advertising, art, beauty, behind the scenes, commercial photography, editorial, fashion, film, hair, large format photography, makeup, photography

Behind the Scenes Fashion and Beauty Using Film

During my fashion and beauty shoots I have a good amount of downtime. It never ceases to amaze me how much time it takes to make beautiful women beautiful… talking about hair and makeup. For most shoots I allocate one to two hours for my team to prep the model for set… sometimes more, depending on how complicated the look is. This leaves me time to have some fun.

I have been documenting the process of prepping the models using my Holga (a plastic toy medium format film camera) and my newest camera body, a Toyo Robos (large format 4×5″ sheet film view camera).

The Holga is a blast to shoot with. You don’t know what you are going to get, focus, exposure, light leaks, etc, but that random effect is what makes the images beautiful!

With the Toyo 4X5 view camera, the process of shooting is slowed down. The camera is on a large tripod or camera stand. It takes a while to frame and focus using a loupe through the ground glass with a dark cloth over your head. Once you are satisfied with composition and focus, you then load a film back into place, obscuring the ground glass viewfinder so you no longer can see what is in your frame. You wait till you feel you have your moment and press down on the cable release to fire the shutter. The process is counter-intuitive to typical behind the scene photos, typically taken with a dslr or an i-phone.

Toyo Robos 4X5

Here are some images I have captured using both cameras, along with one taken using my Canon 5D Mk III.

www.erichason.com

behind the scenes, commercial photography, family, friends, kids, lifestyle, photographer, the good life

Baby photo

When my wife was expecting a child, we did what many first time parents do, enroll in a child birth class. There we met 3 other couples who were also expecting their first child. This core was the base for a weekly mothers group that grew to a membership of 13. It was instant community which provide support, camaraderie, and much needed wine. (Insert Park Slope, Brooklyn joke here.)

Over the years, the kids grew and there was less need (and time) for meetings. The babies developed into independent people (well, you know what I mean) with their own interests and friends.

In August the kids will all be going off to school spreading themselves across the continental United States. Last Sunday we had a reunion. It was very sweet how the kids instantly reconnected, even if it took a moment to figure out who was who. When the party was starting to break up, my son Sam was not ready to leave. He hung back with a half dozen other peers, and slowly made his way home. I hope the bond and memories hold strong.

I am excited for Sam preparing for his new stage in life. I will try not to get too nostalgic.
Nice to get a last group photo.

Fashion photographer Eric Hason photographs teens getting ready to go off to college.

My son Sam is back row, third from left, wearing a hoodie.

Sam and Zack, born a day apart, then and now.

www.erichason.com

beauty, behind the scenes, charity, commercial photography, Community Service, Flashes of Hope, makeup, model, photographer, Volunteer

Photography For a Great Cause

I spend most of my days shooting, producing, and marketing myself for fashion and beauty work. I have always allocated part of my time to community service, mostly working with kids. Besides my commitment to hosting foreign exchange students (currently Caterina from Italy) I am the New York Chapter Director for Flashes of Hope. We bring commercial photographers and makeup artists into centers that treat juvenile cancer and photograph the patients and their families.

Last week I brought photographer Dennis Kleiman into Cohen’s Children’s Hospital. Dennis is an extremely talented, very experienced editorial photographer. Dennis and I shared a Dumbo studio ten years ago. Recently Dennis and his wife Kelsy founded Stomping Ground, a successful company that has reinvented school photography. No more stiff, bland, uniform portraits. Stomping Ground brings out the personality of each individual kid.

Again, thank you to Richard, Anna and Dawn from NuBest Salon, Manhasset, NY for providing the hair and makeup to make our models feel and look so beautiful!

Dennis Kleiman photographs a patient and his mom for Flashes of Hope, NYC

Photographer Dennis Kleiman shoots patient for Flashes of Hope, NYC Chapter

photography, flashes of hope, nyc, New York, Manhattan, Dennis Kleiman, Stomping Ground, charity, makeup, hair, NuBest Salon, Manhasset, Glam

Anna Naso of NuBest Salon, Manhasset, NY puts the finishing touches on a patient’s mom’s makeup.

photography, flashes of hope, nyc, New York, Manhattan, Dennis Kleiman, Stomping Ground, charity

Photographer Dennis Kleiman shoots patient and his mom for Flashes of Hope, NYC Chapter

www.erichason.com

beauty, commercial photography, editorial, fashion, fashion magazine, fashion photography, hair, makeup, model, photographer, photography

Fashion editorial published in the current issue of Prestige International Magazine

On a cold, snowy, New York City January Sunday I had the opportunity to shoot a fashion editorial
for Prestige International Magazine, published in Paris, distributed internationally.

