My new film Juliet Mendoza: Stepping Into a Different Realm was released today on Vimeo now. Watch it today!
https://vimeo.com/naheedc/
The film includes an intimate conversation with DJ, Producer and Dancer Juliet Mendoza about her music career, spirituality, underground electronic music and the state of electronic music from the 80s until present.
Synopsis: Juliet Mendoza: Stepping Into a Different Realm, is a film about Juliet's musical journey and the human spiritual connection to music. Juliet discusses how music and dance has helped her and how she is connected to her audience to transfer her passion to them as they listen and move. She also discusses her venture into teaching and her record label.
]]>
In 2025 I will launch a class for Ethical AI, Adobe Firefly and Photoshop. It's a 90-minute class that will teach attendees the best ways to prompt for the images you want and then load the images into Photoshop as layers. After the images are in Photoshop we'll dive into the best ways to create a layered image for your final vision.
There are only 10 slots and you'll get personal attention. The reason I am teaching this class is to demystify AI and show that it can be used ethically. You can sign up for the class by using the link below:
Ethical AI Class with Naheed Choudhry
The class is being held on January 7, 2025 at 10AM PST on Zoom. There are only 10 slots so book yours before it's too late. It will be the best $55 you've spent!
]]>
I am a woman of many passions: Film, social justice, food, music, dancing and…succulents, to name a few. I’m working on a new documentary, my third in the past two years! It’s about house producer, DJ and dancer Juliet Mendoza. This film is part of a series about electronic musicians and DJs who have been at it since the days of DJing with only vinyl.
These music documentaries I’ve been working on essentially show how connected to music we are at an extremely base level. Down to the molecular level. I set out to start this series for many reasons. I have a deep respect for any artist who has been honing their skills and has stayed passionate and connected to their art form for decades. It’s one thing to have a passing hobby and be interested in something for awhile. It is an entirely different thing to be totally intertwined in an art form for a better part of your life.
This documentary also feeds my soul because I love working with other artists. I often find artists speak a different language that other artists understand. It doesn’t even matter what the art form may be. If I meet a dancer, ironwork maker, writer, or any other person who creates for the sake of creation. There is a large chance we speak the same language. The language of art.
]]>
You can view my profile at:
Your film has to be awarded from a festival that meets the following criteria, to get an IMDB profile:
- Be established for more than 5 years.
- Have an official website.
- Have a well-established jury or method of selecting winners. For example, anyone can start a website with voting mechanisms, and any would-be critic can select their favorite movies of the year and announce them on their own website or social media profile - these Events are not eligible.
- Have received regular international or national press coverage (wide or trade). For example, a nationally broadcast awards ceremony or a festival award winner announced in recognized trade or other media publications would be eligible for listing. An Event with only local news, social media, fan or blog coverage is not eligible for listing at this time.
If you told me a year ago I would have an IMDB profile and two awards with international submissions, I would have told you it wasn't likely. After working for the past couple of years on two documentaries though, I am proud of my accomplishments. Now I am just looking for a producer who believes in my ideas. One with the vision and passion to create dynamic films that inform and entertain. One that wants to create change and work with a mulit-talented female with huge aspirations!
]]>
I’m deeply honored to win a Jury Award for my film, The Power of Choice. It was a fast paced journey of four months of straight writing, interviewing, recording, shooting and editing. After that I promoted the film and ended up publishing it. The film has been viewed by so many different people from so many different backgrounds. That was my biggest hope when I created the film. The most important part of the film for me was being able to show the different perspectives that people oftentimes don’t think of when they think about reproductive justice and abortion rights. I will continue on my quest to make the best documentaries I possibly can. The awareness film festival is in its 15th year. I met so many amazing filmmakers, who care so much about the world, they spend their time making sure they shine a light on the human experience. They create films that do more than entertain. I saw comedies, dramas, documentaries, and music videos. Some of the films even brought me to tears.
I am also honored that my film was shown at the Regal Theatre LA live in downtown Los Angeles. Seeing my film on a 4K big screen was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had. I am forever grateful to be a part of the awareness film festival. If anybody knows any rich producers, who want to create a documentary about reproductive justice or women’s rights, please send them my way! For now, I’m focused on the election and making sure I’m promoting people to vote, especially in the swing states. As of today, it’s not too late to register. Make sure that you vote by mail or show up on election day.
]]>
For more information and to buy tickets visit:
https://awarenessfestival.org/
Click on the calendar for October 6th and you will see my listing if you scroll down the page. Please be inspired and vote this election. We are at a crossroads in the US and can't leave anyone behind.
Throughout my film career I am constantly learn the craft of audio. When I edit my films and commercials I also edit my audio so that it is equalized and sounds balanced to the ears. I have also done narration and even sand on an album for my musician and DJ husband, Nomadico!
On my journey to become a more versatile sound designer I am now auditioning to do voiceover for audio books and narrate films that are not of my own creation! I am going to learn the ins and out of recording audio using a handful of programs from the Adobe Creative Cloud and also using other post production software. Of course and as always, my husband will be there as my go to IT guy! I am one lucky gal!
]]>
I was able to show my film with other amazing women. There was a discussion panel with all of the filmmakers after the film. It was rewarding to talk with other women about our films and the impact we hope they made. This is definitely a high point in my film career and hope this is just the beginning of a great journey filled with learning and connection, with the audience and the people I work with. The film was shown at The Whitefire Theatre in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Sherman Oaks.
]]>
My film was selected by The California Women’s Film Festival to be shown in Los Angeles at The Whitefire Theater. Please take the time to support an independent filmmaker if you are in LA on July 6th. Click on the image above to get the tickets! The Power of Choice is a short documentary film about abortion rights.
]]>Check out this Ad I create to promote the event.
Pieter is located near Downtown Los Angeles in the historic neighborhood of Lincoln Heights, next to Chinatown. The address is at 2701 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA, 90031. Join us for a celebration of bodily autonomy and film screening of "The Power of Choice" an abortion rights film that delves into the complexities of reproductive rights, bodily autonomy, and the fight for gender equality and anti-racist ideology.
Before the screening engage with our esteemed panelists, including activists, experts, and advocates, as they share their insights, experiences, and visions for a more just and equitable world.
Here is the agenda for the evening:
6:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Arrival Reception Snacks and Drinks
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Discussion Panel
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Film Screening
9:30 PM - 10:30 PM
Short Exit Speech, Music and Ending Reception
]]>
]]>
You can see the full review here: The Power of Choice Review on Short Films Matter
If you'd like to book me for your next shoot email [email protected]
]]>
There are several steps to create a documentary. Having a thirst for knowledge is definitely a must. Having a desire to share knowledge with others is key as well. If you don't have a team of people you are working with, it is still possible to create a film!
Below are the steps I take as a ONE PERSON TEAM with NO BUDGET!
1. COMING UP WITH AN IDEA
2. RESEARCHING THE SUBJECT, WHETHER IT'S A DOC ABOUT A PERSON OR A POLITICAL MOVEMENT, YOU SHOULD HAVE AN IDEA OF YOUR SUBJECT BEFORE YOU DIVE IN.
3. FIGURING OUT WHAT YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT THE SUBJECT BY THE END OF THE FILM.
4. DECIDING ON A DOCUMENTARY STYLE. WILL IT BE AN EXPOSITORY, OBSERVATIONAL, POETIC, PERFORMATIVE, PARTICIPATORY, REFLECTIVE DOCUMENTARY OR ANOTHER STYLE?
5. WRITING YOUR SCRIPT. I WRITE A BROADCAST STYLE SCRIPT. IT INCLUDES: TEXT ON SCREEN, IF ANY. B-ROLL IMAGES/VIDEO, VOICEOVER WITH THE WRITTEN SCRIPT AND THE TIME EACH SCENE TAKES WITH THE VOICEOVER.
6. GETTING ALL OF YOUR PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT IN PLACE. THIS INCLUDES: CAMERAS, LENSES, SOUND EQUIPMENT LIKE LAVALIER MICS.
7. GATHERING FOOTAGE, SHOOTING YOUR OWN OR STOCK
8. DOING INTERVIEWS WITH EXPERTS IF IT IS NECESSARY
9. DOING THE VOICEOVER AND FINDING MUSIC
10. EDITING IT ALL TOGETHER!
It's been awhile since I have written a blog post, I have been quite the busy bee here at Naheedence Photographic. As some of you may know I've been a full-time freelance photographer and videographer since 2006*
Now I have earned my first position as a full-time video production teacher! I am ready to share my knowledge with students. I remember my first cinema study class in high school. It really opened up my eyes, no pun intended, to the power of visual communication. After shooting my first short films I was hooked! I studied journalism and photography in college and the rest is history.
It's been quite the ride and I will share my experiences as a teacher on my blog, and my photography and videography.
I have heard teaching is like running a marathon, hopefully I will be on the winning end! (Eventually ;) I feel so lucky to have had hundreds of devoted clients through the years. I am so grateful and excited for this new adventure in my life.
Longterm I am hoping to hold photography and video workshops at my studio in the summer. I am still available for seasonal assignments, commissions and special projects.
Cheers!
*Full-time except for when I raised my daughter for 2 years. During that time I worked part-time.
]]>Exciting video projects are brewing at Naheedence this summer. I have several product micromercials lined up to shoot, produce and edit. Doing everything from start to finish is the best. My clients give me a basic idea and I come up with a storyboard for their commercial. I am looking forward to doing some voice over in my next production. Guess what?! Having me do it all saves you money! It also gives me the opportunity to produce quickly, turnaround time can be between 2-5 days and voila, a social media video creation by yours truly is delivered to your dropbox, inbox or flash drive.
Want a video to entice your prospective customers but don't have the time? Invest as little as $350 and I can create professional grade videos that stand out and look amazing. I work with customers locally and nationwide. I can provide you with the unique content you are striving for. Call or email for a quote today!
I look forward to working with you!
]]>Case in point, a couple I know visited from Australia last month had a one day layover. They visited a few places in their short time here: East LA's Boyle Heights to eat, Little Tokyo for a quick walk through and a bar in the Arts District. All of those areas are a quick drive or a 20-minute walk away from each other.
East LA is so culturally rich and flavorful it was hard to cover a lot in a one-minute video! I chose colorful Talavera tiles as the backdrop to my titles because of their beauty. You see them everywhere throughout East Los Angeles. Dancing and mariachi music are definitely part of the rich culture here. The music I chose, produced by Nomadico, is a perfect combo of traditional Latin music and the futuristic sounds of the pulsating city.
East LA is very close to Downtown Los Angeles, a 10-15 minute drive or 25-minute bus ride away. You may be surprised how many fireworks you hear year-round. Your tummy will be happy as you get fresh tacos outside and eat colorful pastries called sweetbreads. Driving through the city you will see Piñatas, palm trees and plenty of street art. I hope my video entices you to visit East LA!
]]>
Instagram has been around since 2010, oh how time flies. That is the same year my partner and I moved to LA from NYC. Eight years ago I thought Instagram was for the narcissistic selfie obsessed folks. It still is, but it's also a place where professionals share their photos. It took me a looooooong time to jump on the Instagram wagon, but now that I've been smuggled in I am enjoying sharing more images and video with the world! (My copyright of course ;) Follow me @naheedence for my latest posts.
Right now I am in the middle of a campaign to show how close I am to my photography gear. I take really good care of them and pamper them like I would any pet I owned. They are my pets, in fact. I like to take them out, have some fun, make sure they get enough rest and stay clean.
Therein lies the idea for this campaign. I am taking a metaphorical look at how close I am to my gear. Also, how they are so well coordinated. They help me tell stories. They bring my ideas to life.
]]>
The video above is from a photo session I did with Chef Mick from Cutthroat Kitchen and BBQ Rescues. We had a lot of fun and above is a nice taste of what was shot. The music is by Nomadico. I also sampled a snippet of music from Green Velvet at the end of the video, "cameras ready, prepare the flash!]]>
I love photographing high-end well designed spaces and products on location. I shot the sink above at a home in Monrovia near Los Angeles. It's always exciting to work in a new space, I get to put all of my photography skills to work. Getting the light right in a new environment is the key part of the photography profession.
I brought along two Alien Bee 800 320 Ws lights, umbrellas for diffusion and my eye. My client, Allstone Group, was concerned with me capturing the detail of the beautiful sink in a "real" kitchen. They wanted me to show how it looks outside of a showroom. I shot at a narrow aperture to show off the fine details of the marble and outline of the leaf design. I did not want any of the details to get lost.
My client was happy with the shot and that is another key part of my profession!
]]>
I am excited to announce I've launched #thediptychproject to the world of Instagram. You can follow me at my Instagram account, naheedence, and get daily photographs or video from your favorite pro. I am @naheedence to view online. You can also like me on Facebook for weekly updates.
Diptychs and triptychs allow you to have two or three images from the same shoot to show a similar idea in one image.
Right now I am displaying portrait sessions using two (sometime three) photos from one photo session. I will branch out with more imagery displaying all of the subjects I shoot: Products, architecture, weddings and more. Using several pictures in one image is a great way to tell a story.
As of today most of the photos displayed @thediptychproject were shot by yours truly. I did see another instagrammer post a couple of their diptychs and I hope it will expand to even more people.
Following The Diptych Project I am working on some photo montages in the coming weeks. I have several ideas and they will be coming soon to my website and my social media accounts so stay tuned.
]]>
Above is a photo I shot of a bride the day after her Mehndi. She is pictured here saying a prayer during her Nikah. The Mehndi (aka henna) ceremony is before the Nikah. The Mehndi celebrates the beginning of a marriage with body art, members of the family and close friends mark their bodies in beautiful patterns. The Nikah is usually the following day. During the Nikah the vows are said with a ring or valuables exchange and the couple is officially deemed married.
During a Muslim Rukhsati the bride is walked by her family to the groom's family with a Qur'an held over her head. The groom waits for her in the car and they drive away. They depart to their new life and the wedding is complete. Above the bride leaves the wedding reception with her family. These are truly the best times for me to shoot. They are candid, emotional moments, that can never be recreated.
]]>
Babies are the toughest clients! Many times you are lucky to get a handful of "good" happy shots during a photo session. It depends on so many variables and you try to get them all just right beforehand. Has the baby napped and eaten? Is the room warm or cold enough? Will the baby be bothered by the flash? And sometimes you have a very short window so you have to hold that shutter down before you miss any magic. But magic is subjective, isn't it? The photos on the bottom of the triptych are hilarious, no? Why not book your special family moments with a pro? Call or email me today for a studio or outdoor portrait session in Los Angeles. I can even travel to you, we all know how much babies just love carseats, hahahah! *Disclaimer, these photos are not retouched, please excuse any blemishes ;)*
]]>First Setup: One strobe light fired with a shoot through umbrella positioned to the left of the product.
Second Setup: One strobe light fired with a shoot through umbrella to the left of the product, and a folded white board reflecting light on right side of product.
Third Setup: Two strobe lights fired with shoot through umbrellas directly to the left and right of the product.
As you can see, the best results are from two strobes, but if you only have one light, using a handmade reflector can help out a lot! None of these photos have any retouching :) Here I am below with my setup. Have a great day!
]]>
Everyday we see hundreds, if not thousands of images. The advertisements, media, selfie overload, it all effects us in ways we don't even imagine. As a photographer I have deep respect for time and recording moments. The photographs captured during this maternity photo session speak for themselves. Boundless love for what is soon to come.
