"My First Studio Shoot" course-ric woods photography

"My First Studio Shoot" course last night was a great success. Madolin & Hillary Anne were fantastic subjects in this Pin Up Themed session. We have great pleasure seeing participants capture images of magazine quality and knowing how it was done... well done done guys and girls. To book a pin up photo shoot of your very own.Contact the studio on 02 4962 1066.email: enquiries@ricwoods.com. It's a fun filled BLAST !!!

 Download the 22 page course guide HERE

ACRYLIC IMAGES...ric woods photography

We think that Acrylic mounted images are the new "BLACK".

Create & Escape..a weekend away for photographers to learn lighting and photography

We took a group of photographers away to a resort and taught them some photography and lighting.Split them up into 2 groups and had a THINK TANK where they came up with some very interesting environmental portraits....then when we were finished...the resort made a food and drink...BLISS !! We are already planning the next one ....want to be involved? email ric at enquiries@ricwoods.com

Hunter Tafe Hair & Beauty Academy (Tighes Hill) 2011-ric woods photography

Our story begins...."Maree, having had training in make up for film, was frozen in her tracks as she stared at the fittings, equipment and vast selection of make up and hair products inside the Hair & Beauty Academy at the Tighes Hill Campus of Hunter Tafe.......I realised that she is having a vision what one of the rooms of Heaven may be like......" ha ha....ric

Vicki Davies a teacher of hairdressing approached us to capture the work of the teachers at the Newcastle Beauty & Hair Academy on the Hunter Tafe Campus at Tighes Hill. The focus of the photo shoot was to inspire and encourage applicants to the courses.The shoot was a great success and we were amazed at the craft,dedication and professionalism of these teachers.Their ability to work as a team was inspiring.The young men and woman who were our models were committed and stunning as you will see in these "behind the scenes" unedited proof images
CAST & CREW
Models:
Kaela Afflick ,Donna Arendse,Serena Carney,Zac Carter,Mikaela Davies,Brittany Gonzalez,Olivia Gough,Holly Gralton,Jed Hill,Chantelle Hunt,Emily Manning,Lauren Moulton,Daniel Plant,Jarrod Smith-Abel
Hair Stylists:
Karen Batterham,Vicki Davies ,George Francis,Lee-Ann Fleming,Ann-Maree Gralton,Robyn Hill,Cheryelle King ,Nicole Middleton,Victoria Plant,Jackie Richardson,Karina Thomson
Make-Up Artists:
Deborah Fisher,Deborah Nicoll
Photo Shoot Support: Lesley Afflick (Head Teacher),Claire Andrews,Louise Robinson
If you are interested in learning photography contact
ric woods photography
studio 02 4962 1066
enquiries@ricwoods.com
attention: ric woods or maree nichols
www.ricwoods.com

Advanced Studio Lighting Workshop-ric woods photography.

Even Chris who was delivering the pizza's couldn't resist the promise of fame......

Behind the Scenes Slideshow of the PROOFS from a great evening of passionate image makers..ric woods photography conducts 14 different photography and lighting courses for all skill levels.Here is a behind the scenes slideshow of the advanced studio lighting course Sept 2011.All participants were able to take away stunning portfolio images created in camera.We focus on getting it right in camera ,using minimal lighting modifiers to get several different looks, etc.We also pride ourselves in giving local stylists and make up artists a shot at working with a commercial studio and they get great portfolio images to promote their skills.We are putting together the 2012 course booklet now....
More info at www.ricwoods.com or email maree@ricwoods.com

Jess one of our photography students-ric woods photography

Maree said."Did you see Jess in the back row" at a previous beginners photography course."I sure did" I said and the process begins. Maree and myself are passionate about making images, not only as a job, but as a way of life.
Maree makes the phone call to Jess and we set up a meeting to discuss styling.


(images have zero photoshop)
After a trip to spotlight we came home armed with sequins,wire flowers,beads etc and started to plan the shoot. Maree is taking her creative photographic,styling input. Her make up skills sell themselves to clients.We have the privilege of seeing this growth in our students abilities as they come through our courses.They are picking up the game for photography in Newcastle taking the next up from the "natural light" photographers. Watch out for them you old schoolers...the young guns are coming.

Well did Jess find her first modelling shoot enjoyable? She sure did and has signed up to do another up coming course.21 page PDF Course booklet download HERE

Dragons & Mythical Creatures images by maree nichols-ric woods photography

ric woods photography is managed by maree nichols.What many people do not know about maree is her many talents that she brings to the studio.
Besides being an admin and marketing guru ( she will be running a course about this is 2012) who has increased profitability of the studio last year by more than 300% she is also a talented photographer.
Whilst I'm in Melbourne doing some R&R eating cake and looking through galleries maree is running things in the studio.So what does she do after hours after a big work day?
Make images of course. 'I just NEED to do it'.... she says. It was inspired by Dragons.