I was very fortunate to have the beautiful Sofitel New York as a location for the shoot. Due to the popularity of the hotel, dates were tight but the management graciously gave us a luxury suite with a huge patio and killer views and access to beautiful conference rooms and the lobby.

Fashion editor David Zambrana (I shot the opening photo on his website) and I decided on a suiting story. We wanted to book a sexy, cool model with an androgynous look, who better than Britt Linn from Red Model Management? Makeup artist Aeriel Payne, hair stylist Isaac Davidson, and manicurist Naoko Saita were given the enviable task of making the beautiful Britt camera ready!

It was a fun day running around the hotel, giving the guests a behind the scenes look at a fashion photo shoot, and making beautiful photos which I am very proud to share!

www.erichason.com

behind the scenes, bridal fashion, commercial photography, editorial, fashion, fashion magazine, fashion photography, hair, lighting, makeup, model, photographer, photography, studio

Behind the scenes- Miss USA Erin Brady for Aventura Magazine

I had the opportunity to photograph Miss USA Erin Brady for Aventura Magazine’s June Bridal issue.

Erin was incredible to work with; down to earth, beautiful, fun and game. Fashion stylist Angellika Morton pulled beautiful gowns for the shoot, with wonderful jewelry,accessories and floral arrangements. Makeup, hair, and nails was the talented team of Aeriel Payne, Ayato Yokojima and Noako Saita.

We had a fun day, shot eight looks, and Erin was out by 5:45 to be whisked away to a charity black tie event.

Here are some behind the scenes photos from the day. Can’t wait for the magazine to publish so I can share the final photos!

hair, makeup, nails, photo shoot, bridal fashion, photography,

Erin getting glammed up by Naoko (nails) and Ayato (hair). Aeriel in the background prepping for makeup.

Erin having her hair styled by Ayato while I photo bomb for a selfie.

Makeup artist Aeriel Payne gets happy!

Makeup artist Aeriel Payne applying eye shadow by the natural light of a window.

Ayato on set puts the finishing touches on Erin’s hair.

Showing off the bridal gowns!

Stylist Angellika Morton and I mug for the camera.

Gotta take a selfie with Miss USA!

www.erichason.com

commercial photography, editorial, fashion magazine, fashion photography, men's fashion, model, photographer, photography, studio

Men’s fashion editorial – And Men Magazine

Sharing a fashion editorial published in And Men Magazine. Long time collaborator Andre Austin styled the shoot which took place in my New York studio. Sean Harju from Soul Artist Management was the model.

And Men is a beautiful oversized magazine published in Australia twice a year and distributed worldwide. The quality of and standards for photography is incredibly high. It is always an honor to have work included in the book.

Andre Austin is a wonderful fashion stylist and a long time collaborator. He has a great aesthetic and has a great sense for styling both men and women. With men he takes classic looks but gives them a whimsical twist which makes you look twice.

I enjoy shooting men’s fashion. In many ways it is much easier than photographing women. Usually there is a lot less going on with hair and makeup, taking 20 minutes to prep and groom a guy. Also the guys just need to look like handsome, cool dudes, which they usually are anyway, we just dress them up a bit!

www.erichason.com

behind the scenes, commercial photography, Community Service, Flashes of Hope, photographer, photography, the good life, Volunteer

Flashes of Hope – Chapter Director and behind the scenes at NYU Langone Medical Center

When I am not doing this or this I spend time as the

NYC Chapter Director of Flashes of Hope,

a nationwide charity that brings photographers into hospitals to photograph children being treated for cancer.

I have been volunteering with kids for most of my adult life through the NYC Board of Ed as a literacy coach, Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters as a “big”, and AFS hosting and working with foreign exchange students.

I think I saw Flashes of Hope mentioned on Facebook. I had been looking for a way to merge two of my passions, community service with kids and photography. Flashes of Hope provided the perfect opportunity. I submitted myself as an available photographer and when presented with available dates, jumped at the opportunity.

I have shot for Flashes of Hope four times, each experience being different (hospital treatment center, summer camp for kids with cancer, hospital family fun day at a church rec center, and photographing family, friends and clinicians saying goodbye to a child who had just passed away. My passion for the organization grew after each shoot. I was aware that New York did not have an active chapter director so I recently offered my services.

