Copyright 2006 by Rolando Gomez.
All rights reserved.
All photographs by the author unless otherwise noted.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recorded or otherwise, without prior written consent from the publisher.
Notice of Disclaimer: The information contained in this book is based on the authors experience and opinions. The author and publisher will not be held liable for the use or misuse of the information in this book.
PREFACE
reating your first book is sometimes fun, sometimes hard, sometimes sadand sometimes you just want to quit. In the end, though, you feel youve accomplished a goal and it hasnt been in vain.
Few people realize the work that goes into a project like this. Books require text, and there were no ghostwriters involved herejust my fingers and the help of a top editor, Michelle Perkins, an author herself. Of course, photography books also need images. That involves setting up a shoot, getting it done, and then this funny thing we have more of today as digital photographers: post-production.
In the end, this book took over a year to produceand what a year it was. On top of the everyday distractions (babies crying for Daddy, wife wanting to know your schedule so she can plan hers, e-mail to answer, and the phone ringing off the wall), my father was hospitalized twice during the writing of this book for major surgeries. (Yes, he made itthank God.) Just when that scare was winding down, my brother and his family moved in with us for a month after being evacuated from New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina. Then, a mandatory evacuation due to Hurricane Rita required us to transport my father from the Gulf Coast to San Antonio via ambulance two days after his second surgery.
That said, Id like to dedicate this book to the believers, the ones who have always shown faith in what I doespecially my wife Ramona, my kids (Jennifer, Stephanie, Natalie, Sophia, and Nickolas), and my parents. Most importantly, I thank my God. Without him Id have no guidance.
There are many others to thank, as wellpeople who have kept me straight and believing in myself. While I could try to list all the names (Ricardo Gutierrez, my assistant and friend; my makeup artists or business partners; all the folks at Amherst Media for putting up with me, etc.), Im sure Id skip someone accidentally. So, Ill play it safe and just mention the three people I have to blame for being the the first to encourage my passion for photography. The first is my father, who bought me that first camera from Popsicle in 1971 when I was nine years old. It cost a few wrappers and one dollar. The second is Barclay Burrows, my journalism teacher at Victoria High School, for believing in me ever since I was a sophomore. Finally, I need to mention Mike Badough, who taught me color processing in his bathroom darkroom (Sorry about hitting that light switch when the paper safe was open, Mike!)
In closing, I would also like to dedicate this book to my fellow military veterans (active duty and civilian). While I served in Desert Storm, Rwanda, Haiti, and other operations, this is nothing in comparison to your sacrifices today. God bless you all and your families!
Rolando (a.k.a. rg sends!)
INTRODUCTION
he passage that appears below is my definition of glamour today. It is based on a combination of definitions that I found in various research sources and on my own experience in creating images and evaluating glamour photography by other artists.
GlamourThe ability to allure peoples attention with charismatic qualities; a magnetism of attraction contained in a person or object that can be considered provocative; a powerful and sometimes passionate attraction possessed by a person or thing.
Glamour photography today must possess these characteristics, but it must go farther as well. Today, the convergence of new trends in publishing, fashion, and photography have combined with the power of the Internet to propel the standards for top-quality glamour photography higher than ever. Sometimes I even call todays glamour photography style flamoura mixture of fashion and glamour photography that leans into the fashion side of the image while maintaining the power of glamour.
INCREASING POPULARITY
Glamour is an alluring genre of photography that is evolving quickly, gaining momentous popularity thanks to publications like Maxim, Stuff, FHM, and fashion icons like Victorias Secret, bebe, DKNY, and others. The Internet, with web sites like www.GarageGlamour.com, www.Playboy.com, www.Maximonline.com, and others, adds even more to the mix. Youll even find the influences of glamour in photojournalism, celebrity, commercial, advertising, and wedding photography.
DIGITAL IMAGING
Digital imaging technology is also furthering interest in glamour photography because the capture and communication of these images is easier than ever. Why not? Digital photography not only gives the subject the comfort of the delete button, it also gives both the subject and the photographer the privacy needed to produce sexy, sultry, seductive, and sensual images. These can now be easily printed and viewed privately, or exchanged over the Internet and via e-mail.
Digital photography is here now; its no longer a revolution, its an evolution. Of all the genres of photography, glamour has gained the biggest momentum. Both professionals and amateurs (and everyone in between) can now photograph someone sexy and maintain complete privacy, working at home through the whole process, from capture to printing, with complete confidentiality. This is an awesome revolution for people who have a passion for glamour but, at the same time, want to be discrete.
WHO DOES GLAMOUR PHOTOGRAPHY?
Proof of that last statement is simple. Ive conducted over seventy workshops that deal with the subject of glamour in less than four years and theyve all sold out. Most were filled with doctors, lawyers, engineers, CEOs, and other high-profile professionalseven local, state, and federal agents from various government branches! My workshop attendees have the same goals in mind, for the most part. While they would be flattered to get photos published, their goal is not really to see their images in print or even to sell themthey just want to be able to take beautiful glamour images by increasing their knowledge of photography. Most are willing to invest in gaining such knowledge, and most arent afraid to spend the dollars needed to obtain the proper equipment. Its not about recognition or money, its about the passion we all share for glamour photography.