in this one.

Hiding from the Light, Pt. 17

It's sometimes weird to think that my simple, cramped little bed can be the site of so many great, fun images.

Hiding from the Light, Pt. 16

It's difficult to believe she is completely all-natural. The fact that she's been a competitive ballroom dancer for over a decade doesn't hurt, either.

Hiding from the Light, Pt. 15

Now approaching 30, Cherish is still as fit and fresh and energetic as she was when we met at 18. What do you think?

Hiding from the Light, Pt. 14

Next, Cherish tried on some new, fancy lingerie she had bought specifically for our little shoot. Above you can see just how muich fun we really have when we hang out. She had been having a really bad few days, and after spending a few houors with me venting, crying, shooting, and laughing, she told me she felt 100% better. I always look forward to spending time with such close old friends, no matter the situation or topics discussed.

Hiding from the Light, Pt. 13

I tried experimenting with more double exposures, but for some reason they just haven't been working or looking good to me lately. Maybe I need to try a different approach, or maybe I need to be more deliberate. Either way, I'm open to any advice people may have. What do you think makes a double exposure successful?

Hiding from the Light, Pt. 12

I was so pleased to catch these lines, since my bedroom is mostly dark year round and I'm never home for the brief period that the sun shines through my rear-facing window. For as cliche as this concept is, it still works here. Cliches exist for a reason.

Hiding from the Light, Pt. 11

It's far too easy to become intoxicated with awoman like Cherish. Her beauty and grace, especially in still images, can drive a lonely man mad. Thankfully I know how goofy, dorky, and high-maintenance she can be from time to time, and so I love her like an uncle. It helps being older than her, being able to offer her advice and having her listen when i tell her how crazy she's acting in her life.

Hiding from the Light, Pt. 10

Hiding from the Light, Pt. 9

Hiding from the Light, Pt. 8

There were just too many great images to choose from, so I just thought I'd include them all. This set ends up containing at least 50 separate images alone.

Hiding from the Light, Pt. 7

Even though her shape is obviously the attraction here, her glowing blue eyes, which are not enhanced by me at all, really stand out as striking.

Hiding from the Light, Pt. 6

Isn't she remarkably gorgeous? What do you think?

Hiding from the Light, Pt. 5

Cherish's natural curves are almost unreal, especially in person.

Hiding from the Light, Pt. 4

Cherish prides herself on never taking who she is or what she looks like seriously.

Hiding from the Light, Pt. 3

Knowing her as well as I do, I love these quiet shots because they do not match her personality at all.

Hiding from the Light, Pt. 2

My beautiful friend Cherish is as naturally stunning as she is a great big dork.

Hiding from the Light, Pt. 1

Here is the second and last part of this fun, beautiful shoot with my dear friend, Cherish.

-

Find this full set at the always updated $25 Level!

FEBRUARY PERK!

Hello again! If you sponsor $25 or more through the end of the month of Februar, you will receive a folder full of over 130 candid, uncensored cell phone photos I have taken over the course of about six years. These are never-seen images that truly show behind-the-scenes scenarios and instances that even I can't exactly remember. I think you'll laugh and be inspired and be confused by the things in this special folder.

(THIS WILL NOT BE RELEASED UNTIL MARCH 10TH)

Stormy Weather!

It doesn't rain often in drought-stricken California, but when it does, I try to talk one of my beautiful friends into posing out in the gloom. Here is one such example.

-

Find this brand new set at the $25 Level!

Stormy Weather, Pt. 28

When she could finally take no more, I told her to rush back inside my pick-up truck to get warm while I collected the wet clothes she had disgarded and the empty water bottles I had emptied on her out on the road. 

When I came back inside the truck, I found her stripped completely naked, sitting with her large scarf around her, hugging and drinking from the Aquafina bottle I had filled with hot water from my house. She finally had a smile on her face after being miserably cold the last h...

Stormy Weather, Pt. 27

Even though she had been freezing all this day, I had hoped the warm water I had brought to pour on her would help take the edge off of her discomfort. Sadly, it really only made it worse after a minute or so.

The water droplets on her arms and legs are my favorite part of this image.

Stormy Weather, Pt. 26

The dark wetness of her bodysuit looked great in black and white, and I knew how well they would turn out once processed. Do you like these shots?

Stormy Weather, Pt. 25

I rarely try to go against the wishes of my model, especially when they're physical comfort is involved. It was towards the end of the shoot here where she confided that she didn't think she could go on any further, she was just too darn cold. I still persisted, asking her to give me just a few more shots, and thankfully she said okay.

Stormy Weather, Pt. 24

I never used to like black and white images, neither digital or in film, or rather, i didn't like them when I took them. Color to me conveys passion, vivaciousness, intensity. But in the last two years I've finally become comfortable creating black and white images, and thankfully some of my newer monochromatic images are some of my favorites I've ever made.

Here you can see the subtle right side of her bodysuit that didn't get completely wet. I could have changed it in Photoshop, but left it ...

Stormy Weather, Pt. 23

This is probably my favorite shot of all the good images we shot that frigid day. It's sexy and strong and powerful, yet vulnerable and complicated. I have had this as the background image on my phone since I shot it, and I still can't stop staring at all the different aspects of such a seemingly simple image.

It feels similar to an old Tin Type photo, and apart from the bodysuit, it could easily have been taken 100 years ago or more.

Stormy Weather, Pt. 22

I love how timeless this black and white version is. I can't decide. Which do you prefer? The color or the black and white??

Stormy Weather, Pt. 21

I really love this color version, but the black and white one pops really well, also. This is the benefits and hazards of too many options in the digital process.

Stormy Weather, Pt. 20

Once again, I couldn't decide whcih version I liked better, so I am deciding to share both the color and black and white version. Which do you prefer? I have more of these comparisons in this set.

Stormy Weather, Pt. 19

Here's another great shot of her looking effortless beautiful.