Pregnancy can be a stressful time for some. Many of us know all too well the journey to pregnancy is often not an easy road. Couples sometimes open up and tell me their stories, how exciting and emotional their ride has been. I feel honored to capture photographs they will look at as their children and they themselves age. Memories can keep us going.
Choosing the right photographer who can put people at ease is key. When emotions are not forced and my clients are comfortable in front of the camera REAL moments are only seconds away.
]]>
I create outstanding photos of products for my clients throughout the country. Recently I shot a session for Five Star Hippie. They make spirit inspired jewelry and are based out of Santa Monica. President of the company, Janine Forte, has contagious fun and positive energy, which made our session exceptional. She is pictured here while I setup the shot of her bracelets to get the perfectly styled photograph.
Above is a closeup of the beautifully designed bracelets. I love using the Macro lens and capturing the handmade detail. Now this is something your IPhone is not going to do for you! If you have a product you want to stand out in the barrage of products online, hire a professional photographer. You hire a professional like myself for my TRAINED EYE and knowing the craft. Manipulating lights, setting up the camera and getting it all to work in harmony, that's my job.
]]>
I started a campaign on Instagram @naheedence all about portraiture. I am using diptychs to show two photos created during one photo shoot. I shoot so many photos during one session it is difficult to choose only two images to tell the story of my subjects. I usually only choose one for my website but am gravitating toward diptychs so I can express more in one image.
I am shooting a variety of subjects at the moment. Product photography is up next. In the meantime I plan to continue this portraiture campaign and hope to get some bookings. Are you almost famous and need some outstanding photographs to help you get noticed? Give me a call or email me today! I have a fully equipped studio and am waiting to get creative with you.
The portraits above are of cellist Valerie Kuehne and model Mel Bruner. Two moods, one image.
]]>
Claude Young's personality shone through during our photo session at my studio in Los Angeles. We scheduled the shoot the day before so I did not have much time to prepare. Claude made it easy to capture his bright personality. He was cracking jokes and forcing me to laugh at myself because I was so focused on lighting, background distance from the subject, his facial position and making sure my settings were on point. If I am going to get the best shots I have to make sure my settings are right man ;) If anyone knows about proper settings it would be a precise producer like Claude himself.
I put some Digital Underground on to keep the good times rolling and our photo shoot was definitely a hit. I hope we can do another session in the future and keep the creative juices flowing. Working with other artists is one of my favorite joys in life. I feel so lucky to be able to do it time and time again.
]]>
This year I plan to shoot more than ever and will up my game in the social media world. I am compiling a list of subjects for my campaign. I really wish Instagram allowed you to have separate sections in one account so I could display my images in a more cohesive way by subject. But, I guess that is what my website is for! I am hoping to draw more Instagrammers to my website, and of course get some web hits from Facebook as well. Let's be honest, I need some customers from those hits!
I really would love to shoot plenty of portrait sessions this year. There is something so special about meeting someone, shooting their photograph and telling their story within a 10-60 minute time span.
I had about 30 minutes with the client above, who is an author. I setup lights, cleaned up the environs and made sure to bring out his personality all in a matter of minutes. I used two strobes and two diffused umbrellas for this shot and really wanted to make sure there were not any distracting shadows to take away from the background. I had to edit and send the photos his way within a few hours. I really love working under tight deadlines.
I photographed this image for Concierge Physicians. I had about 10 minutes in between the doctor's appointment to get the shot. I also had to retouch and send the best photos on the same day. Here, I shot with only one external on-camera flash and bounced the light off the low ceiling to get some nice light spread.
Next time you want to impress prospective clients with your website or brochure for your company, be sure to give me a call or send an email!
]]>
Los Angeles is full of beautiful murals and every busy street has so much to see. Some of the best go unnoticed. One of my favorites is in my neighborhood in East LA, by artist Kristy Sandoval. In the top left corner is a quote from Cesar Chavez, "You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore".
As a photographer in Los Angeles their is no shortage of coverage about DACA and ICE. Many artists have dedicated their careers to speaking out against injustice, by using the power of their outlook and creativity.
In the photo above, shot with my 16-35mm lens, City Hall looms large and tall over the protesters. It's been said that City Hall in downtown LA is like a large phallus in the middle of the city. Placed their by conquerers whose only passion was to colonize and control the masses.
We are connected to our past as much as we are the present and future. Being an artist telling stories through images allows me to freeze time. Whose stories and images will be held in people's minds? Will we be impacted by what we've seen? Hopefully...
]]>
Giving birth is one of the most amazing and intimate experiences a woman and her loved ones can have. When I photograph births I place my photojournalist cap on and let the magic unfurl. This is of utmost importance so you are not intruding on such sensitive moments. I've worked with midwives who've told me some bizarre tales about what photographers have done during a live birth, I will never be in that category. You will barely notice I am there.
I am looking forward to photographing more births this year. I hope you will consider me to photograph your birth ladies. It is such a sacred day and reliving it through photos is a lovely way to remind you of those moments for a lifetime. In Los Angeles there are over 130,000 births a year! I hope I will be there for some of those solitary experiences.
]]>
The sun sets on New Year's Eve in downtown Los Angeles. My daughter and husband are the tiny people walking by in the foreground. The Downtown Los Angeles skyline view is from Chinatown's State Historic Park.
I hope 2018 is a great year, and let's face it, it better be! Personally, 2018 was a great year as I enjoy each day with my toddler and keep my photography career going. The world at large is an entirely different story, I don't need to explain.
Here in LA we passed bills to help the homeless population, hopefully we will see those first steps carried out into success. I will be there with my camera in hand to capture the ever changing landscape. As we enjoy a "clean slate" and new beginning I hope to shoot more video and photographs, spend more time working on my art and enjoy every moment possible with my family.
Here is to you 2018, may you takes us light years into a better future for us all...
The Library Street Collective's Shepard Fairey exhibit is nestled among dumpling factories and the Los Angeles State Historic Park in downtown Los Angeles. The space is hidden at 1650 Naud Street. Recently, I photographed the space during the stunning display of Shepard Fairey's work at his exhibit, Damaged. I loved the setup of the exhibit where you walk in and enter a mock-up version of the artist's studio. You immediately see details like his paint splotched shoes, paint mask and shards of multicolored paper.
I was happy to see so much of his work and didn't know Fairey created sculptures like the one above. I am always impressed by his wit and attention to detail.
The warehouse where the "Damaged" exhibition is located in Chinatown is thousands of square feet. Library Street Collective is Detroit based and is a member of the New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA). NADA is a non-profit arts organization dedicated to the cultivation, support and advancement of new voices in contemporary art. The exhibit ends on December 17th and I feel so lucky to have seen Shepard Fairey's largest exhibit to date.
The video below is a time lapse of myself making large clutches and zipper pouches from start to finish. Coming up with my own designs and learning how to sew a large clutch was a very exciting project for me. I hope you will support my art and buy a pouch today! They are gender neutral and I place extra cushy lining in the pouch so they can also be used to keep your tablet safe.
I first came up with the idea of placing my images on merchandise a few years ago. I started with the zipper pouches and am hoping to launch a line of pillow covers in the coming years. The bags are made in Los Angeles and the materials are sourced locally, all are made in the USA. I get the zippers from a great place in the fashion district of downtown Los Angeles called Zip Up Zipper.
Sewing these bags allows me time to be crafty. I enjoy meditating during the process and learning the skill of sewing. I am always amazed by how much I learn each time I sew. Similarly, each time I shoot a photo session I learn something new. I love mastering the art and craft of stunning visuals and am happy to create a bag to display some of my photography and designs. I put my heart and soul into these bags. I tried out different designs, fabrics and learned how to sew them from scratch. I had to try a few printers who print on fabric for me to get the sharp look I was going for. It took a long time to perfect them.
My next step is to approach some local shops in Los Angeles and sell some bags on consignment. The bags fit a 10 inch or smaller tablet perfectly. They can be used for anything from makeup and toiletries to art supplies. Wish me luck and stay tuned, buy a bag for someone this holiday season! Check out my shop at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/naheedence
I have always been fascinated with the passage of time. The words "This too shall pass" make me feel the importance of capturing time through photographs. The Los Angeles Public Library is a cultural and informational hub. Will that change in the future? I wonder how changes in technology will effect how information at the library is exchanged. Remember the Dewey Decimal System, I bet you most people under the age of 25 aka millennials do not!
We live in a time when public education is being defunded. That's why it is more important than ever to visit a library and surround ourselves with books, computers and discovery. Part of my job as a photographer is to pay attention to every detail of my surroundings. I take those photographs and create an essay in my mind about what story I want to tell.
The photo above is just outside in the courtyard of The Los Angeles Public Library. I predict in 5 years there will be a lot more pedestrians in this park with all of the changes happening in DTLA.
]]>
I remember having mendhi placed on my hands and feet as a child. I was so excited to see the colors meld into my skin. The longer you left it on, the darker it became. It's been a couple of years since I've had it on my palm. There are thousands of designs and I like to photograph while they are being "inked" on. It takes a steady hand, an eye for design and a lot of practice to get it to look lovely. Then again, almost any design looks good, in South Asia you see men and women with only a burnt orange circle of mendhi on their hands.
Mendhi is used by Hindus and Muslims worldwide to celebrate many occasions, especially weddings. According to a dictionary of Urdu, classical Hindi, and English the use of mehndi and turmeric is described in the earliest Hindu Vedic ritual books. It was originally used for only women's palms and sometimes for men, but as time progressed, it was more common for men to wear it. Haldi (staining oneself with turmeric paste) as well as mehndi are Vedic customs, intended to be a symbolic representation of the outer and the inner sun.
This portrait of my grandfather is very special to me. I photographed the portrait in Detroit a few months ago. My grandfather turned 90 years old and is close to my heart.
My family emigrated here slowly from Pakistan in the late 1970's. They are hardworking and we thank them each day for all of the sacrifices they made so the future generations of their family could have a better life.
The photo to the left is from 1952 shot by a forgotten photographer. The portrait on the right is him at 90. May we all be so lucky to have our health and happiness at his age.
]]>
I had a third photography session with loyal customers who I am so honored to capture. I photographed their first little one when she was born, then when she was 2 and now the second came along and we had a session with her and the familia. The session was full of fun and laughter. I love the photograph above because I can't decide what the kids are thinking, but whatever it is, it has got to be good! It is a mix of shock and happiness balled together in one.
I imagine families looking back at their photos in 30 years and reliving their memories through the photographs I capture. As a child of the 80's I daydream of them sifting through an old photo album with photos you can peel off from the album pages. Although, I know it will more likely be a photo printed directly on the page that may have lost some of its color over time.
I love capturing a family through the years to see how they've grown. During the photo shoot Papa was full of silliness. The littles and Mama were loving it. Toward the end of the photo shoot we shot some more formal portraits in the studio and outdoors. I often sing "Happy Birthday to You" during family sessions. It loosens up the kids and if I shoot continuously I am sure to find a gem in there somewhere. Tickling usually works too.
I am looking forward to photographing more happiness during the 2017 Winter Season. Please contact me to book a session for your loved ones today!
]]>
Chef Mick Brown visited my studio for a portrait session last week. We had a great time and he left me with the most delicious roasted vegetables and a whole smoked fish that my family happily devoured. Mick was grillmaster champion at cutthroat kitchen in 2015. He has his own catering company that focuses on healthy BBQ.
My idea for the photograph stemmed from how important tools are in a chef's life. We all have our go-to wooden spoon, pan or barbecue fork that we can always rely on. This barbecue fork was given to Chef Mick by his father. His father passed away recently and this fork is part of a set that he uses often. He has sweet memories of how his dad taught him to cook.
I also wanted to incorporate a sense of power in the image. A Chef has control over what we put into our bodies. Our bodies keep us going and that is a very powerful role for a chef to fulfill. Of course not all chef's cook for health but this photograph was about Chef Mick Brown, not Mario Batali ;)
I have worked with him on portraits before and we always have plenty of laughs. Connecting with my clients is one of the most important parts of my job as a professional photographer. I love it!
I am going to submit some of my photos from the session to The Smithsonian Museum Chef Portraits contest.
]]>
I am happy to announce I just booked my second wedding for next year! My clients always tell me they are drawn to my work because the photos look real. No over processing and trendy filters, just beautiful moments captured perfectly in the heat of the moment. I am so passionate as a wedding photojournalist in Los Angeles and continue on my path to be the best storyteller.
As a wedding photojournalist I only get one chance to capture the fleeting moments during a wedding. As a master of light I can shoot both in the brightest light of the summer to the darkest dance floor at a reception. After shooting over 100 weddings I give my clients an idea of how long it may take to shoot ceremonies, portraits and everything in between.
The photos above display a bride being lifted in a chair on a dance floor during her reception and a groom wiping the tears from his mother's eyes during the emotional day. Each of these moments lasted for a few seconds and I was there with two cameras and a lot of energy to get the shot!
My clients are sometimes surprised by how many moments during their day I capture. They tell me since they weren't able to see their guests at every moment they are happy I could show them so much of the day they missed. I am a great storyteller and prove it through every photo.
Dear brides, I hope you will consider me in your quest to find the right wedding photographer. After the dress, flowers, ceremony and reception you will look back and want to have beautiful photos with me to capture your day perfectly.
]]>
This Labor Day I reflect upon America's countless undocumented immigrant workers, women and history. In the wake of Hurricane Harvey the tough facts are that more than a quarter of all Texas construction workers are undocumented immigrants, according to a Pew Research study from November 2016. Of the nearly 1.7 million undocumented immigrants residing in the state, about 400,000 work in the building trades.
Houston will need to add thousands of workers to its construction industry labor force to restore the immense damage that has happened. According to Richard Fisher, the former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. With Trump's anti-immigrant stance such needed labor will not exist. As job shortages continue he doesn't back down from his policy to harass, arrest and detain immigrant workers. The same people who can help rebuild Houston.
According to the Economic Policy Institute’s 2016 analysis of federal labor statistics, the median wage for U.S. women is about 16.8 percent less than the median for men — with women making about 83 cents to a man’s dollar. According to economist Elise Gould, that’s a gap that only increases as women become more educated and climb the corporate ladder.
Donald Trump has revoked the 2014 Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces order former President Barack Obama put in place to ensure that companies with federal contracts comply with 14 labor and civil rights laws. The Fair Pay order was put in place after a 2010 Government Accountability Office investigation showed that companies with rampant violations were being awarded millions in federal contracts.
“Engineer Delores Brown tests circuits for the control system of a U.S. communication satellite. Mrs. Brown was the top graduate in 1967 from the school of engineering of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama”
By an unknown photographer, Honeywell, Inc., unknown location, ca. 1973
African American women found it easier to pursue professional careers because of court rulings such as the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision, which called for an end to segregated schooling, legislation such as Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which outlawed discrimination based on race and sex, and affirmative action policies.
National Archives, Records of the U.S. Information Agency (306-N-2594)
Child Labor By W. Pack, February 18, 1915
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, workers at public markets stocked merchandise and haggled over price with customers. These markets were run by municipalities and provided shoppers with a variety of goods at a central location. By the time this photograph was taken, public markets were already facing stiff competition from retail grocery stores and commercial wholesale markets.
National Archives, Records of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics (83-G-21)
“Lace House Dry Goods Co.” By an unknown photographer, St. Louis, Missouri, ca. 1909
This photo of a Chinese Business was part of the Immigration Service's investigatory case file of Lew Wa Ho, a sales clerk with the store. As a merchant, he could legally enter the United States under the Chinese Exclusion Act, which restricted most Chinese immigration. He returned to China, married, and came back to the U.S. in 1909. He may have submitted this photo as proof of his occupation.
