If you’ve booked a model portfolio shoot, here are some things to think about and a check list of what to bring with you.

Are you putting together a portfolio? – You’ll need 3 outfits: a casual ensemble, an evening wear ensemble and something fun and fashion forward. If you aren’t sure about your choices, text pictures to Karen and she’ll be honest with you.

Think about locations –portfolio pictures say something about you as a person as well as you as a model. If there’s a location you love, tell Karen about it or send her pictures of places that inspire you. Karen will travel 20 miles in any direction from Karen Nickel Photography. If your preferred location is further away, let Karen know so you can work that out.

For Inspiration – Are you inspired by a particular fashion era? Include some vintage pieces in your ensemble. Read Vogue, Glamour and Elle for photo shoot inspiration. Practice smizing. Watch America’s Next Top Model for instructions on body placement and attitude for photographs. Tyra knows what she’s talking about.

Come to the shoot with your hair and makeup already done – Karen can give you good salon suggestions if you need them. Get your nails done too, but look at the outfits you’ve chosen and pick your nail color carefully.

To Pack:

Lots of accessory options – different pairs of shoes with varying heel heights, all manner of bracelets, earrings, rings, necklaces, scarves, hats, belts, etc. Bring a couple options per outfit and then a couple extra just for fun possibilities. A small rolling suitcase will definitely help you out here.

Makeup – face powder and lipstick in a variety of colors.

A variety of undergarments – (women only) you can never go wrong with a shaper or a pair of spanx. Also, be sure to bring bras in different colors and a couple of strapless options. Make sure you have pantyhose, tights or socks too.

Safety pins and double sided tape

For fortification: Bring water. You might also need a small snack.

For relaxation: Ipod with your favorite music? small bottle of wine? Anything that helps take the edge off and make you relaxed.

Props – optional, but if there’s something specific you like (a book, an antique, etc.), bring it.

Come rested. Come happy. Come relaxed. Be open minded.

Models: Ocean Nickel (aka: Karen Nickel’s son) and Anna Johnson~ Jean pants designer: Vanessa Henderson-House of Van Miller

Happy New Year and congratulations on getting through the holiday season! If the end of your 2011 was anything like mine (and I hope it was), you all got some quality time with the people you love, you stayed up too late at some stellar holiday parties, you did something generous for someone in need and you remembered to give thanks for all the things you’ve been given. It was one wild ride, wasn’t it?

But now welcome to January. You’re broke but your business needs an update, your portfolio needs a boost and all those pretty things you designed last year are begging to be photographed but you haven’t had time to deal with them because you’ve had too many holiday parties.

If you’ve been nodding your head and saying “Yes! Yes!” then welcome to No Money, No Problem January here at Karen Nickel Photography!

No Money, No Problem January is where designers and models donate their time, effort and resources for a FREE portfolio photography shoot. Karen Nickel will shoot the photographs and everyone involved gets 3 free images for their portfolio.

Free.

That’s right.

No money exchanged at all.

Everyone donates their products and expertise and everyone gets portfolio shots. This is known as a win and another win! Intrigued? Of course you are. Here’s the low down.

Karen’s looking for:
Fashion/accessory designers with new designs
Location Scouts (Do you know of a photo worthy location? Come work with us!)
Hair and makeup artists
Stylists
Models

If you’re out there and you want FREE portfolio shots, contact Karen Nickel. Whatever else you’re doing, it can’t be more important than spending time with your fellow artists and designers and starting 2012 with your newest and best material. Contact Karen Nickel Photography and spend the first part of 2012 doing something good for yourself.

Karen@nickelweddings.com or call  678-773-2562.

Remember: A new year deserves a new image.

