What the Hell is This You May Ask........
Somewhere in Fauquier County. This is a working....yes you read that right...working, steam tractor which was made by the A. D. Baker Company of Swanton, Ohio. The company was incorporated in 1901. The last steam driven tractor was produced in 1929. God I love being on the road.

Take A Closer Look........
Just off the Orange Plank Road in Spotsylvania on the Wilderness Battlefield. This is the site of Cemetery #2 which held the remains of 534 Union soldiers. The remains were later moved to the National Cemetery in Fredericksburg. The two indentations mark the sites of graves which were exhumed.

It's a Bowl of Fruit...............

"All that I desire to point out is the general principle that life imitates art far more than art imitates life."
Oscar Wilde

Retired from public office with some free time on my hands, and a Father's Day present from my wife of painting lessons (at least it wasn't a tie), I have embarked on a new phase in my life..........getting more paint on my hands and clothes than on the canvas.........It really is a bowl of fruit.

First up is N'jeri. She's 17 and this was her very first photo shoot. Even though she was nervous she did a good job and showed a nice range of emotion throughout the shoot. The second model is Brittany who shot for my Just Jeans and Little Black Dress series. Brittany is also new on the scene but was fun to work with and did great. Last but not least is Nita who brought a vintage look to the shoot that I found to be very refreshing and definitely a new look for my portfolio.

A nice mix of varying levels of experience. Lisa has been doing it for awhile, Chuenee for just a couple of years, and Stephanie is new to the industry. They all did great!

In this latest update we have Rogue Fatale, Aurora G, Chamia, and Opal Rose.

I've been shooting for my Just Jeans series now since April and I am looking for growth in my work. I believe I've found it with these latest shots.

The majority of the shooting I do is with models. I shoot everything from commercial and editorial to glamour and artistic nudes. Over the years I have learned some things and figured I would pass it on to aspiring models that are trying to find their way.

1.) Modeling isn't easy and it's certainly not for everyone. Just being pretty is not enough. Only do it if you truly enjoy it and are able to tell a story and truly help to create art.

2.) Invest in yourself! You will only get out of it what you put into it. You will need to spend money on quality clothing, photographers, makeup artists, etc.

3.) Building a solid portfolio is very important. Your portfolio should show your range as model. For example, it should include a variety of styles from glamour, fashion, swimsuit, catalog etc.

4.) Always act professionally. Be on time, don't cancel at the last minute, and always confirm your shoot in advance. You don't want to gain a reputation as a difficult or unreliable model.

5.) Your skin is extremely important, so take good care of it. Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol. Always have a recent, unedited picture of yourself available.

6.) Agents and photographers want to see the real you. Very natural makeup (a little foundation that matches your complexion is ok) and a clear gloss on the lips with your hair pulled back is fine. You can opt for no make-up at all if you have flawless skin. If your skin is not flawless and has a few blemishes, make sure that the agent and photographer are aware of it. Do not chew gum, chomp on candy, or take food with you to munch on. It is not professional. Bottled water is ok and you can eat when you leave.

7.) Learn to pose. You have to know your body and what poses work for you. Buy magazines and look at the models poses and facial expressions. Practice in the mirror and be able to pose on demand.

8.) Comp cards are a great thing to have and are often required at casting calls.

9.) Join a networking website for models. It will give you an opportunity to meet and collaborate with photographers, makeup artists, fashion designers, etc.

10.) Ask for a copy of the signed model release or trade agreement. This will alleviate any potential issues in regards to the usage of the pictures and when you will receive them.

11.) Stay focused. Time waits for no one. You may think that taking a few months off won't hurt you but it really will. No one is going to book you based on the images you shot last year.

12.) Never give up. Plenty of people will turn you down but one day you will get a yes!

Back in 2007 I did my first shoot with a model. It was Tinera. Here she is again nearly 3 years later and still doing an amazing job.