National Archives, Pacific Region (Seattle), Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service
I photographed a couple of family portrait sessions that are candid and beautiful. I know the interwebs are loaded with millions of family photos but every photo I capture of a family will be a moment captured for a lifetime and beyond. I feel so lucky to be able to create a historical document for a family.
The photos above are from the first session. Below I photographed a surprise baby and his mother and daughter. Unfortunately papa was at work. Below are a couple of photos from the day. We had about 15 minutes to capture some good memories. Sometimes I have more time. But both of these sessions laster under 20 minutes! You need to work with lightning speed, babies are not patient!
]]>
Recently I was hired to photograph the Regent Theater in downtown Los Angeles. They are opening the music venue up to events other than music shows. The Regent is located in the heart of the Theater District. The building captures a great period in turn of the century American architecture.
My client wanted to express the ambience of the place with its dark blue lighting. The darker photos show the expansive mysterious feeling of the environment when you first walk in the space. I shot of mixture of darker photos to capture the ambience and brighter HDR photos to show more details of the space.
NO HDR
HDR
The HDR photos capture more detail and show the space with brighter lighting, though those photos display more of a magenta hue. The brighter photos give you more of an idea of the concrete flooring, the details of the furniture and the unique medallions featured throughout the theater. The darker photos give people more of the mysterious feeling when you first walk into the Regent.
It is a tough call for me to say which photos I like better because they both tell the story of the space just in a different way. HDR is an interesting way to photograph and give a more detailed and three-dimensional feel to a photo. Oftentimes the technique also reminds me of a painting.
I love the way downtown Los Angeles is changing before my eyes. From night on Broadway to the many art walks throughout the year. The old downtown that many Angelenos think of is no longer. Stay tuned to my blog to view the latest images and stories of Los Angeles and it's rapid changes. Below is an photo of the bottom floor bar at The Regent.
I am headed to Detroit for a couple of weeks with my family. I am visiting my mother, father and brothers. We are also meeting a new family member, my daughter's cousin who is the first to be younger than her. I will be back to my blog after my vacation in the Motor City. Home of Motown, home of too many great musical artists to name. Also home to so many memories of my childhood, teen years and University experience.
Through the years I've photographed homes, businesses and prospective lands for buyers. Nowadays, I shoot video of properties as well and do walkthroughs of a space. Recently I photographed for a home going for upwards of $1.5 million dollars...To some that may not seem like much but to this Detroiter, turned Brooklynite turned East Angeleno, that is a hell of a lot of money.
The space is huge and the backyard and curb appeal is on point. When I photograph a space I like to do a combination of HDR along with traditional ambient lit spaces. I use strobes and on-camera flash as well but if the light is right I might use ambient light and just go for a more natural look.
With my 16-35mm f2.8 wide angle lens shooting interiors and exteriors is as fun as shooting landscapes. Often you run into challenges: a room with ugly yellow lights and no windows, a space that is not that clean, a space with a dark ceiling and not much ambient light etc. Setting the white balance and the right exposure is of utmost importance in camera. You have to be technical and shoot the right angles to make the space shine even if it in not that great. This is when your real photographic talent is put to the test.
Shooting interiors and exteriors is a great addition to my portfolio. At events I have to photograph the space as well as the action. Often times people don't keep that in mind. During on-location photo shoots you have to know what ambient light you can use, if you will need a reflector or where the shade is located. These are all elements you use in every photo shoot.
Sometimes clients wonder why I don't "specialize" in one type of photography. I used to shoot for newspapers. During that time I needed to shoot every aspect of the story. The location, the people, the time etc. Afterwards, sometimes on the same day, you would move on to a food photo shoot for the features section, then you would shoot a portrait of an artist who is exhibiting at a museum nearby. I got used to that and don't want that to change. I love all types of photography and will incorporate that into my shoots forever.
Also, photographers need to adapt during this ever-changing time of visual storytelling. I am from the school of thought, the more you know the better!
The Main Museum in Downtown Los Angeles is scheduled to be completed in 2020. They have a small gallery setup called Beta Main at the moment and I visited recently. It has a lot of promise and I commend them for displaying the work of artists, including photographer Star Montana, who are generally not the focus of "modern" museums in Los Angeles. The space is small right now but the renderings are amazing and I am excited to see the end result.
These photographs are of an exhibition called "Circle Chairs, Triangle Chairs by artist Alice Konitz. Beta Main is located at 114 W 4th St. Los Angeles, CA 90013. Downtown LA is becoming more developed by the day. From the arts district, to the historic district and beyond it is an exciting work in progress. Since I am located a 10 minute drive from DTLA I am very happy to see the once dilapidated land put to positive use.
I photographed and shot video of a Quinceañera recently in metro Los Angeles and it was quite the affair. We started in Arcadia, went to All Souls Church in Alhambra, then off to Cascades Park in Monterey Park and finally traveled to Ontario (all the way to Ontario!) to the Airport Hotel for the reception. The photos above were shot at the home of my client. I have worked with this client before and knew it would be easier this time around since there was no need to 'break the ice".
When the birthday girl came out her court was excited to see her. Above her mother laughs with her as the audience reveres her beauty.
As a photographer it is difficult to keep a low profile during church ceremonies because sound travels and reverberates so easily. I captured this angle when my client's daughter did a short prayer in front of the Virgen De Guadalupe at All Souls Church and I was able to follow her.
In the photograph below her friends have a laugh during their exciting day. I've posted a snippet of the video below for your viewing pleasure.
I shot some documentary photography and portraits in Los Angeles during UCLA graduation day recently. It was for a family album for a client who hired me to visually tell the story of the day. The UCLA campus is lush and beautiful. It was buzzing with hundreds of graduates from many schools throughout the campus. Above is a photo I captured in the summer heat during a long ceremony.
Mother of the graduate was all too proud that her youngest son graduated and was ready to begin his new life. She said "You want to equip your children with the tools for success" and I could not agree more. Below is a portrait I shot with so many people walking around it was difficult to get a clean backdrop. I was happy to find this little area and shot the portraits as fast as possible.
Many people don't realize how little time a photographer sometimes has to get several great shots. Here I was photographing portraits with only minutes after the ceremony until my client was scheduled to attend an event. I also parked partially in a red zone so took a risk so that I could start my shoot on time. I had some luck that day and did not get a ticket after all!
]]>
When I photograph a Baptism I keep a few things in mind. Most importantly is that this is a significant milestone for families and a most precious time. It is a quiet event and it happens quickly. Churches usually don't have the best lighting so I keep that in mind too. Between the emotional and technical I create a balance to make sure the families know I am ready and respectful of their time and space.
The baby was fussy at first but by the time she was being baptized she was calm and even fell asleep during the ceremony. Everybody was a bit for relaxed once she was in her slumber. Her dress was quite ornate and draped her making her look like she was floating.
The photo above was shot by yours truly at a Brooklyn gathering in 2009. As I sit here eight years later in Los Angeles I remember what happened in that time. All of the steps we have taken to create a more just system seem to be a thing of the past. THEY ARE NOT.
We are at a crossroads here in the US and the world. The overt racism, failure to acknowledge climate change and constant lies told by the POTUS we hear daily are taking a toll on our livelihood. We cannot become victims and shut ourselves down. Let's make a promise to always go the extra mile to respect each other. Help an elderly person, give to charities, tune in and be aware of our surroundings and pay attention to in-depth news. All of this banter about fake news is just a way for politicians to make people think all news outlets are a sham. Sure, reporters make mistakes, they are human. However, to question and ignore every proven fact means we need to reiterate factual information all the more. Here is to the journalists who report facts, to Amy Goodman, George Seldes to the group Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting.
The photo above was photographed by me at the "Immigrants Make America Great" rally in 2017. For all of us and for future generations, we have a responsibility to make the world a better place. Let's unite against the senselessness and become stronger together. As Bernie Sanders said, "President Trump, you made a big mistake. By trying to divide us up by race, religion, gender and nationality you actually brought us closer."
]]>
Shooting photography with a Macro Lens is one of my favorite activities. I love to capture every minute detail of a still life subject, especially food. In the oversaturated food photography times that we live in now food photography that doubles as beautiful art can be hard to find. There are thousands of amateur food photographs on Pinterest and Instagram, of course there are always exceptions. The portabello mushroom above looks so perfect, almost too perfect to eat. If my client allows I like to shop for the food I photograph and search for the perfectly shaped apple, the loaf of bread with the most grains on it and the mushroom that isn't smashed to bits! Here is to the beauty of the Macro lens and of my trusted Alien Bee 800 lights, which I now love like my best friend :) Most photographers become attached to their equipment and for me it is hard to let go of any of my gear. I usually donate my older gear to students but I always feel like I am losing a part of something near and dear to me that I have fond memories of.
]]>
For the first time in many years I will be staying in Los Angeles this summer. I won't be shooting any weddings in New York City. I won't be going on any overheated adventures in the desert. It is all to stay near and dear to my beautiful and energetic toddler. I have a few projects lined up: Riding around LA with my camera outside the sunroof getting footage for films, capturing time lapses at Ernest Debs Park and learning some new photo software and equipment. I have finally upgraded to the coveted Adobe Creative Cloud for photographers so no longer need to use any older versions! I will still keep the oldies but goodies for that one client who is still using Photoshop version CS3.
There may be other exciting things on the horizon for me including taking the next big step in my photo career. I will keep you posted. With Mother's Day approaching and the summer just around the corner I am hoping for some big things to happen for me and everyone this summer.
Pictured above is the beautiful Echo Park Lake at sundown in LA and windmills along the notorious 10 freeway .
]]>
Mother's Day is fast approaching and my large clutch style zipper pouches are a perfect gift for any mom with an eye for great design. The high end pouches are handmade by yours truly and all materials are made in the USA. The clutches are durable and are only $35.00.
You can purchase the designer bags here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/naheedence
Order by Mother's Day 2017 with the coupon code: MOM2017 and get free domestic standard shipping, free gift wrap and a beautiful handwritten card. That is up to $10 of savings depending on your location. The bags ship within one week of purchase. If you send me a message on Etsy that it is a gift I will include a small card and gift wrap for FREE.
We are in strange times here on planet Earth, a crossroads to see if we will finally learn to put the health of the planet before convenience and greed. I've reflected a lot on how connected humans are to the health of our beloved home. Scientists are marching in Washington today and we are all well aware the EPA matters more than the greed of the 1%. Most of the 99% want to leave a better planet for future generations to thrive. I hope we can band together and walk a better path toward a healthier Mother Earth for us all.
I've been lucky enough to travel throughout the US and have seen so many beautiful (and ugly, but that is another story ;) places in this amazing country. I grew up in Metro Detroit, and though Detroit is known as "The Motor City", there are so many parks and The Great Lakes so you are never far away from colorful forests in autumn, wandering creeks and thunderstorms year-round and snow covered hills in the winter. As a New Yorker I traveled extensively throughout the city, shot a wedding in Poughkeepsie and traveled all the way through the snowy mountains to The Catskills. When my husband and I moved to Los Angeles we did a cross country trip and visited too many places to name but Denver's mind blowing altitude and Utah's mountainous beauty definitely stands out.
Living in California there are no shortage of National Parks and with The Angeles Forest so close, Joshua Tree a bit further and Death Valley not too far we can escape on a Magical Mystery Tour at a moment's notice.
As a nature photographer I love to capture landscapes that show planet Earth in all of its amazing beauty. It gives me a chance to appreciate all of the many nuances and gifts Mother Earth gives us. Who wouldn't want to capture and savor every moment of waves crashing, animals basking and sunsets that are humbling and no words can describe. In defiance of all that destroys the environment I am celebrating Earth Day everyday, not just on April 22nd, but every day. Here is to her strength and constant adaptability!
Given the current political climate in the United States and the constant undermining of the environment and the EPA I decided to do a blog post dedicated to Mother Earth. I respect any movement to help the Earth and humans thrive. After all we can't drink money! On the other hand, without water we can't survive as a species, in this case it could be argued we should trade on the stock exchange in drinkable water and not greenbacks or yen!
]]>
I always feel honored when I photograph a birthday. Whether the person is 5 or 75 it is a special occasion to commemorate our time on earth. The room is always filled with happy people celebrating someone's life that they love. A great occasion to capture for any photographer.
The party was at a church in Sierra Madre, California. The church was beautiful and it was a lovely day in the San Gabriel Valley.
Above the birthday boy sits with his grandchildren on his 75th birthday. I wonder what it feels like to live that long and be in good health. Cheers to Barry and to his family. May we all be so blessed!
]]>
This past weekend I attended a march in downtown LA with thousands of others in solidarity against discrimination. Several groups marched for the rights of immigrants and to take a stand against Donald Trump's bigotry and hatred. The rights of so many people are in danger and Native Americans represented in Downtown Los Angeles to stand up for immigrant rights and for the rights of indigenous people.
I have spent more time being a photojournalist in the past few months because of the political climate in the US. It brings me back to why I originally picked up a camera, to tell stories and give people a voice. Right now with the media under attack it is of utmost importance for us to document these tumultuous times. Trump and his ridiculous cabinet can keep lying about how they are so successful but we all know the truth. Their fascist regime will fail because we live in a democracy. We can't let Trump and his followers pretend this is "business as usual" politics.
The march started at Pershing Square and ended at City Hall. I will keep shining a light on these voices because they we all need to be heard. Not just the 1%. To view more photos I captured at the rally visit:
I recently did a portrait session for promotional material and album artwork for singer Chela Una. I wanted to capture female empowerment in the photographs and we did not want them to be light and cutesy but more serious and edgy.
I wanted to focus on her face and eyes during the session and I tried to get her hands in the mix also but ended up liking the photos with an emphasis on her face the most. The photography session took place at my studio in El Sereno in Northeast Los Angeles.
I did not go crazy with Photoshop in the final edit. I am trying more and more to get everything in camera and feel for my style I am truly trying to capture the essence of a person and not a caricature version of them, unless they want an illustrated photo I shot using a filter (see below).
]]>
Marches across the United States and the world took place on Sunday urging people to unite together for common causes against sexism, racism and for equality for all women and people of the world.
The only time I've ever seen this many people gathered in Los Angeles is for concerts. It was quite an inspiring spectacle. This past week has been a trial for us all to see what Trump will do and how citizens will react. Since he lost the popular vote I have wanted to get involved with getting rid of the electoral college, a racist and outdated law that needs to be amended for modern times, like other parts of the constitution.
Trump will try his best to separate us but we will continue to fight for equal rights for all and not succumb to bigotry and hatred. To get involved please call and/or write to your senators and representatives and let them know you will not vote for bigots and you stand with all people. All people deserve the right to be healthy and live in a safe environment. The future of our country depends on us.
I trekked through Joshua Tree National Park this past weekend for a glorious view of Southern California at its best. I shot a time lapse which I will post soon and captured Barker Dam, a rare glimpse of water in the Mojave Desert. It was cloudy and the sky was dramatic throughout our trip. Joshua Tree National Park is located in southeastern California. Declared a U.S. National Park in 1994 when the U.S. Congress passed the California Desert Protection Act (Public Law 103-433), it had previously been a U.S. National Monument since 1936. It is named for the Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) native to the park.
Joshua Tree is a photographer's dream. The sky changes at a rapid pace in the winter and no two shots will be the same. We saw Native American Glyphs on the Barker Damn Trail as well and I love how the history has been preserved and will be for years to come.