PS: Karen’s also looking for new props for her photo shoots. If you own an Atlanta based business selling art objects and vintage items (jewelry, cars, musical instruments, antiques, etc.), call Karen if you’re willing to lend her objects in return for photos you could use for promotions.

model: Anna Johnson

May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness.
I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful,
and don’t forget to make some art -
write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can.
And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.
–Neil Gaiman

Model: Anna (Jay) Johnson~ Designer: Vanessa Henderson…The House of Van Miller

In 1947 Christian Dior changed the world of fashion when he introduced a line of dresses that he described as “molded upon the curves of the feminine body whose sweep they would stylize.” American magazines heralded the nipped in waistlines and extravagant flowing skirts as the “New Look” and Dior himself likened this silhouette to a flower with a small stem and full rounded petals.

Almost single handedly Dior released women from the straight lines, square shoulders and masculine silhouettes of the resource-deprived decades during WWII and gave them permission to be themselves in all their soft flowing curviness.

God bless him.

Women are made of curves. It’s the way we are and the way we should be celebrated. However, since the 1950’s, fashion has struggled to find a balance between celebrating naturally curvy women and celebrating models thin enough to be mistaken for coat hangers. Fortunately, in 21^st century we may be finding room for both female silhouettes (and everything in between) as plus models share the stage with the size double zeros.

Truly I hope we’re no more than a year away from a TV show like America’s Next Top Plus Model because the women of America need to see some variety on their TV screens. Curvy girls can “smize” with the best of them! Make it happen, Tyra!

Karen jumped at the chance to photograph her first plus model, so please welcome Jayde Ramos.

The key to being a stylish girl is celebrating your shape, which Jayde does beautifully. Vanessa Henderson of the House of Van Miller designed this sexy black dress and it perfectly hugs Jayde’s curves.

Karen accessorized Jayde’s animal print dress with sunglasses and a sheer black wrap and then photographed her in an overgrown field with the sun shining around her to highlight her hourglass figure.

I love the contrast here between Jayde’s white skin and the lacy romantic black blouse. The bright skirt pops with color and the whole ensemble makes her look like a businesswoman with a hot date. Maybe she is…!

At the end of the day with the sun going down, Karen captured Jayde’s romantic side in this cream blouse and camel colored trousers ensemble.

Fashion designers, plus size modeling is your new play field. Get into it!

Please contact Karen Nickel at www.karennickelphotography.com or call  678.773.2562 if you are interested in a Fashion Model Session.

A girl should be two things: Classy and Fabulous.
-Coco Chanel

Plus Model: Jayde Ramos

Here in Cumming GA, the Age of Aquarius is dawning yet again. Flower children float through the forest with roses entwined in their hair and hippie kids everywhere are envious of Christina Pike’s long, lustrous locks.

Denise and Carla of Bella Mia Hair Salon in Roswell GA joined their considerable skills to make the most of Christina’s pale blonde hair and delicate features. They chose tiny roses and dark dramatic lashes, making her look like a wood sprite just awakening from a long enchanted slumber.

Vanessa Henderson, the fashion designer behind the House of Van Miller, took 1970s retro fashion in a whole new direction with the pieces she designed for this shoot. She reclaimed the primal sensuality of animal prints and the romanticism of lace and the color white, designing three completely different looks that Christina carried off with élan.

Evoking a freewheeling spirit caught in star shine, Christina models this flowing white evening gown like a fairy that somehow wandered into Woodstock. The dress wraps, falls and drapes around her in a lovely simple way, cleverly designed to seem both unconstructed and intentional at the same time.

Karen’s lens captures Christina looking like a wild creature in her natural habitat. Vanessa’s bold black and white zebra dress design makes a strong confident statement against the stark bare tree branches.

Peace out, everyone. Go spread some love and harmony!

