Cheongsam With Meredith Devine (Patreon)

Meredith and I have been friends for a few years now and the only shoots we have had were impromptu after a pool day. We had tried to plan a shoot a few times, but it just never really worked out due to both of us being so busy with variable schedules. Finally a couple weeks ago we were able to lock down a day and time that both of us were available for an entire day and it just so happened to be right after I moved into my Downtown Los Angeles studio. It could not have worked out any more perfect.

A couple weeks before the shoot Meredith had texted me and said "I just ordered an outfit that I absolutely want to shoot with you, just wait until you see it. I'll send photos when it comes in." At that very moment I got extremely excited, I remember I was with Nico and I pulled my phone screen away from my face with a look of awe. A few days later my phone was blessed with pictures of the outfit. I was smitten to shoot it! The combination of the dress, the shoes and the knee high tights was absolutely amazing.

Shoot day Meredith showed up and laid out some outfits that we could shoot before and after this dress. I have always been a strong proponent of not shooting your favorite look first. Shoot something that you know you will like but use it as almost like a 'warm up' look. That way you can get in the groove and know you are ready to nail the main look; and that is exactly what we did. Meredith and I started off with a simple black bra and black thong bottoms in front of the massive windows in my studio, but I will save that part of the story for when those images release. We wrapped that look up and hung out for a minute while we chatted back and forth between myself, Anna and Meredith. It was also extremely hectic that day because she had brought her dog Gucci over, so we had three dogs running around my studio. Thankfully Anna was here to assist and that day she had to wrangle the dogs while Meredith and I were shooting.

Anna and I set up the light blue backdrop as Meredith slipped into her beautiful outfit and we got to work. All of these images were shot with natural light pouring in through the windows. We set up the backdrop facing the windows for direct and even lighting. It is always so much fun to shoot with Meredith because she is so aware of her body and her posing. It is always so much easier of a shoot when that is the case. It also helps that Meredith is also a photographer so she is very aware of both sides of the camera.

Since this was not the first time Meredith and I have worked together, we were able to lock down all of the shots and all of the poses we wanted within about twenty minutes. Of course with Polaroids and tons of 35mm in the middle of it all. I will have to record a video one of day of me shooting, it is always so funny to people to watch me flip between digital, 35mm, 120, Polaroid and FP.

Anyways, I hope you guys and gals enjoy this set. I know both myself and Meredith are extremely excited about the outcome of this shoot. Enjoy!

- AW Media

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/yvnm3wyuh7ulbe5/AAAxSRXjbegHoZopPl04VWZAa?dl=0