We are constantly inundated with images , most of them trivial and self-indulgent. Flashes of Hope has commercial photographers take truly meaningful photos of children and families in the middle of dealing with a medical crisis. At a Flashes of Hope shoot the patients and their families offer the photographer a wide range of real emotion that normally can’t be captured in a 15 minute session (joy, vulnerability, silliness, sadness… but mostly love). The families are so grateful for the photos that they receive. They don’t realize that they are the ones who are actually doing the giving.

My role as Chapter Director is coordinating photo shoots (dates, photographers, makeup artists, paperwork, etc) and fundraising. At each shoot I am a bit jealous of the working photographer. I wish I could be the one setting up the lights, interacting with the kids and families on set, and creating the beautiful images that will be cherished for a lifetime. The reality is it is a pleasure watching others go through and share that experience.

Throughout my life of volunteering with kids I have found that the more I “give”, the more I get back. I am not good enough with words to describe what it feels like when a child you are working with can finally read a book cover to cover, when your little brother hikes up to a top of a rise and exclaims “I have never climbed a mountain before!” or the teen you have hosted from a foreign country thanks you for the best year of his/her life. Photographers can’t cure a child’s cancer but we can bring joy into lives of people who are having a difficult time. Flashes of Hope helps me realize what a real problem is and appreciate how fortunate and blessed we all are.

Here are some behind the scenes photos I took of volunteer photographer Jayne Wexler shooting at NYU Langone Medical Center.

Jayne chats up her model.

Photographer Eric Hason photographs Jayne shooting a patient for Flashes of Hope.

Our supermodel is a natural poser.

Behind the scenes photo of patient posing for photograph.

Our supermodel vogues for the camera.

Eric Hason photographs behind the scenes at a Flashes of Hope shoot

Jayne’s assistant demonstrates a jump technique.

Eric Hason photographs behind the scenes at Flashes of Hope photo shoot

Our supermodel implements her own version of the jumping technique she was just taught.

www.erichason.com

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NYC Designer Lee Anderson Part II – the photos

As promised, here are images from the Spring 2014 photo shoot for New York fashion designer Lee Anderson.

We were very fortunate to have the stunning Clara Settje (Trump Model Management) modeling for us. The talented Xtah Weiss did an incredible job with hair and makeup.

This was a pretty straight forward shoot using a white background, a wind machine on Clara’s hair initially, then giving her a more glamorous look the second half of the shoot. Lee always brings incredible shoes and accessories to finish each look.

Clara was incredible bringing each look to life. The shoot was held at my NYC studio in the Flatiron District.

NYC photographer Eric Hason photographs model in dress

What more needs to be said? A picture speaks 1000 words.

Eric Hason photographs a white dress on model, New York City.

I love the shoulder and luxurious fabric that make this simple white dress so special.

Stunning fabric elegantly draped.

Love the royal blue and the necklace is to die for.

Fashion photography NYC shift dress bold necklace.

A black and white shift made with contrasting patterned fabrics. Elegant and playful. Styled with a bold necklace and a pop of red.

Stunning shoulder detail on a column, luxurious fabric

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Laser cut top to a beautiful gown.

NYC photographer photographs model wearing gown in Manhattan studio

A simple bodice with a flowing skirt with fun embellishments.

Eric Hason photographs model in dress, NYC

A beautiful sheen and laser cut detail make this dress so stunning.

Eric Hason photographer NYC photographs a model in gown

Bold color contrast and an playful but elegant cut.

NYC photographer Eric Hason photographs detail of dress

Stunning layering of fabric.

New York Fashion photographer photographs model in gown

An elegant muted sea green gown, wonderful volume and drape.

New York Fashion photographer Eric Hason photographs a dress

Lee loves using rich colors and bold pattens on a simple shift silhouette.

www.erichason.com

behind the scenes, commercial photography, fashion, fashion photography, photographer, Uncategorized

Client feature – New York fashion designer Lee Anderson

Lee Anderson is a custom couture fashion designer in Manhattan.

I have been photographing her designs going on ten years. Lee sells custom garments soley out of her Lexington Avenue shop. Her loyal clientele appreciate her fearless aesthetic using bold colors, strong patterns, rich texture, and wonderful silhouettes to create both classic and whimsical fashion for every body type. Her husband and partner Nick Angelakis takes care of production and the business end and daughter Kyra helps manage the main store and outlet across Lexington Ave.

I love working with Lee. The photo shoot is always elegant and fun. The first time I worked with her I found myself pulling a stuffed, mounted trophy fish off the studio wall as a prop.