Yosemite is next on the list but takes a lot more planning so it may take some time to get there. I love photographing nature because it allows you to be immersed in it on a different level. You are truly one with it when you look through the lens and see it in microscopic view. Upon coming back I have a sense of peace I hope stays with me until the next time I can hike for three days straight until I am so tired my muscles ache. Below are two cholla cacti who look like they are holding hands or better yet, dancing!
I rarely post photos of myself on my website but I look so happy in this photo near some rock formations in the winter air I though I would share it. I hope everybody has a great year, all things considered! To view more photos from my trip visit: Winter 2017 at Joshua Tree
So many things are happening in the world right now. I am still in denial about some of them, like the inauguration of you-know-who at the end of this month. One thing is crystal clear though, it's been raining in Los Angeles for a week straight and has rained several other times for long periods since the fall. I actually love photographing on cloudy days. I like to call clouds "nature's softbox". If you are photographing people outside with no reflectors etc. and it is super sunny you have to use fill flash and even then some sunny days are less than ideal for photography. Most people would think that is an oxy moron but it is not. As it rained today I thought about the multitude of clients calling this past week and the excitement I have this year to photograph everything possible. I will be at some rallies this month but first I will travel to Joshua Tree to get centered and realize we still shall overcome. I hope this is a great year for us all, despite what it feels like politically we should continue on our paths and help each other to find positivity in each day. Only then will we defeat ignorance. This rain is a symbol to me that we will have a beautiful and bountiful organic garden this year and my middle class family in Los Angeles can sustain a small farm in our backyard if we have the gumption and hope. We hope for health for us all and all new plants to be watered equally.
]]>
One of my goals this year is to beef up my stock photography portfolio on IStockphoto. I am an Exclusive Contributor as of today but I may start shooting for Shutterstock some time in the future so I can make money from both sites. It's been an uphill battle with microstock photography. It is like Itunes for musicians, each photo you make a small dividend of the final download fee but it takes so many photos to really feel like you are making much money from it. I will change that this year! My daughter will be 1 and a half and I am hoping to start working more regularly by the end of this year so in the interim I am going through my archives and uploading photos that can be used as stock photography. I also plan to shoot specifically for my stock portfolio but I have years of archives I can go through and upload as well.
This week I am uploading a photo session I did for an egg producer a few years back. Since it is baking season until winter is over I hope these will be accepted by the IStockphoto analysts and be downloaded by anyone who needs a photo of eggs, milk or other ingredients in chocolate chip cookies.
When you first audition to be a stock photographer for IStock you upload a few photos and then they can be accepted or rejected. Once you get accepted each image you upload goes through a process where the analysts at Istock decide if the photo is good enough and/or usable on their site. I have had many rejections in the past but have become accustomed to the scrutiny each image gets so I make sure to only upload images that have little to no retouching and look great right out of camera. Any shots with people must be accompanied by a model release and the subject's ID, this is not a point, shoot and upload site, it is very serious business! Cheers to everybody this year and best wishes to all.
]]>
End of the year festivities for my family this year included a much anticipated visit to The Broad Museum in Downtown LA. We watched as the building was slowly pieced together and were in awe of the architecture. My daughter was born shortly before The Broad opened so we put a visit on hold for over a year. I booked about 1 and a half months in advance to get our December 30th booking. The standby line was long and it was a cold day in LA.
The Broad collection of pop art was not my favorite aspect of visiting, the building itself was. There were standout pieces throughout the museum but I tended to be more enthralled with the space. It was a great way for my family and I to ring in the new year and I am glad we finally visited. My studio is located only a 20 minute bus ride from The Broad in El Sereno in Northeast Los Angeles. Taking a bus helped us save on parking fees.
El Anatsui and Kara Walker's artwork stood out to me. Above is a piece from Anatsui described on The Broad website as "crafts bottle caps, reused aluminum commercial packaging, copper wire, and other materials into giant shimmering sheets of what he calls “cloths.”
I just completed a product photo shoot at my studio in Los Angeles for a California based company Nuliv Science. The product is a powder made from fruits, vegetables and other natural ingredients. The company takes every precaution for great quality control of every ingredient from start to finish. I love working with companies who care about the earth and the health of its customers.
I photographed the pouches of powder with various props and the fine powders isolated. I always love shooting macro photography and love the way textures look up close. The colors of the powders really stood out to me. It was a challenge to get the packages to look somewhat uniform in each shot because the powders sit differently in each pouch. In the end the client and I decided it was better to keep it looking like a photograph because when you apply too much Photoshop it looks like an illustration rather than a photograph. Below is a photo my husband took while I was shooting the last few photos. I photographed and retouched 76 shots so it was quite an undertaking after watching my toddler all day, but I felt proud at the end of the week when the project was complete.
It's that time of year again and I am having portrait session specials to end the year on a good note! Book from now until New Year's Day and get 15% off a family or maternity portrait session and a free 8x10 print from the session. Bookings can be scheduled for next year. Please email for details and have a great Holiday season!
]]>
I am happy to announce I was featured in a Los Angeles based magazine recently. The magazine is called Voyage LA and they focus on all things Los Angeles off the beaten path and not so much in the mainstream realm. You can check out the article at: http://voyagela.com/interview/meet-northeast-la-photographer-naheed-choudhry-caballero/
]]>I recently completed a time lapse video showing the process of making my durable zipper pouches. I shot the raw footage with my Canon Mark iii with an intervalometer and used Adobe Premiere Pro to create the time lapse. You can click above to view the video and see parts of the process. I shot the time lapse while my husband watched our one-year-old. He also provided the music for the video. My talented hubby is not only a great father but is also a computer genius and music producer. I could not be a pro photographer, business owner, bag-maker and good mother without him!
The pouches are large and can fit up to a 10-inch wide tablet or toiletries, makeup and such. I recently updated my Etsy store with two new designs including an homage to my hometown of Detroit (design below). Making things from scratch requires a lot of patience. I have learned so much from the process and from myself. It took a lot of trial and error, and coffee too! I hope you enjoy the video and check out my Etsy shop to purchase a stylish bag. There are several bags to choose from and they make great gifts for birthdays, Christmas or any occasion.
Go directly to the Etsy site at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/naheedence . Enjoy the rest of 2016, time is surely flying by!
]]>
After a couple of days of shooting I am editing a time lapse video to promote my zipper pouch bags. I learned to make them by hand and am selling them at my Etsy shop. I first came up with the idea when I thought about placing my images on merchandise a few years ago. I started with the zipper pouches and am hoping to launch a line of pillow covers in the coming years. The bags are made in Los Angeles by me and most of the materials are sourced locally, all are made in the USA. I get the zippers from a great place in the fashion district of downtown Los Angeles called Zip Up Zipper.
Sewing these bags allows me time to be crafty. I enjoy meditating during the process and learning the skill of sewing. I am always amazed by how much I learn each time I sew. Similarly, each time I shoot a photo session I learn something new. I love mastering the art and craft of stunning visuals and am happy to create a bag to display some of my photography and designs. I put my heart and soul into these bags. I tried out different designs, fabrics and learned how to sew them from scratch. I had to try a few printers who print on fabric for me to get the sharp look I was going for. It took a long time to perfect them.
Stay tuned to check out a new design for the upcoming holiday season and to see the time lapse video featuring music from my husband, Nomadico. My next step is to approach some local shops in Los Angeles and sell some bags on consignment. The bags fit a 10 inch or smaller tablet perfectly. They can be used for anything from makeup and toiletries to art supplies. Wish me luck and stay tuned, buy a bag for someone this holiday season! Check out my shop at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/naheedence
This week I photographed a portrait session of a two-year-old right before her bedtime! Her mother was meeting with an agent who needed a comp card made by Thursday and we did the photo session on Tuesday night.
When a photographer works with a child it can be challenging. You have to make the child comfortable very quickly. In some cases I work outside which can be easier. We needed to shoot with a white backdrop at my studio in Los Angeles to have more control over the light in this case. The area my studio is in is aptly named "El Sereno", the serene. I remained serene throughout the session!
We had about 1 hour to get 3 wardrobe changes and needed a handful of great shots to work with. Since we were working on a tight deadline and so late in the evening I was trying to make magic. I always do my best and even though I was watching my own toddler all day I summoned all the energy I could to create these images.
Sometimes I have all day to get a few great shots, here I was limited on time because two-year-olds do not work on cue! I am happy everything worked out!
I traveled from Los Angeles recently to my hometown of Detroit. It was for the second wedding reception of my brother, he was married abroad and my parents wanted to throw him a party here in the US for his friends and family unable to attend his wedding. It was quite the event filled with the usual chaos of inviting 300 people to a backyard party but was of course filled with plenty of happy moments. It was fun to be with my family.
I was born and raised in Metro Detroit. When I turned 27 I moved to New York City for 7 years and then to Los Angeles. I can honestly say I missed LA! My Angeleno husband, Dan, said "It only took 6 years", but hey, some places are not as easy to love, AND we've been homeowners in Los Angeles for 2 years now. It is home for our family of 3 and I feel so lucky because it is a great place to be. (Yes, I've been reading waaaaay too much Dr. Seuss with my one-year-old daughter ;)
]]>It's been such a blessing to live in California and be so close to so many of America's National Parks. I created the video above with photographs I shot in Death Valley National Park in California. My husband, Nomadico, helped mix the music of several artists to complete the video. I hope we can keep saving more natural lands from development and hope that generations to come will always be able to see such beauty. Happy 100th birthday to the National Parks. A big thanks to all of the rangers and staff that keep our parks so pristine.
]]>
I photographed an event with over 2,500 attendees in Downtown Los Angeles last weekend, Farmer John's 85th Anniversary Celebration. I was hired by Team Play Events to capture candids of the guests who came out to celebrate a Los Angeles food institution. There were executives getting dunked in water tanks, hula hoop contests and potato sack races. All on the grounds of where the famous hot dogs are made on Soto Street. It was quite a spectacle.
It was an extremely hot day! Photographing events in downtown Los Angeles outside when it is 85 degrees at 10 AM is no easy feat! Luckily there were watering stations and fan misters which I used throughout the day. It was a fun event and I am happy to have captured a piece of Los Angeles history.
I captured Ramon’s 80th birthday party last weekend in Monterey Park, just East of Los Angeles. The party was held at Luminarias, a well known Mexican restaurant and banquet hall. Ramon was totally thrown off guard when he entered the Buena Vista room. He thought he was meeting his immediate family for a birthday brunch.
People came from as far as Arizona to celebrate Ramon’s 80th birthday. I feel so lucky as an event photographer in Los Angeles. I get to capture and be part of so many wonderful moments in people’s lives. The excitement for me is especially the one time only aspect of it all. This occasion is only happening once, and I only get one chance to capture the moment. I got a great shot of him being surprised and also seeing the happiness in his face while he danced with his granddaughter.
Capturing events is a sacred thing to me. People will look back at these photos for generations to come and unlike a portrait session or other photo sessions where you get a second or third chance to get the shot right, during events it is only once. A truly seasoned photographer can capture a moment in time in any light and even have a backup camera at the ready in case it is necessary. It is a craft I enjoy and respect more after every photo shoot.
Last week I photographed a birthday party of a lovely grandmother who turned 70 years old. The birthday girl's daughter found me on Yelp and after we spoke in the Spring she put a deposit down for the party in July. I photographed portraits of the family and captured candid photographs of the party. It was definitely not the mellow party I expected. It was quite fun to capture the birthday girl dancing and seeing her have a ball on her 70th.
I hope I can be this boisterous at her age. My own mother is in her 60s and she is still dancing and has a great sense of humor too.
This party was just a reminder you never know what to expect as a photographer. I had only spoken on the phone with my client and been in touch via email. When you photograph a party of people you've never met you don't know how fun it may be! These photos will always remind me to live life to the fullest no matter what age :) Below she is taking a more fun portrait and the last photo is a shot of the dancers who were hired to entertain the guests. I have photographed 40th birthday parties, 50th birthday parties and 75th birthday parties but Alicia's 70th birthday party takes the cake. It was held at Geezers in Santa Fe Springs, a suburb East of Los Angeles.
Every once in awhile I get a small wedding job for a couple getting married at a City Hall and then we usually do one or two other locations after the city hall ceremony. This is the second time I have photographed a couple at Beverly Hills City Hall and then went to Greystone Mansion after for a portrait session. The couple asked me to not use photos of their faces on my website so I am just including a soft portrait and two details.
Every photo session is a learning experience for me. We ended up having to go to a third location and I had to think quick and shoot several photos in 20 minutes. I am happy I work well under pressure and my client was happy with her photos!
Occasionally I get a client who wants to work in squares. I usually work in rectangles so working in squares is not my favorite activity! Imagine my dismay when Instagram first came out?! Luckily Instagram has a landscape button to change the square to a rectangle these days. I photographed for a client who does sugaring and waxing, facials etc. and uses all natural ingredients. She wanted to use the images for social media so I kept my shots to work within a square frame. Often times I will also shoot a little bit wider for square photos so I can crop them into squares and have more wiggle room later. Ah, the tricks of the trade! All of our secrets are out here on the Internet nowadays! I am not that old, really ;)
]]>
Photographing babies can pose many challenges so going with the flow is the only way to go. I recently photographed two babies at my studio in Los Angeles and it was a quite a treat. I used strobes at first but had to shy away from them by the end of the photo shoot. Most babies eyes can't stand strobes for too long. The photograph above was shot with the lights bounced and to the side of the infants so it ended up working out for a few shots. The shot below is both of them surprised by the lights. The looks on their faces are hilarious and priceless.
I like to go the natural route when I photograph babies. I would not put makeup on a baby or any gel in their hair, maybe some coconut oil?! Regardless, these two beauties look great with no Photoshop at all :)
This year was our first Mother's Day Celebration with our baby so I took a portrait in Elysian Park with my baby, husband, in-laws and our friends who were also celebrating their first with their 8-month old baby. It is difficult to get babies to cooperate during a photo session, as you can see above. We shot some other photos throughout the day that will commemorate the occasion.
This is a portrait photographed on Saturday of little baby Gabriel. He found it funny when his parents coughed so they kept coughing throughout the photo shoot. Getting and keeping a baby's attention during photo sessions is always tricky. We do our best though and always have success by the end of the shoot. Happy Mother's Day to all of hard working mothers out there! May you stay strong and always feel appreciated :)
There is something liberating and utterly beautiful about large expanses of land, especially when they are being use to renew the earth. I am a strong proponent of renewable energy and try my best to do what I can to reuse, renew and recycle in my life. Now I am hoping to pass those same values to my daughter. Mother earth really needs us right now, she needs us to be smart and stop using fossil fuels and abusing the one place we have to live. The time is now and I think powerful images of nature in all of its splendor will help reiterate this idea of a clean earth.
This photograph is from a collection of windmills in Palm Springs, California, about 1.5 hours East of Los Angeles. Los Angeles is in deep need of repair and totally dependent on automobiles at the moment. Times can change quickly though and expanding public transit and bullet trains will help us protect the environment because we will be using less fossil fuel.
]]>
I went to Joshua Tree National Park with family and friends recently. It was our first time visiting and we will definitely be back. The park is vast and filled with may odd spectacles. We had the most fun around the large stones in the area "Jumbo Rock". The photo above is of a Joshua Tree photographed at Jumbo Rock. The sun shines behind the Joshua Tree.
Above is a cholla cactus. They are very dangerous! A cholla ended up on my shoe and rubbed against my calf, a bunch of cactus needles got stuck in my leg. I had to pick them out one by one. I bled a little and was more careful walking amongst the cacti after that!
