Lou O’ Bedlam’s Friday Feature: Amanda Riley

By Lou Noble on December 4th, 2009

Last Sunday I organized a trip out to an abandoned ranch in the middle of Santa Clarita, called up some of my favorite local photographers, some of my favorite models, and the lot of us went out there to take some pictures, kibbitz, have ourselves a great time.

And that we did.

Just happened to bring along with us some Ford Models, too, something I wouldn’t have normally considered, as I don’t usually like working with professional models. But this here was a special occasion. And special occasions call for special measures. Like Amanda, here. Amanda is a special measure.

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Because, see, something like this is — while not the Normandy invasion — it is a production. This I learned from doing the same thing last year. Only last year I didn’t give as much thought to the whole affair, and while it was fun, it was a bit too loose, and a few too many hiccups.

So this year, I put my brain to work.

You don’t just want to invite a bunch of random folks, even if they’re all your friends. Photographers, they be a strange breed, see. Some photographers, great people, but horrible to be around while they shoot.

And beyond that, some photographers just have, well, some of us are just plain odd. Maybe we don’t want anyone watching while we shoot. Maybe we have a very abrasive directing style. WE’RE ARTISTS, SEE, WE’RE WEIRD!! Getting a bunch of weird people together, that’s delicate, man. And this is something I’ve definitely learned the hard way. There are folks I love hanging out with, love seeing what they come up with from a photo shoot, but, when it comes down to it, that I just don’t wanna shoot with. It’s basically a bit like planning where everyone sits for dinner at a wedding reception. Will everyone get along? Do any people involved have a problem with anybody else involved?

Then the models come in. Can the models work with several photographers? Are they divas? Cool to just lay in the cut for awhile, so we can shoot the other ones?

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Like a chef in a fancy kitchen, like a cop going after a big crook: all the pieces matter.

This year I got wicked lucky. All the photographers, in addition to being incredibly talented, were just a super swell bunch as well. We brought snacks, drinks, talked photography, wind, light, and next thing you know, the sun’s going down, everyone’s putting on a jacket, straining to see in front of ‘em, already talking about doing it again, ASAP.