Foxy Pinups Perfected: Highlighting The Eyes with Lighting

I'm starting a Saturday series of blog posts and I am SUPER excited about it. 

(You all know me though-it doesn't take too much to get me excited!!!) 

I'm calling it "Foxy Pinups Pefected" and each blog will talk about things to look for when choosing, and also photographing, beautiful pinup models.

Without further adu... Blog Number 1, Commence!

If you guys were nerdy like me in high school and drew cartoon characters all over your Lisa Frank spirals, then bare with me! In those cartoon drawings, I would always draw in a little white bubble or two in the eyeballs. I'm sure you guys drew it too without even realizing it! You were drawing one of the most essential tools in highlighting your subject's eyes; a catch light. 

Wikipedia define's Catchlight or catch light as:

a light source that causes a specular highlight in a subject's eye in an image.^[1] They are also referred to as eye lights or Obies, the latter a reference to Merle Oberon, who was frequently lit using this technique. 

With pinup photography, because of the style you're emulating, you always want to have catch lights present and reflected in your subject's eyes. This adds dimension and depth to the eye and also let's you know that the lighting is correct on your subject's face. I went ahead and pointed out the catch light below in the gorgeous Laura's eyes.

To make sure a catch light is present in your subject's eyes, look to your light source. Here in our studio, our fill light is named "Phil" and we use him for catch lights in our Foxy Pinup girl's eyes. We have Phil located off to the right and slightly behind the photographer. 

When shooting your subject, be aware of where your fill light is in regards to their eyes. Always be thinking about your subject's brow and eye shape. Someone with deep set eyes will need the fill to be more centered behind the photographer and their chins lifted slightly higher to get that same catch light effect rather than someone with wide set eyes or almond shaped eyes. 

To me, having catch lights present in Pinup Photographs separates the professionals from amateurs.

When your subject doesn't have light reflected back in her eyes you have....

SHARK EYES!!!!! NOOOOOOO!!!!

Have no fear! Now that you know about catch lights you can:

1. As a pinup photographer, figure out how to make catch lights work for your images

2. As a client, choose a pinup photographer that understand this concept.

Toodles!


love,

h i l a r y h o p e 

Foxy Pinup Giveaway 2013 | Kansas City Foxy Pinup Photographer

A  little Birdie Told Me 
The Foxy Pinup Giveaway is Back! 

The Deets:

This giveaway is very special to me and to Amanda. We absolutely LOVE our jobs because we get to help women find their inner Foxy and feel beautiful in a very unique and fun way. We would love to share the Foxy Pinup experience with someone who has had a sub-par 2012 year. This is a treat for that special lady and her Foxy Friend, with love from us in helping her find her beautiful self again. 

Who wins?:

The winner of this contest is someone who shows love to everyone she meets even in times of trouble in her own life. We are looking for a woman that needs a little pampering, especially if the past year has been hard on her. We want to give this to someone that really deserves it and needs a little loving in their life at this moment. 

How do we decide?:

We pick the "who" above based upon what is written in the nomination by a friend. You cannot nominate yourself. The nomination of the "who" describes the character of the nominee, why you think she deserves the Foxy Pinup experience at this time and any other fun things you'd like to put in about you and yourr nominee. 

The nominee + the nominator BOTH win a Foxy Pinup Session together!

Check out this blog to see last years winners, Stefanie & Brandi!

To Submit:

+Make sure both you and your nominee "like" the Hilary Hope Photography Facebook Page

+Share our Facebook Page on your timeline (make sure you tag @Hilary Hope Photography)

+Share This Blog Post Link on Your Facebook Page after you've emailed us your entry-ie. I JUST entered the Foxy Pinup Giveaway from @Hilary Hope Photography! Have you?  http://hilaryhopephoto.blogspot.com/2013/01/foxy-pinup-giveaway-2013-kansas-city.html

Then send the following information by email to hilary@hilaryhopephoto.com

+Subject Line: Foxy Giveaway for a Foxy Friend

+Include your name, age (must be over 21), and telephone number

+Your friend that you are nominating's name, age (must be over 21), telephone number and email address

+Reasons outlining why your friend deserves the Foxy Pinup Experience, especially if there are events that pertain to their past year's current situation

Fine Print:

• You must be 21 years of age or older to participate and all the above actions must be completed for your entry into our contest to be valid. 
• Entries start today, January 9th, 2013, and will be accepted until January 22nd, 2013-midnight central standard time.  
• The winners of the contest both win a Foxy Pinup Session together, which includes hair styling, vintage makeup application, a pinup outfit, a boudoir outfit, an hour in studio, photos together and single shots, an 8 x 10 for each participant and an online webshow gallery to share with all their special someones. 
• Session must be executed in February or March, 2013 or prize is forfeited. 
• Winners must be Kansas City Area residents, or be able to make it into the Kansas City Area with their own transportation on the day of their session. 
• Their is no purchase necessary and purchase will not help your chance of winning.
• This contest is in no way associated with the company of Facebook and we release Facebook from any and all liability.
• Amanda and I will choose and announce the winners on February 5th.