My friend Felicia and her daughter are pictured here in the middle of the frame, tiny on the Jumbo Rocks. I love how this shot shows the scale of the Jumbo Rocks. The blue sky and yellow brown rocks create a nice contrast also.
To view more photos from the adventure visit: http://www.naheedence.com/joshuatree (Please excuse the dust, I didn't have time to retouch the photos on account of having a 6.5 month old!)
It has been a few years since I last visited the desert, the photo above is from Zabriskie Point in Death Valley, California. I will be heading to Joshua Tree with mi familia at the end of March and am beyond excited for the adventure that awaits. It will be our first time visiting Joshua Tree and I am looking forward to being in nature and getting back to my humanity away from computers and phones, of course I will have my camera and several lenses! Stay tuned for some amazing photos from California and from Joshua Tree Park.
]]>
There are hundreds, if not thousands of ways to photograph one subject. Will they all be great photographs is the question. When I photograph events this especially comes into play because often times once you photograph the same people in the same room for a long period of time you have to push yourself to come up with a new perspective, especially if you are hired for another 4 hours! There are so many factors to consider when taking a photograph. In these four photos I took two photos of the same subject to show how different a subject can look depending on the way it is photographed.
In the first two shots here at LACMA, Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Art, Chris Burden's Urban Light is photographed using a 16mm lens with two entirely different perspectives. In the vertical shot the lamps are distorted and the shadows create an interesting continuation from the ground up. The palm trees add drama and the blue sky adds beauty and depth, a strong gradient.
The second shot is less abstract but still dramatic with the use of sun flare behind the lamps. The lamps are still mysterious and compete with the palmtrees. It was also shot with the same 16mm lens and includes a rich Los Angeles deep blue cloudless sky.
The second pair of photos are of Tony Smith's sculpture, Smoke, also at LACMA. Here the difference is less dramatic but shows how moving over a few inches totally changes the perspective of the sculpture. Also take note of how the people in the photos add to the photo or take away the attention of your eye from the sculpture depending on their placement.
I have a deep appreciation for architecture. I love to use my photography and explore the way lines curve and meet each other and the way the light shines on the surrounding surfaces. I am always exploring new places and love photographing a space after visiting a few different occasions to compare how the light changes the apparent lines of a space. I love the way the light is displayed off of the wall and how blue the window is during this shot at The Los Angeles Science Center. The photo was taken around 4:30 PM, not far from sundown in the "winter" here where the sunsets around 5:30.
]]>
This past weekend Dex (my husband and techno guru) and I met with local artists in our area thanks to the Nextdoor App. The meeting was about starting a collective in our area of Los Angeles, our zip code is 90032. Artists from El Sereno, Rose Hills, South Pasadena and other Northeast Los Angeles neighborhoods came and shared their ideas. The artists represented a vast array of talent including: Illustration, writing, music production and photography. We are excited to work on projects with local artists and are imagining all of the possibilities. During our first meeting we came up with the name: Coyote Rose Artist Collective.
Coyote Rose Artist Collective is in the process of getting a permit to hold a festival and art show in El Sereno/Rose Hills. We hope to be a thriving group bringing even more creative perspective to the NELA Art Walk and beyond. The group has a facebook page where you can checkout the latest info regarding the artists, festival/show.
Dex is a Los Angeles native and we both moved here from NYC in 2012. We lived in Echo Park near downtown LA but as rent prices kept going up we decided we wanted to buy a house before we were priced out of yet another neighborhood. Now we are homeowners and live 3 miles from downtown LA in El Sereno. We are looking forward to creating a community of artists near us who will motivate us to be even more creative and keep us inspired.
Photos in this post are from Ernest Debs Park in El Sereno. The entrance is from Monterey Road in Northeast Los Angeles.
]]>
It's been one year since my entire family traveled to Pakistan to witness the wedding of one of my brothers. The time has flown by and I found out I was pregnant just before the trip. The trip was as good as it gets. I met amazing people who inspired me to be a better person and I saw one of my three brothers get married to a lovely young lady. Two of my cousins also got married while we were there.
We traveled to the capital, Islamabad, for a day of sightseeing and I loved the architecture and the exciting pace of the town.
I hope my brother and his wife live as happily as my husband of 11 years and I have! May they support each other and make each other better people. When I look at the photos I get the traveling bug, luckily for me I live in California so I can be in a different environment and feel like I am in a different world within one hour of traveling any direction!
I went to the California Science Center recently and photographed the space shuttle in all of its splendor. After photographing the obvious I walked around and was intrigued by the color and enormity of the platform the shuttle sits on. I can't imagine what it took to create such a huge platform but it is truly stunning. If you live in Los Angeles or are just visiting I highly recommend checking out The California Science Center and the Endeavour Exhibit.
I shot this using my Canon 16-35mm f2.8 wide angle lens. One of my favorites in my kit. I really love this lens and its impact on imagery is so evident in my portfolio. I am so grateful to have this lens to help me illustrate my stories more dynamically.
I did a short family portrait session at my studio in the Northeast Los Angeles neighborhood of El Sereno this past weekend. I photograph portrait sessions often and when they include babies I know there is a small window of time to photograph in. Babies are very particular and they might end up disliking the strobes during a studio session or just be tired or teething. I try to move fast and once they get comfortable I shoot like crazy and can pick and choose a few shots in those fleeting moments when they are in a good mood. You have to be prepared and if the baby is not in the mood to have their photo taken you have to be patient. I love the expression on mom's face in this photo and the baby has some nice drool, a lovely face and sweet feet which made this one of my favorite shots from the session. When it comes to family sessions shooting outdoors is optimal because babies are more comfortable; however, if the shoot is scheduled for an evening the studio will have to do. ]]>
It's been two years since I photographed this self portrait, trust me, it does not feel like it has been that long! It's unbelievable how time flies. Each year that goes by seems to go by faster and we are always looking back in amazement at how much has happened. I have a photo shoot scheduled at the end of February and am looking forward to posting some new content soon. In the interim you will have to see some unpublished but older work! I have worked really hard and am proud of my many accomplishments as a photographer. You don't have to take my word for it. My work speaks for itself and you can view my reviews at Yelp!
]]>
Being a first time mother to a healthy baby girl is such a blessing and it has taken my life over like I never could have imagined. Balancing work and being a mother is not easy, especially in the first few months. Our miracle came to us in September and she is four months old now. I am slowly starting to create more "me" time and adapting to life with a new baby. My husband and I don't have much energy by the end of the day and after caring for her all day it is hard to think about shooting photos. I know it is going to start coming together and we will strike a balance but I never knew it was going to be so hard to come up with the right formula for being a mother, wife, photographer and small business owner. I need to relax and not be so hard on myself. We are working on it and right now being a mom is my number one priority! I haven't even had a chance to setup my studio for a photo session with my daughter yet. When she was three weeks old we went to our dear friend Carolina Adame Photography and she photographed a family and baby session for us.
The photos above are from that session. I am so lucky to have a supportive husband who respects my work and really wants me to thrive. He works full time and is such a hard worker. We make a great team and our little one is surrounded by some hard working parents who love her more than anything! In the end that is what matters to us most and I am happy to let my photography business take the backseat for a bit while I get this balancing act sorted!
It's been over a month since I have had written a blog post! The end of the year with the holidays and being a new mom was taking all of my time but I vow to post once a week for the rest of this year! If not my boss (me;) is going to be infuriated. My last shoot of 2015 was a holiday party at Universal Studios. I was hired to photograph a party with over 1,200 guests by BDI Events. It was quite the affair and extremely fun!
There were a few actresses dressed up in character to greet guests and above is a shot of Lucille Ball getting goofy for the camera :)
]]>
December is my official start back into the daily routine of running my photography business. I took a few months off because our baby was born on September 6, 2015! I've dedicated myself to her (nearly) full time for the past three months. I shot one two hour wedding in Beverly Hills and a family portrait session in Echo Park during the three month period. This weekend I am photographing a holiday event at Universal Studios! Please contact me for booking inquiries as I am back on the scene and able to schedule photo sessions again. Weekends work better for me at the moment but I can schedule weekday shoots as long as I have advance notice!
Greystone Mansion Wedding Portraits Shot with one hour of time and in 95 degree weather!
It's been quite a year here at Naheedence Photographic. My hubby and I received the good news that I am pregnant in January 2015 and now our due date is around the corner. I am finishing up a few product shoots this week and then will be on maternity leave until after our daughter arrives! We are excited and filled with joy! I am going to play it by ear how long I am going to take off. It all depends on so many factors that I would like to wait until the baby is here and we have all of our routines down. I hope my clients will keep me in their thoughts during this special time :)
]]>
I photographed this photo for a Korean food banner for the company CJ Foodville. I love everything about the shot. The colors, textures and human element really make it a standout shot in my portfolio. It was difficult to accomplish because we were in a time crunch and trying to make magic in minutes! The other element that held up the process is that I am over six months pregnant! Getting the gear to the client's kitchen and setting up, shooting and working with the stylist were more of a challenge with a little one to think about! Since this location photo shoot I've had to pass up a few opportunities because the shoots were on location. From now until a month after the baby is born I will be doing shoots at my studio only, unless I have an assistant with me! Baby is due in mid September, at least not without an assistant! That way I can take my time and manage my energy more easily than when I'm at a client's space :) The biggest upside to the shoot was getting some delicious Kalbi at the end of the shoot!]]>
My iPad/tablet/DJ/toiletries pouches are now available online! Visit the naheedence store at Etsy and enjoy the photos and designs on my new handmade bags. The bags are proudly made in Northeast Los Angeles by yours truly! I have 15 designs and hope you find a reason to give a gift or get one for yourself! Support your local artist and give back to the handmade goods community by buying at Etsy...
Everybody needs a place to put there things, why not make it stylish? At $32 a bag it is a good price for a handmade good made from the heart!
I started out the day at The Condor Hotel in Brooklyn and then we headed to Loft 172 a few blocks away. There were about 20 women getting ready along with the bride in a suite so I was in a pretty tight space shooting. I made the best of it though. My assistant and I made it all happen that day. Our photography wedding shoot was eight hours, that's a lot of photos! After factoring in the commute my assistant's day was 12 hours and mine was 10 hours, almost all on our feet carrying heavy equipment back and forth to locations! A big shout out to my assistant Gabriella Glynn for her professionalism with making everything happen.
After the ceremony I had about 25 minutes to shoot all of the posed photos with the couple and a list of over 20 friends and family before it started raining. We got it done though and got through everything that day capturing the best photos along the way.
To view more photos of the wedding visit http://www.naheedence.com/051615_meganandrikk
I've worked with the great folks at Hepp's Salt for a few years now and it is always a great experience. It always helps when you love the product you are photographing ;) Hepp's Salt is coming out with a few new salt flavors and some printed catalogs so they had me photograph some group shots of their salt packages and bottles and a few mounds of salt of the new flavors. The graphic designer is going to lay their new label designs on top of the photos when the labels are complete.
My next food photo shoot is on June 9th and is for a Korean restaurant! Right now I am busy editing a wedding I photographed and this week I'm looking forward to catching up on so many things. Stay tuned for my next wedding gallery which I will post by the end this week!
Julie & Megan were recently married at Huron Substation in Northeast Los Angeles. I was hired to start at 5 and at about 2 that day it started raining! We are in the middle of a drought in Los Angeles so I was happy to see the lush raindrops but I knew it was going to affect their outdoor wedding. I arrived early to check out the space and to see what changes might be made because of the rain.
They ended up moving the chairs indoors only for it to stop raining an hour later, so the guests stood for the ceremony. It was a Jewish ceremony with a beautiful Chuppah and other traditional Jewish rites.
They had two very special guests, their dogs! The dogs were really well behaved and I was shocked to hardly hear them at all throughout the wedding day. Here are their mothers with each of their dogs listening to the ceremony.
It was a fun filled day and even the kids had a ball! The venue, Huron Substation, was a wonderful place to photograph at. I hope to shoot an event their again. You can view more photos from the wedding at: http://www.naheedence.com/042515_meganandjulie
I've been doing product shoots in between event shoots in what already feels like the summer in Los Angeles! I shot some product photos for a new line and new packaging for the Nurture Tea Company. I still have yet to try the teas but I am excited to do some detoxing this fall. I just celebrated my birthday with plenty of desserts and cheesy slices of pizza! This week I am back to smoothies and brown rice stir fries. Once it cools down this weekend I will also enjoy a spot of Nurture Tea!
]]>
This year I embarked on creating a short film. The film is about loss and stars Meredith Kitz. So far we have shot some intro scenes and this past weekend we recorded some emotional voice over for the narration of the film. Meredith is always great to work with. I was really impressed with her passionate voice over skills. She made the script come alive with the emotion in her voice. We will continue to shoot over the next couple of months and then the film will go to editing. I'm lucky to have my husband's expertise with sound and his studio was perfect to record the voice over. The film, "No Answers", will be entered into a few film contests and we will have small a screening in Los Angeles. After the contest season is over I will have it on my website to view. Stay tuned!]]>
I photographed a silicon mold recently for an Amazon based baking supply company. They needed a combination of professionally photographed white backdrop shots as per the Amazon.com sellers agreement and some descriptive shots photographed in a kitchen. I have a fully equipped studio and a kitchen on site at my place so whenever I need access to a kitchen on my shoots it is all right at my fingertips. I wanted to be able to show the texture of the interior and still show that it was a loaf pan so the the angle was tricky. I think this shot expresses what it is and what it is used for, baking! As always I wish all of the e-commerce and Amazon sellers I photograph for much success. I shot this for someone in a different state so there was some back and forth both online and over the phone. Feel free to send me items from anywhere in the world and I will gladly photograph them for you!
]]>
I did a photo shoot for Jim Dandy Fried Chicken in Los Angeles this week and had a great time working with the new owner. It was a greasy shoot and I had to be careful. I wore gloves and made sure not to get my camera messy! I was styling and shooting and the owner approved the shots as I photographed them. Photographing fast food can be difficult because many fast food restaurants, and packaged foods for that matter, don't allow you to use garnishes or any items that are not included with the food. Often times you have to solely rely on your styling, lighting and retouching skills to make the food look appetizing.
The photograph of greens above was enhanced with plenty of strobe lighting and some retouching to get the color just right. The photograph of the sweet dish was shot using that paper underneath at the request of the owner so I made it look as artsy and tasty as possible. It was definitely a win for this photo shoot because I am getting hungry retouching the photos! Even though I try my best to not get excited about fast food. I will be eating a juicy tangerine now and some beets so take that fast food cravings!
I am creating a new line of merchandise using my photos including clutch bags, makeup bags and pillows. To start I am working on a first run of clutch bags. They can be used for everything from a simple everyday bag to a tablet case. I have some mockups ready to go, though the zipper design will be different from the photo below it will zip on the top only and not on the side. This gives you a sense of the style of the bag:
The first run will include designs from the photos on top of this post. I'm excited for this new venture and can't wait to enter the wide world of merchandise. Coming soon to my website they will be available mid spring just in time for summer time fashion statements!
Today I photographed techno music producer Santiago Salazar, S2, at my photo studio in Los Angeles. He needed new bio pics for upcoming articles and music releases. Surprisingly he was nervous but that is all too often the case when it comes to being in front of the camera. After a little warm up I captured some great shots and really enjoyed working with another artist and my studio lights.
Santi wanted a raw photo and since I usually don't overly Photoshop my work I was happy to oblige. I like these shots from the session because they show two different sides to Santiago and his artist name is S2 after all. To learn more about Santi visit his SoundCloud page.
