Romancing The Storm

I recently did an amazing project with a good friend of mine and photographer Candice Cunningham She is also the inventor and designer of the Camera Slinger the first Double camera strap.

She talked me into going to the mid west to shoot bridal fashion in front of tornadoes, yes I did say tornadoes...... We hired a professional storm chaser Tornado Tim who is the professor of severe weather.

After driving through three states and thousands of miles, we shot many beautiful images in all types of weather, did we get our couple in front of a tornado? Stay tuned we will show you the whole adventure unfold in 10 minute webisodes to air on Romancing The Storm in the near future.

Here is one image from the shoot just as a tease.

Dusk at the Chateau Marmont

I photographed Ryan and Kathryn at the ChateauMarmont in West Hollywood earlier this month. They wanted to do a completely different kind of engagement shoot and mulled around a few ideas before settling on the iconic hotel, known as for its illustrious place in Hollywood past and present. I’d done shoots there before, most recently for the singer Anastasia.



I read on the website that in 1939, Columbia Pictures founder Harry Cohn said, “ If you must get in trouble, do it at the Chateau Marmont.” So when Kathryn initially called me and said she and Ryan wanted to do some boudoir photos, I thought the Chateau would set the scene perfectly.

They arrived in the mid-afternoon loaded with props and outfits. I photographed them from 5 until after 8 p.m. The challenge was that it was getting dark, but I used the most natural light I could.





The opening shot I took was from the stairs. The angle seemed mysterious. Kathryn was draped in a sheet.







I took photos with Kathryn on the bed. I like them because they are clean and simple.




A security guard passed by when Kathryn was posed against the door and said, “I don’t know what you guys are doing, but you should probably go back inside.”






This kitchen shot was a spoof with Ryan serving Kathryn while she reads the sports page.










Frolicking in this blow up pool they brought was pretty kitsch.









At their September wedding, they said they want to exhibit some of the photographs such as this one in a cigar lounge set up especially for the event.




Toasting with Twister





You can be yourself or conjure up anyone you want to be — in the privacy of the Chateau Marmont.


THE END

Shivani and Anthony: An Inter-Cultural affair at The Four Seasons

Three cultures came together last Saturday evening at the The Four Seasons in Beverly Hills. Shivani, who comes from a blended Jewish-Hindu family married Anthony who is Catholic. It was important for the bride and groom to share their heritage.

Shivani and Anthony gave LA Premier Floral and Event Design full reign to create their personal kingdom.I arrived mid-afternoon to photograph Shivani first in her bridal suite. Capturing details is critical when shooting a wedding. Shivani had an intricate peacock design on her dress that held special significance to her and I wanted to make sure that was included in the photos. The henna design on her hands was done at a celebration a few days earlier and brought an important cultural element to the style of the wedding. I found a mirror in the room aesthetically interesting and felt like it added to the Hindu aspect of wedding. I placed the wedding bands on a piano because of the reflection. I backed the rings up by a uniquely designed lamp because it provided an elegant backdrop.

Shivani and Anthony first saw each other before the wedding in the lobby of the hotel. I wanted to capture the joy they felt at that moment so I took some candid shots as I watched them behind glass, as well as posed together.

The ceremony was held outside in the Wetherly Garden at the Four Seasons. Remy from LA Premier Floral and Event Design said that Shivani's favorite color is yellow and they used lemons with roses create a fresh look. The raised catwalk was custom made with a carpet and a runner designed with white rose petals.

A combination of a Jewish huppah and Hindu mundap was created out of flowers. A traditional Hindu ceremony is usually four hours long, but this was cut down to about twenty minutes, yet the tradition was not lost. A Hindu official and a judge officiated while they conducted the seven steps of a Hindu ceremony. A conch shell was blown to start the ceremony. Anthony stepped on a glass to represent Judaism.

Shivani and Anthony wanted the cocktail area to portray a chic, sophisticated look, so LA Premier draped the walls with shimmery fabric, provided ice sculptures with their names and walls of gold gilded mirrors. The ballroom was magically turned into an enchanted forest, decorated with white and gold place settings, menus and decor, and completed with a full arbor that crossed the room, embellished with hanging crystals and flowers.

Bride in front of the Mundap




This image is the couple seeing each other for the first time.



Bride and Groom moment

Room Shot

Shivani changed in a different dress for the dinner. West Coast Music provided a live band as well as a DJ for after midnight dancing. Bollywood Dancers entertained.

The Greatest Photography Website

PhotographyMentor.com is a project I have been working on for over a year. What is it? Click the link and see.

I am happy to announce that PhotographyMentor.com has officially launched!

PhotographyMentor.com is an interactive photography school where you can chew gum, show up late, talk in class, cheat, and there and you never have to take a test. Learning my way.

There are Online Learning Clips, Photo Cheat Sheets, A Student Forum, Photography Assignments with great prizes, and my first DVD in the Mentor Series, “Mentor Wanted”, a two-hour learning experience and a Must-Have for aspiring photographers and pros alike.

After 20 years as a professional photographer I have turned my focus to teaching others. Among my many accomplishments I am most noted for photographing the weddings some of Hollywood’s top celebrities, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston and many more. Now, I have created an online interactive photography-learning experience that is truly like no other.

PhotographyMentor.com will not only feature learning clips and interviews with myself, but we’ll also feature clips from other industry leading photographers, including a Miami fashion shoot with Carlos Baez, one-on-one Image sessions with Kevin Kubota, Boudoir shoot with Danielle Beil Skye Blu Photography, Working Remotely with Sara France, and several other shoots and interviews with top professionals Mike Larson, Jay Goldman, Jules Bianchi, and we will keep adding more!

With access to several teachers on the same site, you’ll be getting a new Learning Clip and multiple Photo Cheat Sheets EVERY WEEK! Plus, our “Virtual Fieldtrips” series will take you behind the scenes at Pictage, Leather Craftsman, Simply Canvas, and many more. See how they make the products we use every day, and get an insight into upcoming projects.

Plus, PhotographyMentor.com is working closely with several industry leading partners to bring you student discounts on tons of equipment, software, and services.

At PhotographyMentor.com, we’re working very hard to make sure you not only get the best online learning experience, but you get it at a great value. Our introductory annual membership is only $165! That’s only $13.75 a month!!!

Don't miss out on some of the introductory specials, they will be gone before you know.......

RE

My First PodCast Interview

I did my first podcast interview and it was a great experience. I was interviewed by Ralph at the theweddingplanningaudiocast. we had a great conversation about getting the most out of your wedding photographer.

Have a listen. http://cdn.libsyn.com/thewpa/la_Robert_Evans.mp3

RE

Pictage Partner Con, be there or be alone!

Click To Play

Brian Robbins

Brian Robbins, originally uploaded by robertevans_com.

A portrait Director Brian Robbins. Taken on set of his new movie Starship Dave. Image for The Sun Community Newspapers

Stop for a hug

Stop for a hug, originally uploaded by robertevans_com.

Found a great doorway during our photo outing. This moment unfolded in front of me as I watched.

When you know

When you know, originally uploaded by robertevans_com.

A cute moment caught during my engagment shoot yesterday. I simply suggested they go over to to the newsstand. I sat back and watched from accross the street with my 70-200mm fixed on their periodical interlude.