Lots of Love and Happy Giveaways!

h i l a r y h o p e 

Will You be Mine? | Valentine's Day Cards from Hilary Hope Photography's Foxy Pinups

The front is a gorgeous Foxy Pinup Photo of you!

The back has your special message to your handsome beau!

So we've got one question for you:

Who will be YOUR Foxy Valentine?

XOXO,

h i l a r y h o p e 

PS. We got this awesome template from Birdesign! Check them out if you get a chance!

Positive Talk Time [Talking to Photogs]

Usually my lunch break is full of fun family photography blog reading, a cookie, possibly a number 1 from Jimmy Johns, and a little dose of positive. But today I've found myself reading some pretty negative photography posts out there on the internets. So I'm taking it on myself to boost today with a little positivity.

I know why this negativity is out there- right now we photographers are stressed! (Let's make this jump-the general populous is totally stressed out right now). People are running to and from work, Christmas shopping, making gingerbread people with perfect button noses, frosted feet and gumdrop buttons. (Confession? Mine somehow never make it on to the poor cookied dude...they end up in my tummy waaaaay beforehand). 

Then there is the professional photographer group-we're working on orders, deadlines, forgetting to eat. Glaring at a computer screen for hours on end can make you downtrodden...  It can be hard to keep things in perspective.

But here is something you need to remember as a photographer and business owner in this stressful season. You get to do what you love! You get to interact daily with your beautiful clients! You are BLESSED with this opportunity to provide for your family by doing something you love.

My little man and me! Photo c/o Blooming Images

Now what I'm about to tell you will change your business if you let it! 

I'm talking to all the photographers and business owners out there, here it is: 

Be Happy with your Business.

If you aren't happy, you either need to change something or get an attitude adjustment. Don't sit and stir in unhappiness because unhappiness breeds bitterness, which leads to anger, which leads to... the dark side.

And that's not good for anyone, especially your business, your clients, and Skywalker.

I love you! You can do this!

hilary hope bloomquist

over & out.

Black Friday Deals from Foxy Pinups: TODAY ONLY!

Model Search: Foxy Pinups Oo La La | Kansas City Pinup and Boudoir Photographer

This idea has really got a hold on me...

Foxy Pinups: Oo La La

We are starting a new devision of Foxy Pinups featuring modern and classic boudoir photography! This division will be called Oo La La Boudoir!

We are looking for 3-4 women to be in our exclusively Boudoir "Oo La La" Portfolio! 

Sessions will take place at the Courtyard Marriott in Briarcliff during a weekend in November/December or even January/February depending on what works well for all our models!

The session will include:

+Professional hair and makeup styling by our licensed cosmetologist Amanda Adams

+ Access to our boudoir closet (but you are more then welcome to bring in your own lingerie and boudoir outfits)

+Unlimited number of outfit changes per time allotted

+ Hour long boudoir session in the King Suite on the top floor of the Courtyard Marriott

+Shareable online webshow photo gallery

+1 free 5 x 7 to thank you for modeling for us

+Ability to purchase additional images from your session

Note: All prints and final work is airbrushed to perfection!

All this is Free to our Selected Models!

Who we are looking for:

We are looking for 3-4 local Kansas City women to model for us! 

We are looking for all shapes and sizes-hourglass, pear, column, goblet, and apple shaped women.

Model must be 21 or older.

Model must also be okay with boudoir photos being on display on our internet portfolios (online website, facebook, twitter, etc)-we own copyrights in all images created,

Must be outgoing, kindhearted, fun and full of energy! 

Being a mom is a plus, but not necessary! (We just love to spoil our Foxy Pinup mommas! :D)

Session Style Details:

These photos will be classic, sexy and sultry.

These photos will scream Hollywood Glamour.

These photos WILL NOT be trashy.

These photos WILL NOT have nudity (implied nudity only).

We want to keep our classic Foxy Pinup style and bring it into the modern boudoir photography world.

Interested in modeling A Free "Oo La La" Boudoir Session from us?

Email the following information to hilary@hilaryhopephoto.com:

Subject line: Oo La La

Have we photographed you before?

Are you okay with photos of you in lingerie being displayed on the internet?

Help us get to know you:

What height and body shape are you?

How old are you?

What's your day to day style?

What's something your friends always says about you (ie. "that I'm always smiling," "that I laugh super loud," "that I'm crazy outgoing," etc.)

Include a photo of you! It can be any type of photo, but we are looking for one that captures your personality.

MUST APPLY BY OCTOBER 30th, 2012!

If you'd like to view our Foxy Pinup Portfolio, feel free to click here for our website and here for our facebook page.

Also, PLEASE, if you don't know me, check out my bio to get to know me a little better before you apply! I promise these photos are going to be crazy fun and you'll walk away with something just as beautiful as you are. :)

Excitedly yours,

h i l a r y  h o p e 

Happy October! from Foxy Pinups' Calendar Girls | Kansas City Pinup + Boudoir Photographer

Meghan makes a gorgeous Miss October! 
Click to enlarge

xoxo,

h i l a r y  h o p e