I forgot to bring my phone with me when I went out for the day yesterday, so it was late last night when I saw David Rokeach’s email. David is the NOS marketing manager for Norcal, and he invited me to come to their warehouse where they were going to have a NOS model photoshoot. With bikinis. Boom! I’m there!
The address David gave me had Toyota signage all over it, so I wasn’t sure if it was the right place. When I went inside, the NOS truck, step and repeat, models, staff, studio gear, and pallets full of product pretty much cleared up my confusion. Toyota had moved out a few month prior, and NOS had moved in. I spotted David and he had just enough time to shake hands before he ran out the door, busy as hell as usual! I also Spotted Rich Yee, whom I hadn’t really met until today. I’d seen him with the NOS crew at Formula DRIFT and around the Internet, and he was the main photographer for the day.
Mikhail and Sean from Motion Eccentricá were also at the warehouse, shooting video. They produce a lot of concert and club videos, so I’m interested to see what they come up with for this model shoot! At one point they felt like they needed a dolly shot so Sean pushed Mikhail around on a Home Depot cart they found in the corner. Good on them for being resourceful!
And we can’t forget the models! Ashley, Mariah, Danielle, and Genevieve were the reason this event was even happening in the first place! Stylist Antonio Venegas was also on the scene to keep the girls looking their best. Since Rich had the official photos covered and the other guys were shooting video, I decided to shoot some behind-the-scenes photos. I guess I’ve gotten kind of desensitized to the kind of glass motorsports photogs bring to events, because everyone there freaked out when I opened my bag. They dubbed me “The Sniper.”
I don’t know much about Rich, but he had a pretty good handle on the shoot. I think he’s been doing this for a long time! He had the girls run through poses all together, and one at a time while others were getting ready.
When they all had to change, the set had to change too! The truck turned around, the step and repeat came out, the bar and coolers came out, giving the shoot a lot of variety. Rich even decided he’d give modeling a try!
And then the bikinis came out. If I could whistle, I’d do it right now. I was pretty comfortable in my jeans and hoodie, which means it must have been way too cold for bikinis. You’d never be able to tell from the pictures though. These models are pros!
A lot of people don’t realize what goes into all those great model photos they see. In addition to the lighting, there were fans all over the place, and Rich even brought a small fog machine. I can’t wait to see his finished set. It should be pretty good material!
After three hours the shoot didn’t seem like it was winding down anytime soon, but I had already stayed an hour longer than I was planing on, so I had to leave. I was supposed to have been painting the house my wife and I just bought!
.:Bohan
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