Not too long ago I was approached by Ragged Magazine, published by Filter, to photograph Go Radio. Immediately my brain goes to work on where I can shoot this, knowing full well the boys would be wearing American Rag’s fall collection. Go Radio is based in Florida. Fall clothing, Florida temps, afternoon storms and insane humidity, you do the sweat-math-factor.

We only had a couple days for pre-pro so time was definitely not on our side. Thankfully I have an amazing crew who knows how to put the urge in urgency and BAM, location secured. The bowling alley worked out perfect despite the time restrictions. We had to be out of there before the teams and leagues arrived. Yes, I’m saying that with utter seriousness. Combine that with an editorial sized budget and you have yourselves a fast paced shoot, dare I say Ludicrous Speed. Well, maybe not that fast but I couldn’t resist the Spaceballs reference. Our hustling pace didn’t allow for any BTS footage however, if you poke around my tumblr or facebook there are some pre and post shoot outtakes shot with the Canon G11. After the shoot band and crew had a glorious time feasting on mexican food and pitchers of margaritas. Talk about a happy ending…

Do you believe in shoot karma? I hate to admit it but there is a bit of truth to that statement. Case in point, my shoot with pop phenom Avery.

I know whatever I type this is going to seem ridiculous. I’m already cringing inside my head because no, I don’t make it a point to buy my pug clothes. No, I don’t make it a point to dress her up on a regular basis. For the record I did dress her up for 1 full day making some photos for fun. That was it. End of story. Buffy the pug is more into eating, sleeping and running (yes, she runs like a greyhound, weird but she digs it) than being one of those fancy dogs that wear clothing. Honest to goodness, don’t you just feel like rescuing chihuahuas from their owners when you see them all dolled up. Give the poor pup some dignity, please.

Back to the shoot. Karma, luck, fate, call it what you want but there was definitely something else at play here. Normally my pug goes to the groomer on shoot days, but not this time. When the stylist pulled out all the dress options we had, courtesy of Betsey Johnson my jaw hit the floor. Quick chat with Avery and her management, an emphatic YES, lets put Buffy and Avery in MATCHING DRESSES! The rest is history.

Avery’s behind the scenes video is a part of a 6 shoot master-mix. She’s towards the end, stick it out, its so adorable.

Want to see more Nancy, check out my website for the whole kit and caboodle. I have to say, this was a difficult shoot to edit, in a good way that is. Thank you Nancy Harmon, you are a rockstar!

In regards to editing I’ve been working with a photo editor on my own work. Again, take a look at my website, you’ll see what I mean immediately. The point of this reshuffling was to showcase a consistent vision that speaks to who I am as an artist and what I’m passionate about creating. I have to say the ax was out and boy did it feel refreshing! Similar to spring cleaning crossed with popping in a fresh pair of contacts. Or new underwear if you don’t wear contacts.

brookpifer.com

1. Popping open a bottle of Veuve Clicquot is best done outside.
2. I rock a boring pony tail more than I care to admit, despite the fact that I usually start the day with a bangin’ hair-do.
3. My pug is more photogenic than I am.  But I’m ok with that.
4. When we hand the video camera to clients it results in very scandalous footage involving all sorts of debauchery.
5. I’m just kidding about the last part…or am in (plays dramatic squirrel look music in head).

Behind the scenes video for this post and a few others will be online in about one weeks time. Cross my heart. In the meantime (great album by Helmet, who remembers them?) check out GO RADIO. Mayday Parade fans will fall head over heals for their record, Do Overs and Second Chances. Right now they are on tour with A Day To Remember.

Anyone who really wants to go hunting, check out the Entertainment and Black and White sections on my website for additional takes from our shoot. One of our setups was on Eminem’s fire ravaged tour bus. Seriously Slim Shady, what did happen to that thing?

This week has been a great one from a work standpoint. So busy in fact I haven’t had time to read my RSS feeds. Just now catching up (sort of). Seems I’ve been missing out on a lot of hubbub going on thanks to a recent New York Times article on photography.

Heather Morton Art Buyer Blog had a niftily little commentary on the times article. One statement caught my eye: Think back on the jobs you did last year. How many of them utilized your true vision? How many jobs asked you to creatively interpret an idea instead of just executing a layout?

It made me pause for a moment and guess what, I’ve been pretty darn happy with the work I’ve created last year, this year, last month, this week, this morning. Maybe I’m finally getting it but the whole point of where I plan to go with my work is to execute my vision. Shooting rockstars, yes, its creative and I’m pretty lucky to be around other dreamers of dreams. But even when I’m working with an advertising agency and a national brand campaign, guess what, they are using my work for their mock-ups. Apparently I’m doing something right if my work can give inspiration to others. This all comes down to passion. Yes, I make a living pressing a button. However, I would still be pressing that button if I didn’t get paid to do it. When I work with people I get on a natural high, the give and take, the push and pull and guess what, its infectious! The only way I can get my vision is to give a part of myself to my subject. They need to feel it to, and when that happens…MAGIC.

Creating magic, I think that is a perfect way to describe the work that has been pumped out of my brain, through a camera and into the world lately. Case in point here….meet Raptile, Lionezz and Viper. They were troopers with the mud. After we captured what we needed I had Lionezz put a little mud on my face. I was overdue for a trip to the spa and I didn’t want the mud to go to waste…

Apologies for not including behind the scenes video on this shoot. Everyone at Team Pifer is working on other projects. Welcome to our busy season. Speaking of, we are seeking summer interns. If you’re into slave labor for school credit inquire within. Just kidding about the slave labor part. Thought I should clarify in the event that you aren’t picking up on my sense of humor.

Is it really March? Seriously where does the time go? When I think back to being a kid, lazy days of summer, going rogue around the neighborhood on my big wheel time really did stand still. Now as an adult with the heart of a kid it blows my mind how the days seem to fly by. Not just the shooting days but the non-shooting days too. This is not a complaint by any means, just an observation.

With father time getting the last laugh on us all, don’t you think its time you think about what it is you want to do? I ask you, what makes you happy down to your core?

Holding a camera and making photographs of the music makers and the dreamers of dreams, thats it for me. I know this business is sometimes crazy, many times overworked, but loving what you do with every inch of your soul trumps the long hours, gives you the steam to push forward and provides incredible job satisfaction when you finally do get some ZZZZs.

We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams.
– Willy Wonka

Coming attractions….shoots with rap royalty and a music video announcement. Peace out.