I photographed dental crowns recently for JMW Dental Lab in the Diamond Bar area of SoCal. I really enjoy photographing anything with my macro lens and especially on a reflective surface. It was tricky to make dental crowns look fabulous but I think I came close ;)
The dentist is going to use these shots for his website and print materials. The photos are so detailed and show how close to real life the crowns really look. I had to adjust the light to make sure to get some texture to the crowns and not "blow out" the whites and make them too bright. I photograph a wide variety of products and each one has its own set of rules. I enjoyed working my lighting abilities to create the photos of dental crowns! To view more visit: http://www.naheedence.com/jmwlab
]]>
I haven't posted to my blog lately and there is a good reason for that; I was across the globe celebrating my brother Zeeshan's wedding in Pakistan! It was a once in a lifetime trip and my entire immediate family: Mother, father, and three brothers all made the trek. Besides wedding festivities we visited The Pakistan Monument, Faisal Mosque and The Monal Restaurant on a hilltop overlooking Islamabad.
Check out the slideshow of photos at: http://www.naheedence.com/pakistan2015/slideshow
Pakistan is one of the most colorful countries I have traveled to. The textiles and clothing people wear are intricate and saturated with bright righ colors as seen above and below.
I photographed a portrait recently of Dr. Daniel Wohlgelernter in Santa Monica. The company who made the request, Concierge Physicians, needed to update the photo of Dr. Wohlgelernter that they use to represent him on their website. We had a good time shooting but the doc was short on time so we did a few minutes in his brightly lit office and then some shots outdoors. The light outside was overcast and perfect for the moment I captured this portrait. Getting to know someone and have them trust you will take a good photo of them in a short period of time is never easy but I always enjoy the challenge and aim to impress. Dr. Wohlgelernter mentioned how much he disliked the last photo that was shot of him so I really tried hard to get a perfect shot. This was as close as I could come in the short time given.
]]>
Natalia Adame was born in the Los Angeles suburb of Bellflower on January 14th, 2015. The labor was half as long as the mother's first birth and it was a welcome change! Both madre y padre were surprised by the short length of the labor. Natalia was perfectly healthy and very comfortable snuggling with her mom.
Photographing births is never easy. I don't use flash so am left to achieve the right exposures using available light. The light in the room was all over the place so I did the best that I could. Things are also happening extremely fast and you can't miss any critical moments. Above the father cuts the umbilical cord.
The last birth I photographed was in a home. This birth was at the hospital and they had a lot of rules. The nurses were not happy with my presence and I was extra careful to be unobtrusive. I was happy to photograph such sacred moments and can't wait for my next birth photography adventure.
This past weekend I had the opportunity to photograph a birthday party/holiday party for Guarachi Family Wines. It was a lovely event filled with great food, entertainment and of course wine! I especially enjoyed photographing the dancers at the party who did a Carnival Brazilian style dance, belly dancing and burlesque.
It's been a couple weeks since my last blog post. I have been extremely busy with work and end of the year festivities! I am looking forward to 2015 and hope that you and yours are enjoying the end of the year and 2015 proves to be your best year yet!
]]>
I shot a lovely family portrait session this weekend at Ernest Debs Park in Los Angeles. I have not retouched the photos yet so what you see here is what was shot in camera! Striving for perfection in the "retouch everything digital world" can be daunting. Sometimes I long for the days of old when every hair did not have to be perfect and post production was not as important. Don't get me wrong, I realize the idea is for the photo to look amazing so I understand why we are all retouching like mad people. Regardless, I love the emotion in these shots, Photoshop or not :)
]]>
Last night I photographed a wonderful food event in the Arts District of Los Angeles at Apartment A. The company who hired me is Deckopedia. I had a great time working with Caroline of Deckopedia and Chef Emilie McBride who flew in from France for the event. The guests were served a five course "raw food" meal and drinks over a period of a few hours. The chef is French and the event had some nice French touches including a screen playing French films, sweet French music and a Calvados drink in between courses to wet the appetite.
There is so much work that goes into a food event, especially when you factor in the prep time. Chef Emilie McBride prepares food in the kitchen at Apartment A above and below.
I shot the photos for Deckopedia's website in the studio and this was a totally different type of shoot. Events are always tricky to photograph because as a photographer you don't have too much control over your environment. The ambient lighting in the dinner area was low light and the space to shoot photos in the kitchen was unpredictable with staff coming in and out. It is a true test of any professional photographer to see how they work under such conditions. I always feel a sense of pride when I get the shot no matter what. If I get a great shot even when people are bumping into me that makes my day, and career really :)
The five course meal included a cilantro avocado soup, Caesar salad, raw lasagna and chocolate dessert with pineapple mousse. Guests kept complimenting the food and could not get enough of it.
To view more photos from the event visit: http://www.naheedence.com/deckopediadinner
It's that time of year again, can you believe it? This year has truly flown by! The end of the year is a popular time for portraits and I am having a special right now! Book a family portrait session with me from November 15th to January 1st and get up to 50% off. The portrait session is $100 and includes: One Family Portrait Photography Session at my studio or outdoors. Online upload to view your beautiful photographs and three final high resolution retouched images. One Holiday design E-Card emailed to you with a portrait from the session. If interested please contact me to book a session on the contact page or at [email protected].]]>
I photographed a wedding on Dia De Los Muertos this year in East Los Angeles. It was a beautiful Mexican wedding and I met the bride at her home for some getting ready shots. The dog was very protective of her and didn't want to give us any privacy, as seen above!
The ring bearer and flower girl were both very confused and extremely cute as you can see :)
The bride walked in with her mother and father. She was so happy and full of life the entire the day and night.
Bridesmaids listen to the ceremony in rich blue toned color dresses. It looked so beautiful with their purple and white flowers.
The happy couple poses for a photo at Friendly Hills Country Club in Whittier, California, a suburb of Los Angeles.
The wedding party!
The first dance and more dancing later on in the night! Everybody had a great time at this wedding, and I love photographing it.
The Bach to Broadway Concert in Pasadena this year was held at Saint Andrews Church. It was a beautiful event with great performers in a most magnificent setting. I was truly exhilarated covering this event. This church was so epic with huge chandeliers and ornate paintings throughout.
These cornballs put on more than just a beautiful voice show :)
Both choirs sounded so amazing with the acoustics of the church, it gave me goosebumps while I was shooting.
The Broadway trio was also very good. Here are two of the performers having a fun moment. I love this job :)
I shot these photos for my client, Trade My Threads, today and am really happy with the results. These clothes all sell for $30 and under and I think I made them look much more expensive :) Trade My Threads is based in Los Angeles and this was my second photo shoot with them. The first shoot was mostly studio shots photographed of their clutch purses and jewelry but this time we got to do some outdoor shots just outside my photo studio. I am based in the Los Angeles neighborhood El Sereno. The model is Lauren from Trade My Threads.]]>
I just photographed the wedding of a lovely couple, Priscilla and Maurice, and am now faced with the daunting task of choosing the best photos from the day, doing all the post production necessary for each photo (if any), and placing their images in an online gallery and on a hard drive for them to keep. Trust me, I love photographing and editing weddings, but choosing the best shots can be tough!
When you have simple nuances in each shot choosing the best can be very hard. Just think that in 10 seconds I can shoot over 30 photos and each fleeting millisecond will produce a slightly different look. Luckily I try my best to shoot a variety of poses and environs but sometimes there is simply not enough time.
At Priscilla & Maurice's wedding we were at the Dyker Beach Golf Course. The session grounds were being shared with golfers and we had about 15 minutes of alone time. I still ended up shooting so many photos and got as much variety as I could. Since I shoot with a journalistic style I try my best to not overdo the retouching. I try to use my lighting skills as a photographer and get everything in camera when possible. But sometimes it is just nice to add some fill light in post and change the color temperature if the shot could be cooled down or warmed up a bit.
It was nice to be in NYC to shoot a wedding again. I lived their for seven years, so I still get referrals from time to time. I try to make it out to NYC about 3 times a year, or once a quarter ;) My next wedding is the day after Halloween, November 1st, in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles.
This summer I embarked on a new film project with Los Angeles based artist Man One. I shot several time lapses to gather the footage for the first short film in the series. The name of the series is Faces LA and "Volar" is the first mural in the series. The striking mural is located at 8th Street and Flower Street in downtown Los Angeles. Man One has painted murals throughout the world. He wanted to do a special campaign in his home town painting murals of everyday people. I loved shooting the footage and watching the painting come to life. I was awestruck with the precision Man One has with a spray paint can. One practical thing I learned was that capturing footage in an alley where there are cars coming in and out of a parking garage all day is no easy feat! Especially when people are leaving work and in a hurry. We had to put up caution tape around my tripod and camera just in case! To learn more about the Faces LA campaign visit manone.com #FACESLA. The music in the video is the song "Ganas" by Nomadico.
]]>
I shot a time lapse video at an event at Sonos Studios in Los Angeles recently. It was a night of ambient music and dazzling visuals hosted by Dublab. It started in the early evening and went until 6 AM the following day. I was there until about 3 AM and got some ridiculously lovely footage. The music in the video is by Mathhewdavid. Shooting time lapse has become one of my favorite activities. I recently purchased an intervalometer and coupled with my 5D Mark iii I am having a ball. I am thinking beyond sunrises and sunsets and want to capture time lapse films of events that haven't been seen. I am happy with the way the light show was captured in the time lapse format and hope to continue capturing more unique footage soon. Enjoy!
]]>
Shooting a small wedding like this and getting variety in the shots is key for me so I showed up early to get a head start on measuring my options. The Topanga Canyon Inn is a quiet place so when I scoped out the space I used ninja like tactics to avoid being obtrusive, another key in shooting small weddings. In the shot below the best man setup the couple's camera to shoot a video but then forgot to turn it on. Luckily, it wasn't my fault ;)
]]>
I'm shooting footage for a music video that will meld clips from Detroit and Los Angeles. It is for the Nomadico (aka DJ Dex) 2014 release of Yaxteq. The music in the video includes parts from all songs on the new vibrant Yaxteq EP. On a trip to my hometown Detroit recently I shot some footage and I have shot footage around my current residence of Los Angeles. Above is a photo of me shooting a time lapse video of Grand Park which I'm going to include in the Yaxteq video. I am holding the intervalometer I ordered on Ebay. It works with my Canon 5D Mark iii just fine! Stay tuned here for the video debut coming in the next couple of weeks.
]]>
I have been traveling a lot this summer so apologies for the lack of blog posts! Before I headed to Detroit to visit my family I shot cookies for Dolcetto Petites Cookie Company. They needed shots for their product packaging and had three different flavors for me to shoot. I did several setups of the three different flavors: Chocolate lemon, lemon cream and cookies and cream. The cookies are bite size and and wafer like. The shot above is the cookies and cream flavor. I went prop styling for the shoot also and got a couple of cute espresso cups from Sur La Table in Pasadena. The photos were shot at my studio in Los Angeles.]]>
I shoot headshots and portraits often and sometimes I even do mini sessions for clients who need a few shots for Linked In profiles, dating profiles and for use to promote their businesses. Headshot sessions are always fun and any good photographer will be able to get some natural looking shots of people. My clients come to me because they aren't interested in having too much Photoshop and want a natural looking photo with good lighting that is more high end then a point and shoot photo from an IPhone. Regardless of what many seem to believe their is an art to lighting and shooting photos with an SLR camera. My camera talks to the lights connected to it wirelessly, they know each other well! Cheers to all the photographers out there still shooting pro photos and not really feeling like downgrading to a point and shoot portfolio ;) There is always room for Instasham, but if you want a professional photograph with studio lighting and someone who can use the equipment please hire a PRO!
]]>
Camy & Jim were married at St. Felicitas and Perpetua in San Marino, California. In the photo above the couple sees each other close and personal for the first time on their wedding day. Camy's father was all smiles when he walked her down the aisle :)
Here the newlyweds leave the church together while everyone cheers them on! St. Felicitas and Perpetua was a really beautiful church with ornate lamps and wonderfully bright stained glass.
We traveled to four locations in four hours so it was quite a whirlwind day. Here are some photos I took at Pasadena City Hall.
I only stayed for the beginning of the reception but below is the couple entering their reception at The Pasadena Hilton. The groom threw his fist in the air as he entered and it was well received by all!
Today I photographed the interior of the Bradbury Building in downtown Los Angeles which I have done before with a 28mm lens, this time I used my recently purchased Canon 16-35mm f2.8 lens and I was quite happy with the results. There is distortion and it is not a technically perfect shot but it is beautiful and I love it so there! All of you tech heads can analyze as much as you want but today I am creating art for art's sake, not for technical perfection.
]]>
It's been a couple of weeks since my last blog post, my parents were in town for about 8 days and I was in full on hostess mode! I am back in the swing of things since they left and photographed a lovely Baptism this past weekend. The little guy's name is Romeo and the Baptism took place at St. Anselm Parish in Los Angeles. Baptisms are always exciting yet calming to photograph. Romeo was chewing on a bracelet during his Baptism to keep him calm and collected! There were no tears, only smiling faces from his parents and Godparents. A beautiful moment captured forever!]]>
Deckopedia is a new company that is launching soon that will sell decks of cards with interesting subjects and information. I shot photos of their products at my studio in Los Angeles. The client was there and we had a stylist so there were a lot of cooks in the kitchen ;) At the end of the day we walked away with 30 beautiful shots that the client was very happy with.
The cards range in every subject from recipes to games and traveling. They will be sold at gift shops and have some great content so look for them at a store near you soon!
]]>
I was hired by Educreations, a company that allows you to create and share video lessons with your Ipad or browser, to photograph some portraits of Paul Groves, an AP Chemistry teacher at South Pasadena High School. We had a wonderful session and Paul was a great subject to photograph because he was at ease in front of the camera. Sometimes we (photographers) are not given much time to get a great shot during portrait sessions and my client asked that I shoot quite a few photos in a short period of time. I am so glad to have captured this shot. Paul looks like the pro teacher he is, confident and at ease, exactly what I was going for!]]>
I'm getting to know a new area of Los Angeles that I recently moved to, El Sereno. It is in between downtown LA and Pasadena and has pedestrian friendly walkways and a lovely park, Ernest E. Debs Regional, within two miles of my photo studio. I usually like to do two hour sessions with the first hour outdoors and the second hour indoors at my studio depending on the time of day. I shot the photo above in my studio and really love the dramatic lighting and the overall mood. I love shooting pregnancy/maternity photo sessions, it is such a wonderful time to capture.
It was the first time Jane and Daniel did a portrait session and they really enjoyed it. It took them awhile to get into the groove of things but once they did we captured some fantastic images. It was an overcast day in Los Angeles so we didn't get to play with the sunlight dancing through the trees too much but we still got to strike a few poses at sundown. Ernest Debs Park is a great space for photos and pretty quiet on weekdays.
These photos are not retouched so please excuse any wrinkles on the clothing and or messy hair! I'm available for maternity portrait sessions year- round throughout Los Angeles and Pasadena so please send an email or give me a call to book a session for you or a loved one today!