Here are some photographs I took of Lee, Nick and their staff at the Upper East Side shop and their Garment Center factory.
Also attaching her bio at the end of the post. Later this week I will share some photos we have created together.

Lee Anderson at her Lexington Avenue shop which sells her custom couture designs.

Partner Nick Angelakis at Lee Anderson, custom couture atelier on the upper east side of Manhattan

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Staff helping a customer get a custom fit of a gown.

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Sales staff helps client select fabric and color on a custom couture dress at Lee Anderson, Manhattan

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Sales staff adjusts the sleeve of a custom jacket.

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Sales staff at Lee Anderson wearing her designs.

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Tailor creating a custom fitted couture garment

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Sketches and a post card on the wall of Lee Anderson’s New York Garment Center factory.

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Cutting from patterns at the NYC Garment Center factory.

Fashion photographer Eric Hason photographs at a garment center factory, New York, Manhattan, NYC

Cutting from patterns at the NYC Garment Center factory.

Frank checks fabric samples.

Factory manager Frank pulling fabric to be cut for a custom garment

Cutting fabric for a custom design at the New York Garment Center factory.

Delivering the finished garment.

Lee Anderson had already garnered a reputation for creating custom made couture clothing that embraces chromatic luxury in world renown fabrics when she established her design business in 1980 in a townhouse just off Madison Avenue in New York City. Lee graduated from the Traphagen School of Design, founded in the 1920s by Ethel Traphagan. The school was known for its technical orientation of the art of fashion design, offering courses in pattern-making and drafting. Although the school closed its doors in the early 1990s, such fashion icons as Geoffrey Beene, James Galanos, Mary McFadden, John Kloss, Christos Yiannakou and Franklin Rowe are among its alumni.

After being introduced to Seventh Avenue by Ralph Lauren, Lee worked as a design assistant to legends John Kloss (a fellow Traphagen alumnus), most famous for designing a bra that appeared not to exist in 1974 for Lily of France and Herbert Kasper for Joan Leslie. Kasper made his name as a designer by working for Joan Leslie from 1963 to 1985, becoming vice president of the company in 1980 and creating high fashion looks that reflected trends but were commercial and wearable.

Soon after striking out on her own, Lee Anderson’s collection was featured at Barney’s New York, Bergdorf Goodman and other fine specialty stores in the U.S. Today, the designer dedicates herself to her signature couture collection and special New York clientele. She continues to create clothing that embraces chromatic luxury using the most extraordinary and researched fabrics of the world, including iridescent taffetas, brocades, hand fringed British district checks and Celtic tweeds.

Lee Anderson Couture caters to a clientele who share her love for the highest pinnacle in luxury fashion.

www.erichason.com

beauty, behind the scenes, commercial photography, fashion, fashion photography, hair, lighting, makeup, model, photographer, photography, studio

Beauty photography, behind the scenes

I spent a beautiful NYC spring day in my studio with the talented makeup artist and hair stylist Tom Venditelli of Agency Gerard and manicurist Naoko Saita

Creating Beauty Images For Our Portfolios.

Natural makeup, natural hair, clean manicure and soft lighting along with Brazilian beauty Kelie Santos (DNA) and the equally lovely Jandra D (Next).

It was a fun, easy day, low pressure, hair flying in the wind, making beautiful photos and listening to great music.

My favorite track of the day was Vavava Voom by 70’s glam rocker Brett Smiley.

Here are some behind the scenes photos to whet my appetite to share the final images! Kelie is being primped by Tom on set. Jandra is doing her “Cousin It” imitation making sure her hair is voluminous and loose.

Eric Hason Photography, New York

Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle, Portrait

Category Archives: commercial photography

Behind the Scenes Fashion and Beauty Using Film

Baby photo

Photography For a Great Cause

Fashion editorial published in the current issue of Prestige International Magazine

Behind the scenes- Miss USA Erin Brady for Aventura Magazine

I had the opportunity to photograph Miss USA Erin Brady for Aventura Magazine’s June Bridal issue.

Men’s fashion editorial – And Men Magazine

Flashes of Hope – Chapter Director and behind the scenes at NYU Langone Medical Center

NYC Chapter Director of Flashes of Hope,

NYC Designer Lee Anderson Part II – the photos

Client feature – New York fashion designer Lee Anderson

Lee Anderson is a custom couture fashion designer in Manhattan.

Beauty photography, behind the scenes

Creating Beauty Images For Our Portfolios.