Below is a couple of images from her latest shoot, if you want to know more about it or book her for a shoot , you best contact maree[at]ricwoods.com , because I wasn't there....I'm eating cake

maree nichols - ric woods photography -02 4962 1066

Sarah's Fashion & Photography Party-ric woods photography

It looks like there is too much at Sarah's Fashion & Photography Party to be classified as work.
Maree and Bridie capture this group busting loose.Party enquiries can be had from maree@ricwoods.com or call the studio on ric woods photography 02 4962 1066
ric woods photography, the go to studio for FUN & FASHION & PHOTOGRAPHY PARTIES for girls.

Give Students a Shot-ric woods photography

We know how hard it is to get a break in our industry and that's why we are always open to giving students "a shot". We get an email like.... "Hi, I like your work/website,I'm and a student at XYZ and I would like to work with you" You can see my XXXX on facebook thanks Jon/Jan Doe" hotlips@hootmale.com. I remember one chap that applied to us for a position that did amazing automotive photographs for his friends, but when we told him some of the duties that he would be doing as a "newby" he wasn't interested. Sadly many of the young folk I meet already think they are famous, got a cam era, got a business card and now I'm a photographer. I have to tell you if their portfolio shows that they can CONSISTENTLY PRODUCE ACCURATE SKIN TONES & SHOOT CORPORATE FACES THAT SIT WITH IMAGES ON AN EXISTING WEBSITE...Im interested.I mean my only qualification is a drivers licence but the studios portfolio speaks for its self. Its a huge strain on a studio to take on people and train them and give them the shills to produce "IN CAMERA" images that make graphic artists cry with joy . Photoshop is NOT for fixing bad exposures.End of speech !! Every now and then we get a very professional approach from students for work or work experience that shine above the rest. Two recent identities are Caitlin Nolan-Jones and Pyanuch Hathaipontaluk ( nickname Nuch pronounced Nu") Caitlin is a passionate young woman with an out of the square approach to fashion and design. Nuch ( Nu) is a student with a strong portfolio, saying that she passionate about a more theatrical approach to make up. We will bring these two together at our Fashion and Beauty photography course .Where their skills will be under the scrutiny of the studio and students. They have promised to make us proud. Maree and myself are sure that their excitment will fuel their results, we will soon see, the Course is on Thursday 28th April 2011.

Miss April Pin-Up Promotion by ric woods photography

BOOK NOW your photoshoot now enquiries@ricwoods.com
See behind the scenes video of Kara's shoot HERE

Ashleigh Grace talented 16yo singer-ric woods photography

Behind the scenes video grab and some of Ashleigh's images.





Ashleigh Grace the talented 16 year old singer hired us to capture images for her website and album.
We were so pleased to be working with Ashleigh, for me its refreshing to see a dedicated young person who is willing to do the work to get the desired outcome. Sadly many "up and coming" think desire is enough and that they are already famous without the perseverance to produce quality work....but not this young lady.

Thanks to Maree Nichols for great makeup for Ashleigh, make up for photography is very different to "street" make up , or what you would wear out or to a wedding etc. The Digital Camera sees the colour spectrum much differently especially the reds.

Thanks to John and Meagen at Castle Media for input with the styling during the session.The shoot was a great success.We achieved several very different looks during the session.

TIP: Its important when shooting images for commercial use to leave room for "text over" and have the subject looking into the text...remembering that there ate left and right hand pages.

You can see Ashleigh YouTube singing here.
Remembering that this clip is about a year old when she was 15...Well done Ashleigh.

Lucy's Beauty Photoshoot- a great subject

Lucy commissioned us for a photo shoot and we all had a great deal of fun.

The shot list included images in colour and monochrome, images were to include, formals on seamless white, face portraits, some pin up style images and a selection of moody rock chick images. Lucy wanted to keep her natural hair style....I could see maree wanting to push the look a little...

At our studio we are less inclined to push the latest fashion of overworked over saturated images...in saying that we do show clients before and after images that have make up but very little photoshop work.

Maree kept the make up minimal and young.Make up in a photo shoot is very important to present clients at their best, it safeguards against too much shine as the studio strobes produce a great deal of light and the reflection of human skin can blow out high lights.

Air conditioning in the studio was great to keep the skin cool during these very hot days...I'm sure glad that we were not working in a warehouse studio.

We ask clients to come with washed faces with no make up, with a good breakfast to keep the blood sugar up and bring costume changes...we guide clients on clothing depending on the "tone" of the photo shoot and the looks that are requested.

I'm sure that a few of these images will find their way into Lucy's mums house on mothers day.

We provide a complete framing service with all the examples on the wall .Also other products like images on acrylic, leather free standing double or triple portfolios for all the young people that are renting apartments and cannot put frame hangers in the walls.

We run photography and lighting courses for those interested in taking their skills to another level or want to get out of the rut of shooting in the same way.

We also instruct people about digital colour and monochrome photography.

Some images work in colour,some work in monochrome and some can look great in both formats.

The pin up images were fun ...some for public view and some not...

Lucy settled in after an hour and produced some stunning images in colour and black and white...

The corporate world will never look at a blazer in the same way again after this photo shoot

Lucy was able to give me great laughs for images, this is a great deal harder that one thinks...Note how the colour tone changes in Lucy's makeup (especially the lipstick) in the colour image and then check out the monochrome images.I like to have the "tone" of the lips at least as dark as the eyebrows...