]]>
Sometimes when I am behind the camera it is really hard, I mean extremely difficult, not to hold back my own tears! Weddings are so emotional and even though I am there to document the event it is difficult not to get wrapped up in the emotions of the day with the bridegroom, family, friends and guests. When my assistant and I got in the car after Rose and Alex's wedding ceremony she told me she got emotional during the ceremony and that it was the first time that happened to her. I told her that it happens to me all the time! Trust me, I'm still focused on what is happening and hiding my tears behind the camera, using my camera strap to wipe any evidence away :)]]>
I photographed this interior last week for a client who does stunning interior design. This part of the Beverly Hills home was especially inspiring because of the beautiful stairwell, vertical window and chandelier. I love the way the light splashes on the wall through the stairs and the overall feeling of the shot. So far I have heard it is spooky and interesting, I will take both as a compliment. Whatever it takes to make the viewer stop and look is what I am going for, of course it has to have a great look too! I know that is subjective, but as an artist I like to think I know what works and what doesn't :)
]]>
Rose and Alex were married this past weekend at the Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim. The nature center has beautiful sweeping trees, small creeks and bridges and a view that would not be easily forgotten. I especially love this shot of Rose taking Alex's hand for the first time on their wedding day. She was just given away by her father and the looks on each person's face in the photo is priceless. Capturing candid wedding photography is one of my favorite things to do in life! It requires a mixture of technical know how, a keen sense for knowing when the next important moment is coming and keeping a calm demeanor even when each shot is happening so quickly and you only get one chance! I feel so blessed that people trust me with such an important day and I am always striving to outdo myself and get everything perfect! Stay tuned for more photos of their wedding once I get the editing process complete :)
]]>
Recently I did a photo shoot for a laptop stand company and it was a bit on the dramatic side. The model was a no show and then showed up four hours late! The client and I scrambled to shoot the products sans model but since the entire shoot was booked because my client wanted to get a model to use the product, products shot on a white backdrop was not cutting it. We took a break for lunch and the model contacted me to let me know she was able to shoot after all. We ended up going way over the time allotted for the photo shoot but in the end we made it through, with some great shots of course ;) Learn more about the company here: http://www.uncagedergonomics.com/
]]>
Photographing ice is no easy feat. It melts, moves and just is not cooperative! I did a photo shoot recently for Neve Ice and was reminded why I used fake ice in my last beverage photo shoot. Neve Ice has special shapes and sizes though, meant to fit certain glasses for cocktails, so going the fake ice route was not going to work for this shoot. We came up with some great shots for their large cube and long rectangular shaped ice. Above is a shot of a Moscow Mule with one large cube of ice. Below we have shots of the ice with honey, next to a strawberry and being lovingly held by tongs. Who ever said ice is boring and not sexy? This was the first photo shoot I did at my new studio in the Los Angeles neighborhood El Sereno, located conveniently 15 minutes from downtown Los Angeles and Pasadena, right in the middle of two great areas. It was a very fitting introduction to my new space because the shoot was fun, my client was excited and very happy and my intern learned a lot, a positive shoot all around :) You can learn more about Neve Ice at: http://neveice.com/
I have photographed so many weddings throughout the years but my favorite weddings by far are those that bring two cultures together. I am so enriched in Los Angeles because it is such a wonderfully diverse city. From Jewish and Muslim, Japanese and Latino, to Indian and German I have photographed many bicultural couples and their families. Coming from a multicultural marriage myself I am familiar with the rewards and challenges of bringing two cultures together through marriage.
Planning a multicultural wedding can be a bit more stressful than other weddings. Both sides of the family may want to observe their traditions and because of time and money it can be hard. My biggest recommendation is to be balanced and try not to favor one side over the other. Be open minded and flexible. Of course that is easier said than done, especially when families are involved!
I take great pleasure in the differences and similarities of all people. In the end love conquers all and being a wedding photographer allows me to capture and realize that often. Photographing weddings is truly special to me. I feel blessed to be part of such a sacred moment in people's lives. As I like to say to my wedding clients, "You will treasure your photos throughout a lifetime; let me help you keep looking" :) My experience and unique understanding of multicultural weddings allows me to create photographs the couple, their family and friends will treasure forever.
]]>
This is an HDR photo I shot of "The New Mart" building in downtown LA. I did some Photoshop magic to make the building say "The New Art" instead of "The New Mart", just for fun. I really love the architecture in downtown LA. It is varied and certain sections are turn of the century and the buildings have so many beautiful details. I like the illustrative quality that HDR brings out in architecture. This cinematic looking building is proof of that.]]>
I have shot thousands of portraits in my years as a photographer and each session is unique. Every person has their own comfort level in front of the camera and it is my job to get them comfortable quick! Doctors are no exception. I have had the opportunity to shoot for Concierge Choice Physicians on many occasions and love it every time. Dr. Inocentes had a great sense of humor and some of my silly talk during our session had her showing some beautiful and genuine smiles for the camera. I love my job and am looking forward to capturing many more portraits in the years to come.
]]>
10) What Type of Equipment Do They Use?
A professional photographer never shows up to any event or situation with anything less than one back up camera, lenses, flashes and plenty of batteries. While it may be cheaper to hire an amateur or a family member to capture your images, you run a high risk of losing your day or event forever if their equipment fails and they don't have any backups.
9) How are their people management skills?
On the day of the wedding the bride and groom are inundated by everything from making sure they have enough energy to get through the day, to whether their family's hotel plans are coordinated. You want to hire a photographer who is able to navigate and capture the wedding without needing help from the bride and groom. For this reason, it is important that the photographer be able to manage people in a friendly, effective way. You don't want to hire someone who can't approach total strangers and be perfectly comfortable in any surrounding or can't go with the flow of the event in case plans change. Amateurs may be caught off guard with any of the above.
8) How Do They React to Stressful Situations?
As a photographer it is important to keep your cool no matter what the situation. Weddings can be high stress days for the bride, groom, family and even friends helping out. Emotions run high and if you hire someone who lacks experience and hasn't been through similar stressful situations it can make a bad situation worse. Ask your photographer how many weddings they have shot and how they have reacted to stressful situations.
7) What Are Their Post Production Techniques?
When it comes to post production it is like anything else, a matter of taste. Some photographers have results that are fairy tale like and are great for some, but not everyone wants the "glamour shots" effect. Also, ask your prospective photographer how much post production they do to their photos. Do they rely too heavily on post production to get a great shot? If so you might be disappointed if they miss key moments because they overexposed or underexposed the shots and couldn't save them in post production.
6) Do They Pay Attention?
A professional photographer is required to pay attention to detail. They must be acutely aware of their surroundings for items of interest that are relevant to your event. Is the bride's makeup perfectly set, how does her dress look in this pose, is there any lint on the groom's clothing, which direction is the sunlight coming in from this window? These are just some things that go through the mind of a professional. While some folks take the easier (cheaper) route of hiring a less experienced, or amateur photographer, it is highly likely that one of two things will happen; First, the inexperienced photographer will overlook key details because they are unaware of what is expected to happen next. Second, an amateur or relative with a camera may not be focused the entire time – they may get side-tracked with conversations or get into the hoopla of the event causing them to miss otherwise great images. Or, even worse they may feel they have "enough" images to suffice for the time being and take an amateur break!
5) Are They a Great Coordinator?
When hiring a photographer you should make sure they have experience and are able to help coordinate your day. An amateur or relative may be inexperienced and not have a good idea of how a wedding day may flow. There are countless things to think about: What time will a bride's makeup session begin, when will guests arrive, when is the ceremony, reception, posed photos and cake cutting? The list goes on. A good and experienced wedding photographer will have suggestions, a schedule and other lists on hand to make sure things are being captured and the day in images is flowing well.
4) Do They Give You Assurances?
What are the backup plans of the photographer in the event they are late or have an emergency? What happens if there’s an equipment failure, or some other unforeseen issue? Do they carry liability insurance? Can you get all of the points covered with them in an interview in a written contractual agreement?
3) Can They Capture Good Exposures?
If you find a photographer who is budget friendly and outgoing but can't get a good exposure you are still wasting your time and money on one of your most important days. Learning how to correctly expose a photo in any situation is one of the most important factors for all photography, but especially with wedding photography. Prior to an event wedding photographers usually won't know how the lighting may be in a hotel, venue, or outdoors on that particular day so they have to make several quick and good judgements throughout the day. Most amateurs lack the knowledge to get good exposures for every situation and you might end up with photos you do not like in the end.
2) What Is Their Style?
What is the artistic style of your prospective photographer? Generally speaking their are three schools of wedding photography: Photojournalistic, Mixed or Traditional. Photojournalistic shots are candid and don't include posed photos but rather rely on capturing what is happening in real time. A traditional photographer shoots posed photos and will ask the couple, family members and other guests to pose for photos throughout the day. A mixed approach offers both journalistic and posed shots. You may want to ask to see examples of an entire wedding day shoot to see how the photographer tells a wedding day “story”?
1) How Much Experience Do They Have?
When it comes to the art of photography, there is no substitute for experience. Photography is more than picking up a camera, pointing, aiming and shooting! Like any other career, perfecting the art of photography takes many years of trial and error, training and endurance. A photographer who has limited experience may be able to capture images in one particular setting, however, a photographer with true experience will be able to evaluate nearly any scenario and be able to properly expose and/or light the subject or setting.
This week I am shooting video footage that will be used for a short film about sustainable home cooking. Home cooking is a passion of mine so it is exciting to work on this project. I get to bring my passion for visual arts and my passion for food and combine them. The video will also concentrate on the different sounds we hear in the kitchen. I am hoping to inspire people to get inside their kitchens and cook from scratch! It takes time and effort but it is so much healthier and can even be fun if you allow yourself to dive into it and enjoy!
]]>
WeddingWire, the nation's leading online wedding marketplace, named Naheedence Photographic as a winner of the prestigious WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards™ 2014 for Wedding Photography in Los Angeles!
The WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards™ 2014 recognizes the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism. The esteemed awards are given to the top local wedding vendors in more than 20 service categories based on their professional achievements from the previous year.
In honor of the award I am giving any couple who books with me before April 1st a special discount. Please email me at [email protected] for details!
]]>
I love living in Echo Park. It has been just over three years since my move to Los Angeles and I have fallen in love with my neighborhood over and over again. Last night I gathered footage for a music video I am creating for my husband, techno producer extraordinaire, Nomadico. Of course I used the opportunity to shoot some stills when the light was blue and golden. The warmth I feel when I walk through my neighborhood is captured in this photo. Each time I walk down Kensington Street and pass the Victorian Homes, paddle boat in Echo Park Lake or get a tasty bite at the "El Paisano" food truck on Sunset I am filled with joy. I could not have asked to live in a better neighborhood as my introduction to Los Angeles. Dex aka Nomadico and I will be leaving within the year though, we are getting priced out thanks to gentrification! Life is all about change and we look forward to discovering another area of Los Angeles and creating new memories. Echo Parrrr will always have a special place in my heart. After all it is where I picked up a lot of Spanish, protested WalMart with my Chinese neighbors and ate countless delicious vegetarian meals for $4 ;)
]]>
I had the great pleasure of being the Director of Photography for a film that was shown during the ASCO exhibit at The Nottingham Contemporary in England. I worked with Director and Editor Alvaro Parra on the film and it was such a great experience. We only had a few days to shoot the entire film and it was a great adrenaline rush to make all of our deadlines. It reminded me of my days back in the photo departments of The Detroit Free Press and The New York Sun. I was especially excited because the footage was shot entirely on my newly purchased Canon 5D Mark iii. There is nothing like a crash course in new equipment like a deadline! You can watch the film by clicking on the image above. You can learn more about the exhibit here: http://www.nottinghamcontemporary.org/art/asco
]]>
I traveled to El Salvador recently with my husband and mother-in-law, Zoila. She grew up there but has lived in the United States for over 40 years. She still has family there and it was great meeting them and seeing the countryside. She has a timeshare in Salanitas, El Salvador, an exciting place called DeCameron. Pictured here is a swimming pool they have that is connected to the ocean. The tropical ocean water is so warm and being connected to the ocean in a pool is an experience like no other. The sun is setting and everyone is taking in a last swim at the end of the day. Below is a photo of Lake Coatepeque. If you'd like to see the slideshow I created with some Cumbia music and the El Salvador photos including my times at a cheese factory please visit: http://www.naheedence.com/
This past weekend I photographed the Baptism of a sweet and chubby little one. His family and friends were so nice and it was a lot of fun to capture such a special day. Church lighting is always tricky but I know how to get my camera settings to make colors rich and skin tones shine in any setting!
The baby, Harrison, was a bit sleepy and I caught him here right in time for a nice yawn. The Baptism was held at St. Basil Church in Koreatown, Los Angeles. Then we headed to Raffi's Place in Glendale for a Christening Party.
Here
Here Harrison plays with his grandfather's necklace :)
It's been too long since I wrote a blog post! I photographed a wedding on 10-17 and then went to El Salvador for just over a week. I am finally done playing catch up so am ready to start blogging away! Mariana and Chris were married at Marvimon House in Chinatown, Los Angeles, so we did the portrait session throughout downtown LA. We went to Chung King Road in Chinatown and then to the lovely Grand Park and got some amazing shots. I went to a KCRW summer night in Chinatown a couple months before their wedding and saw a bunch of people using confetti "poppers" and thought they would make for a great wedding photo. My assistant popped the rockets while I clicked away and the photo above was my favorite shot. You can view their gallery at: http://www.naheedence.com/
Here they are at Grand Park having a peaceful moment in the city. Below is a shot at Marvimon House. It was a wonderful venue and I really enjoyed shooting there because it is a huge, modern open space.
Mariana had a special "cake" waiting for Chris after the main cake cutting made out of different cheeses and surrounded by Star Wars characters!
Chris was very happy to eat the savory over the sweet, yummy!
]]>
Elysian Park is always a great place to photograph family sessions. There are so many wide open spaces and children especially love all of the different sounds from parties, cars driving by and dogs running through the park with their owners. During a recent family session I even got the family to lay in the grass, as you can see, the 10-month-old especially loved it!
Here I captured some good times with the baby and his papa. It took them awhile to warm up but once they got started we had a great time photographing warm moments they can look back on and really cherish.
We started out the photo session at my studio and had a blast trying to get this little guy to laugh as much as possible. Just imagine three grown adults acting like buffoons trying to entertain a ten-month-old, that was us!
Today I photographed some product photography for a skin care product called Kaunis, which means beautiful in Finnish. We wanted to go for a very clean look so kept it simple and my client wanted the photos to be bright so I definitely overexposed slightly. These shots were all taken in my studio in Los Angeles.
The product is laid on top of the face and then sits there for a few minutes while it works its magic. It is not a perfectly smooth mask so we didn't go overboard with the Photoshop to make it look perfect.
Kaunis comes in packs of six in a pretty pouch which is in an even prettier box with black ribbon. Actress, model and owner, Anna Easteden has the product available on the website shopkaunis.com. The mask is vegan and doesn't have any fragrances or preservatives.
This past weekend we made the trek from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara to visit a relative that recently moved there. We left Los Angeles around 5 PM and had such a great ride watching the sun go down and kiss all of the sweeping vistas as we drove by. I was shooting through the window and captured this shot of some beautiful vineyards with a mountain range behind. I love driving through California! I love how you can find so many different landscapes in such a short drive.]]>
This past weekend I photographed the wedding of Jasmine and Bradley in Pasadena. It was fun and relaxed with a special guest, Raleigh, Jasmine's dog! Above he enters with a cute little lady as the guests react to his fast pace.
The bride warned me they hate posing for photos, exactly what I like to hear ;) It was a hot day in Pasadena and we only had about 20 minutes for posed photos before the ceremony but we made the best of it. I really loved their old time flair. If we would have had time I think some old architectural backdrops would be perfect.
