More Wilhelmina 40+ Model Search

Helped a local lady in the More Wilhelmina 40+ Model Search. Here are the details on the contest. Prizes look pretty nifty!

About the Contest Show the world just how beautiful 40+ can be!Enter the 2006 MORE®/Wilhelmina 40+ Model Search. In addition to the dazzling events, incredible exposure, and tremendous fun, selected Finalists receive nearly $85,000 in total prizes, including:

Contracts with Wilhelmina Modeling Agency ($15,000)

A three-day trip to New York City

A glamorous magazine photo shoot (includes hair & makeup sessions and press appearances)

Participation in Finals Judging Event (with prominent MORE editors and Wilhelmina agents)

Finals Gala (where the contract prize winners will be announced)

Celebratory photo layout in an upcoming issue of MORE

A possible appearance on national TV

Wilhelmina Model Agency merchandise

Fabulous shopping sprees and limited edition “jet-set” travel bags from Talbots Premium gift baskets from RoC® Skin Care

A year’s supply of Garnier Nutrisse haircolor and haircare accessories

A fun-filled vacation for two

A glamorous dress from designer Carmen Marc Valvo

A fashionable ladies wristwatch

She and her family collected over a THOUSAND tennis balls from a local court for the concept that we agreed upon. It took a week and my golly, a thousand balls was barely enough. I had to do some photoshop magic to make it look more than it appears. All in all, a fun shoot. We finalized on 10 images that look freaking fantastic. Good luck in the contest, Ava!

- Michael Soo

Archetype Exhibit

ar·che·type (är'kĭ-tīp')

–noun 1. the original pattern or model from which all things of the same kind are copied or on which they are based; a model or first form; prototype.

This is my venture into the deeper trenches of art. "Art of Photography", if you will. This shoot took place in my studio and only took a mere 3 hours to cumulate a large number of top keepers, as high as 20-30 !!! As some of you may be aware, I keep a really high standard for my images and to obtain such a high percentage of keepers require many things, two of which are a fantastic model and the other, a critical eye. A critical eye will tell you if the skin is discolored, overly smoothened in photoshop or when an image is oversharpened, badly composed, etc. It will also tell you how to make an excellent image into a inconceivable one.

But that's not all. There are a heap of other things to consider too, like taking your shower regularly so that the models won't faint at the mere smell of you and be sure to buy relevant books such as the "Photography for Dummies" guidebook before an important photo session.

For our shoot, you are looking at Iona Lynn, a professional figure model. Iona could pull more poses out of her behind than I can count the number of grains of rice in my bowl during dinner. Let me tell ya, I eat lots of rice; though I am...trying to cut down on the carb. :-(

For this blog, I'm gonna stop being a chatterbox and let the images do the talking.

Exhibition of Archetype

- Michael Soo