markvelasquez

BACK TO OJAI, CA: Pt. 23

BACK TO OJAI, CA: Pt. 22

As the morning wore on, Brooke held her own. Cold and trying to fight off the bugs, she was still up for playing in the water. Still almost waist deep myself, my legs devoured by the mosquitos that love me so much, I tried my best to stay positive and encouraging while capturing her at her best.

BACK TO OJAI, CA: Pt. 21

BACK TO OJAI, CA: Pt. 20

I love this image. For as cold and miserable and covered in bug bites as she was, Brooke was still having a good time. Despite whatever hardships she may go through, her energetic spirit wins through and helps her overcome it all.

BACK TO OJAI, CA: Pt. 19

Brooke always knows her best angles, she makes it all seem so effortless. It is always a pleasure to capture images of her.

BACK TO OJAI, CA: Pt. 18

BACK TO OJAI, CA: Pt. 17

BACK TO OJAI, CA: Pt. 16

No one could ever accuse Brooke of being dedicated to what she does or for not making the most of it. When I finally, awkwardly got into a decent position in the river, slipping over submerged, moss-covered rocks up to my waist, I suggested she get a bit lower in the water. This was her first reaction.

BACK TO OJAI, CA: Pt. 15

Her shape is incredible here, right? To think she hadn't started modeling until a female friend in the industry convinced her to two years before.

BACK TO OJAI, CA: Pt. 14

BACK TO OJAI, CA: Pt. 13

BACK TO OJAI, CA: Pt. 12

BACK TO OJAI, CA: Pt. 11

BACK TO OJAI, CA: Pt. 10

BACK TO OJAI, CA: Pt. 9

BACK TO OJAI, CA: Pt. 8

In most of these shots, she's standing at least ankle deep in sludgy, mossy water.

BACK TO OJAI, CA: Pt. 7

Standing in the river in Mosquito Central, Brooke was a trooper, as she always is. She'd be in the moment, posing and working the light for the camera, only occasionally yelling "fuck!" and slapping away that one mosquito that made the moment unbearable.

BACK TO OJAI, CA: Pt. 6

It didn't take long for Brooke and I to feel right at home in the location. The sunshine was perfect, the weather was warm, and there was just enough of a gentle breeze to make all the mosquitos swarm around us, causing us to be covered in bug bites.

BACK TO OJAI, CA: Pt. 5

Eventually we found a makeshift camp down by the river, which had a sofa and some netting near a campfire. I assumed the family had arranged it, and we tried not to disturb the area while making full use of it. Someone had made a small dock extending out into the shallow, cool, flowing water, and Brooke almost immediately began to pose on it.

BACK TO OJAI, CA: Pt. 4

The family informed us we were trespassing on private land, and that they had been given permission by the owner to live there. I casually implied we were just going for a harmless hike to take a few photos, and eventually convinced them to let us continue on our way unimpeded.

BACK TO OJAI, CA: Pt. 3

After parking along the road of a curving hill, we hooped a fence (something I don't enjoy doing) and hiked down a dirt path to an area Brooke thought she remembered. We soon encountered a family living inside of a storage container just out of sight from the road, who claimed to have fallen on hard times. 

BACK TO OJAI, CA: Pt. 2

Ojai, California (pronounced like the surprised greeting "Oh hi!") is just east of Ventura and a small little scrub-brush of a town. Brooke Grew up near the area and we decided to meet there for a photo shoot. I hadn't been there in years, but was open to a different kind of experience. Boy, did we get one.

BACK TO OJAI, CA: Pt. 1

A few years ago, Brooke Eva and I went and had a small adventure in the hills of Ojai, Ca. This is a true story.

-

Don't miss this full, uncensored photo series of our odd outdoor excursion at the $25 Level!

COMING IN NOVEMBER!

Discover what you've missed in October and anticipate what is to come in November! There are lots of surprises coming in November, from all new work to whole archived shoots that have never been shared online. Today is the last day of the month, which means the exclusive $25 October Perk can be yours if you sign up before midnight!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, EVERYONE! Please be safe out there!

OCTOBER'S END-OF-THE-MONTH PERK!

This month the sponsors who keep their $25 patronage level will receive a link to over 315 images of this adorable model. Several years ago I spent an afternoon shooting with her in her bedroom as she tried on various dance leotards, leg warmers, and thigh-high socks. She was fun and silly, busty and adorable.

As I just wrote to someone in a message:

"I was about to start processing this set, picking the best dozen or so to share on my feed, but then I saw how adorable sh...