After the ceremony the bride gave her bouquet to the longest married couple in attendance. They ended up being married for 61 years and the bride asked her for any advice she had for the newlywed couple. Below the couple dances with two cuties toward the end of the reception.
]]>
This past few weeks have been a great adventure in visual art for me as DP for a film about the Latino Artist Collective Asco. Since I got my Canon 5D Mark iii I have been delving back into the realm of video, after taking a long break. Oh how the time flies! Capturing video again has me reflecting back on my roots in cinema study classes and as a college aged documentary film maker. Myself and the director have traveled throughout Los Angeles, from Echo Park to LACMA, to film Asco members and critics. It has been great to get to know the artists and create art telling their story. The portrait above is of Asco member "Gronk". His paintings surround him in his loft in downtown LA. It was literally shot in the dark so has some grain but I like this raw approach to portray Gronk, his style and painting are anything but glitzy. The Asco film will be shown during a retrospective of the art collective at The Nottingham Contemporary Museum in England.
You can learn more about the exhibit at:
]]>
I recently did a cupcake photo shoot for Cake Shop LA and had such a great time. I got to work all day with the cake master Anna Thane and Jesse Linn to create some fantastic imagery. I did all of the styling and shooting myself but Anna and Jesse were there to make sure they got exactly what they wanted. I love when my clients can be with me on food and product photo sessions because there is no mystery as to whether it is perfect. This was a difficult shot to come up with because we wanted to show the full cupcake but also wanted to show what was inside the cupcake in an artful way. We tried quite a few setups and then I finally came up with this, I'm so happy I did. Doesn't this make you want to devour the cupcake!?
They have lots of unique flavors and also some classics. Pictured below is: Chocolate peanut butter, Lemon Lime, Almond Espresso and Chocolate with blueberry/raspberry filling. Pictured above is a Vegan Chocolate Orange Cupcake with lots of delicious flavor. (The photos have yet to be retouched so please forgive me!
I photographed an engagement portrait session at The Los Angeles Arboretum last week and it was a soulful enriching experience. It was my first time photographing there and I was not prepared for its spectacular beauty! Amidst waterfalls, the San Gabriel Mountains and Kyoto style bamboo fields are large green meadows and huge forests where the sun trickles through in so many beautiful ways.
I was hired to shoot Rose and Alex's wedding photos next April and they opted for a package with a wedding engagement session. They wanted a special location for their engagement photos and booked the Arboretum. They had never been to there either. There was another commercial photo shoot going on at the same time and we had about two hours of light left in the day so time was of the essence. The Arboretum provided a driver for the photo shoot who was very nice and super helpful. She carted us around since the Arboretum is so huge, 127 acres according to their website! I can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday evening.
I created a slideshow of the images and edited it to The Four Tops, "I'll Be There". Here's to having a blast photographing dance movement sans flash in the dark, and to my hometown, Motown!
]]>
Vickie and Jon's wedding was held in Brea, California at the Brea Community Center. It was an extremely emotional wedding with a lot of crying! I had to hold back the tears during a speech the bride's son gave thanking her for being such a great mother and for his excitement and happiness with his new family. My nose is burning a little just remembering how beautiful that speech was.
There were still plenty of fun times to be had also and lots of families celebrating the love of Vickie and Jon! The reception was all about family and good times.
This past weekend I photographed a family portrait session that started at my studio in Echo Park and ended in Elysian Park. That is my usual routine with a family session so we can get some nice studio lit shots first and then head to the park for some beautiful nature backdrops. Children are definitely happier in an outdoor setting and I am there to make them happy, so they can be happy for the camera! Kaitlyn was your typical 8-month-old, every second she had a different facial expression and was flailing her arms around like a drummer so it was definitely a challenge to get some good shots, but in the end there were plenty to choose from and a happy relaxed baby in the park :)]]>
Nisha and Chris were married at The Women's 20th Century Club in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles. It was definitely one of the most fun weddings I have photographed. The wedding was in the backyard of the venue and the sun was shining bright that Saturday afternoon.
There is nothing I like more than to photograph an Eastside LA wedding! It took my assistant and I only 15 minutes to arrive at the venue. The ceremony was a short and sweet seven minutes! Then commenced cocktail hour, food, speeches, first dance and an unbelievably fun reception with lots of dancing! Everybody left the party drenched from all of the dancing they did :)
]]>
It's been a crazy couple of weeks here at Naheedence Photographic Studios. I shot a wedding in New York City on July 4th and on July 6th I was back in Los Angeles to photograph another wedding in Eagle Rock. Then on July 7th I headed to San Francisco to attend a dear friend's wedding and was out there for two days! I had the honor of photographing Chris and John's wedding on July 4, 2013. DOMA had been struck down a couple weeks earlier so the timing was perfect. Their marriage was finally legal and it was a celebration on multiple levels. Chris and John looked great and so did their wedding party, it was a red, white and blue themed wedding. We started the day with a walk through of Times Square, traveled to Central Park for an intimate wedding ceremony and then headed back to The Renaissance Times Square for the reception.
This family shot looks so great with the vibrant colors and happy people. I feel so lucky to have shared the experience with Chris and John's family and friends on such a beautiful and important day. I love photographing weddings and feeling all that warmth and passion!
Photographing jewelry can be a daunting task, you get lots of reflections, glare and shadows, the three strikes against any product photographer. I have photographed jewelry now for seven years and every photo shoot is different. You come up with a lot of tricks to make the jewelry look its best including: Photo tents, light reflectors, positioning the lights in 100s of different ways! I must say though that my first jewelry photo shoot with my newly purchased Canon 5D Mark iii and my Alien Bees 800s really turned out beautifully. I used a light tent to diffuse the light and the colors came out brilliantly. These shots could use a little more post production work but the results out of camera were so beautiful I wanted to post them without finishing it up in Photoshop. Cheers to the Canon 5D Mark iii for such accurate color and shine :)
Shrimp Chow Fun is not the easiest dish to photograph. The noodles just are not that pretty so I made sure to get the lighting just right and make sure the sauce on the shrimp had a bit of shine and the green in the broccoli and scallions really popped. Here we have a nice pallet of red shrimp, green broccoli and scallion, orange carrots, brown wood and noodles and a white platter: All colors very characteristic of Asian food and culture.]]>
This past weekend I had a much needed mini vacation with a dear friend to The Angeles National Forest. It was my first time there and I was shocked by its proximity to the city and its sheer beauty. We did about a four-mile hike because I am still recovering from a foot fracture, otherwise I would have doubled that hike no doubt! I am happy with the shots I got on our four hour trip (links below). The weather was on our side as it only got up to 80 degrees. It made it easier during the uphill walk in the blazing sun. We were prepared with our sun hats, sunscreen with plenty of water and trail mix. I can't wait to go back when it starts to snow a bit and enjoy a ten-mile hike with my camera and the open forest!
Here are some photos from our travels, enjoy!
Web Gallery: http://www.naheedence.com/
Slideshow with Music: http://www.naheedence.com/
I photographed a double Christening this past weekend in the Los Angeles suburb of Norwalk at St. Linus Church. The babies who were Christened are cousins and looked too adorable in their white regalia. I especially loved the shots of a mom lifting her daughter high and smiling. So much warmth and good energy, makes me want to hug somebody! It was nice to see the families so happy on this special day. The Catholic Church was filled with a beautiful white light which definitely made my job more pleasant. You can view more images of the Christening at: http://www.naheedence.com/christening]]>
I have done quite a few photo shoots for the company Concierge Physicians. Working with doctors is a treat most of the time but Dr. Waltuch was especially nice and made my job very easy. Depending on what you say to a portrait subject they really will either open up or not be that into it. Dr. Waltuch responded really well to everything I said so I had a very good day. Especially since my foot was injured so I was working with a "special boot sandal" for fractured metatarsals. Here's to easy going clients!]]>
I have taught one-on-one Photoshop tutorials for over five years now. I have used Photoshop for over a decade (yes, I'm that old!). Through the years I have learned so many ways to retouch photos, from color matching like the shoes above, to fixing skin tones and even smoothing out wrinkles and cinching the waist a bit.
When it comes to Photoshopping people my approach is very natural and unless a client specifies they want an "airbrushed look" I really don't go that far. My style is definitely clean but I like when people still look real and not overly Photoshopped. If a photographer uses lighting well I think they can make porcelain looking skin without the weird look of a Photoshop blur gone wrong!
If you are interested in hiring me for a tutorial please email me at: [email protected]
For more Photoshop samples please visit: http://www.naheedence.com/retouch
]]>
I have photographed quite a few products for Lady Gatsby. My favorite scents have got to be anything with chocolate in them but since their products are all natural and hypo allergenic I get a good feeling from being around the scented soaps. Unlike when you walk into a Bed, Bath and Beyond and feel like you can't breathe a few minutes later! Her line can be found on Etsy and I highly recommend them. She has everything from creams to bath soaps. Affordable and all natural! https://www.etsy.com/shop/LadyGatsbyLuxuryBath]]>
Recently I had the honor of photographing two young and energetic graduates from two different universities: Cal State Northridge and USC. It was an early Sunday morning, we started at 8:30 AM! I needed to make a Mother's Day brunch for my mother-in-law and didn't want to miss any of the fun. Each client had a totally different look so I was stepping up and down on the ladder for two hours, getting a great morning workout :) I also got to try out a new backdrop I just got from Samy's Camera and I was happy with the results. Both ladies were really happy with their photos.]]>
Recently I was hired to photograph images for a restaurant in the Los Angeles suburb of San Bernardino, Chow Pho. It was quite the event! They needed over 30 items photographed in five hours. Trust me, that is no easy feat. I had a food stylist and we tried to keep up the pace but by the end of the day my brain was whirring from looking behind the lens, talking to multiple people from the restaurant, getting into a flow and staying there. Every element counts, from making sure the white plate is clean to making sure each "key ingredient" is displayed in a nice array on the platter, not to mention keeping the light perfect. They needed the images for a menu being printed the following day so time was of the essence. This is not my favorite way to work, since I'm a perfectionist! However, sometimes you just have to work it, and that is what we did! Above is a contact sheet of the delicious food photos from the day.]]>
Thanks to the generous contributions of family and friends I will soon be the proud owner of a Canon 5D Mark III and a 16-35mm f2.8 Canon Wide Angle Lens! My perks for my Indiegogo campaign ranged from portrait sessions, to prints and sets of postcards. I learned a lot through the fundraising process and loved the excitement of coming up with new creative ways to earn money for camera gear. A gear upgrade is going to change the offerings of my business as well since I will soon be shooting VIDEO! It feels great to be able to keep up with the times. That has to be one of the most difficult aspects of running a photography business. Thanks to everybody who contributed, PEACE :)]]>
I photographed Mathius Gertz in Santa Monica recently and we had a great time. His wife, Angie Wells, is a makeup artist and it is always a pleasure to work with other talent to create stunning imagery. There are a million ways to light a subject but I especially enjoy rich skin tones and a little catchlight in the eye. We wanted to create an image that looked like Mathius does on an average day and I really think this one nailed what we were going for. I am proud to be known to capture people in their true essence and Mathius recognized that in my work. It is always so nice when people see your style for what it is and appreciate that about you. I feel so blessed and lucky to have clients that appreciate my eye and vision!]]>
Shooting interiors full of pretty dresses is definitely fun :) I love the colors of the dresses on the left, especially the lavender and baby blue, two of my favorite colors. According to Maria Diaz, Bride shop owner, baby blue is a trendy color for 2013 weddings. Cheers to everybody getting married in 2013, no matter what color you are wearing! The Daily Candy Los Angeles published their Spring Wedding Guide with everything hip for a 2013 wedding. A photo I shot for the boutique shop Bride was published in the guide accompanying the section about the Echo Park shop.]]>
It's Spring again and that means wedding season is around the corner! Book me as your wedding photographer by May 15th for any 2013 wedding and get a free hour of coverage, a $300 value! In this photo a bride awaits "the first look". I always love shooting this moment as their hearts beat crazily with anticipation. You never know how your partner will look when they turn that corner. If I was a psychic I would say bright colors are in our future ;)]]>
This past Saturday night I was hired to photograph night life in downtown Los Angeles at the monthly event Mucho More at La Cita Bar. It was a fun filled night with plenty of party people getting crazy on the dance floor. Jaime Gee played a great set mixing so many genres but keeping such a great flow he had me dancing while I was shooting.
I was asked by a guy on the dance floor if I shoot film. I explained when I first started photography back in 1996 I shot with film but now I shoot digital. He told me he only shoots film and I told him that was great. I told my husband later that night and he was not impressed!
I was also asked if I shoot night life shots often. I treat it just like I would treat shooting a wedding reception or any event or party. Photograph people having fun and the story of the night will be told. I have such a great time photographing people having a great time, being a spy on the dance floor is key! That coupled with having the right camera and flash settings to set the party mood.
As a photographer I am always interested in storytelling. I come from a newspaper background and still get a rise from listening to the stories of everyday people and creating a space for their voices to be heard. It is in that vein I started my most recent project, a photographic journey into the lives of Muslim youth in the US. This portrait was shot at The Islamic Center of Southern California. Girls just want to have fun!
]]>
Echo Park is changing faster than most other areas in Los Angeles. It is ripe with new storefronts and bustling restaurants. "Bride" is opening this Saturday and I got a sneak peak into the vintage and designer bridal gown and accessories store. The Eastsider LA referred to it endearingly as "Not Your Mama's Bridal Shop." It definitely isn't, it is hip, chic and unique. Or, as they like to put it "vintage.eco.independent". The owner, Maria Diaz, has a great eye for beautiful and tasteful "fancy" clothing. You can learn more about the shop here: http://brideboutiquela.com/
Now my hope is getting some East side brides to book my wedding photography services :)
]]>
Today I am sending mail to the first six people who purchased the "set of four postcards" perk from my Indiegogo Campaign! I feel so lucky to know such supportive people. The postcards are truly beautiful, when I received them in the mail they brought a tear to my eye. Those photos bring back the best memories and I am happy to share my eye with you!
You can learn about my campaign here: http://igg.me/at/naheedence/x/561927
]]>Every contribution gets a different bonus or "perk" as Indiegogo calls it. I'm offering beautiful postcards and high quality prints with unique artwork photographed by yours truly. I am also offering professional portrait sessions. This photograph of a crashing wave is included in the offerings! Please check back often and consider contributing today. You will be helping my business stay current and keep thriving!
I shot a series of photos for Hupie sauce creator Barbara Kitz last week. They are going to use them for their ad campaign and promo materials. This sauce is so delicious, it has just the right amount of tang and sweet. I love the way the tomatoes look in this shot. Softboxes do such beautiful things to round opaque surfaces! This Vienna bread looks so delicious too, thanks to great lights and the right photographer to capture each element!]]>
There is something so sensual and lovely about honey. I love to watch the smooth lines it makes as it flows down this leaf. Yet another one of nature's great bounties. I hope we can save the bees and keep this priceless blessing in our food supply.]]>]]>
I shot this photo for a client I have that does "sugaring". She waxes hair off of your body using sugar. She keeps it "au naturale" and does a great job both creating a more beautiful you and making you feel relaxed during your visit. I don't know about you but this photo makes me feel very relaxed!]]>A Nikah in Islam is a marriage contract and agreement and is accompanied by a ceremony with witnesses. After the Nikah the couple is legally married.
I love ringing in the new year with a modern family photo. Being in a bicultural marriage myself I always love photographing the merging of two cultures at a wedding. It is always especially endearing to me when people can move beyond cultural differences and find love. Love Conquers All!
]]>