Hair and Make-up: Bella Mia Hair Salon, Roswell GA~Hair by: Denise Trachtenbroit~Make-up by: Carla Rye~Clothes Designer: Van Miller~House of Design: by Vanessa Henderson

Models: Christina Pike, Olashade Olabisi, Allison Prenger

If you are interested in a fashion shoot, please give me a call at 678.773.2562 or email me at: karen@karennickelphotography.com

Good morning starshine
The earth says hello!
You twinkle above us
We twinkle below.
- James Rado and Gerome Ragni

Hair and Make-up: Bella Mia Hair Salon, Roswell GA~Hair by: Denise Trachtenbroit~Make-up by: Carla Rye~Clothes Designer: Van Miller~House of Design: by Vanessa Henderson

If you are interested in a fashion shoot, please give me a call at 678.773.2562 or email me at: karen@karennickelphotography.com

“And now,” cried Max, “let the wild rumpus start!”
- Maurice Sendak

This is the wild time of year. This is the time of growing darkness, of bare branches, of grey leaden skies and birds flying high and fast away from the cold. Everything is burrowing in, hunkering down, pulling fast the doors and windows, cocooning inside the light and the warmth and pushing back against the dark.

This year, Karen wants to celebrate the wildness of the fall with a “Fur and Feathers” designer shoot. Bring out your headpieces with long feathers, your shaggy wraps lined with fur, those gloves with the wild charms embroidered on the back. Let’s get some photographs to show the beauty and power of the barely civilized.

If you are a fashion designer with fall/winter designs featuring fur or feathers, give Karen a call. If you’re a model wanting to update your portfolio, buy yourself something untamed and give Karen a call.

This year, instead of pushing back the shadows, let’s embrace them. Bring out your fur and feathers and let the wild rumpus start.

Email Karen Nickel at Karen@nickelweddings.com to set up a phone consultation for a portfolio shoot or give her a call at 678-773-2562.

Model: Myeshea Cheri Caldwell ~ Designer: Vanessa Hendersen, The House of Van Miller

Art may imitate wild nature; less often does it dare to place itself in the midst of it
- John Hart

Model: Anna Jay~ Designer: Vanessa Henderson…The House of Van Miller

How beautiful is this girl?

Stunning Olashade credits her German and Nigerian bloodlines for her exotic presence. As a model photographer, Karen thinks this fascinating cultural blend gives Olashade the perfect face and figure to showcase fashion pieces inspired by the 1970s. 
Olashade even had her nails painted in tiger stripes. She looked like a warrior earth mama!

The 1970s were a time of political and social upheaval. Flower children protested the Vietnam War and Bob Dylan and John Lennon sang about revolution. What better fashion era to influence our own tumultuous times here at the beginning of the twenty first century?

In this retro spirit, fashion designer Vanessa Henderson of the House of Van Miller took the earthy color palettes and African inspired prints of the 1970’s and beautifully incorporated them into her own fashion designs while Denise and Carla of Bella Mia Hair Salon in Roswell GA designed hair and makeup to complete Olashade’s look.

Working with Olashade was fantastic! Karen particularly loved Olashade’s ability to lose herself in the moment. The vintage radio was a fun prop and it brought Olashade to a perfect balance of presence and dreaminess. She was a total natural!

Karen used one of her favorite photo shoot locations here in Cumming, GA. The earthy tones of Olashade’s camel colored top and the long soft lines of her embroidered blue bell-bottomed pants were complimented by the golden fallen leaves and soft sunlight through the trees around her.

When Karen saw Olashade in the halter dress with the long draped skirt she knew she wanted to compliment those lines by setting her in an open field to emphasize her tall figure. In her last shoot, the close fitting blue evening dress set off her defined cheekbones and sparkling eyes and fell so perfectly around her that Karen shot a bunch of close-ups to show her off.

Keep an eye out for this girl, she’s goin’ places!

Hair and Make-up: Bella Mia Hair Salon, Roswell GA~Hair by: Denise Trachtenbroit~Make-up by: Carla Rye~Clothes Designer: Van Miller~House of Design: by Vanessa Henderson. If you are interested in a fashion shoot,

please give me a call at 678.773.2562 or email me at: karen@karennickelphotography.com