Yesterday I had the opportunity to shoot my very first fashion/fine art photosession as the primary photographer. During the winter months I want to make an attempt and build a fashion / fine art portfolio. I have always wanted to try this but just the thought of trying something I knew NOTHING about made me want to tuck tail and run. I’ve had experience with studio lighting and have assisted on quite a few fashion-type shoots, but never once have I done anything similar where I was the head/only photographer. Over the last little while I’ve been going through an inner monologue with myself, and with the help of many great people around me inpiring me every day I have decided to leap.

A few weeks ago I met a makeup artist by the name of Hailey at a networking get together and we immediately starting organizing ideas for photoshoots in the near future. Once I mentioned my fiance Grit was a hairstylist, Hailey was STOKED! Hailey had this amazing idea for a ‘Virus-type makeup’ that she wanted images of and was very dark and organic but still gave room for the model to incorporate a feeling that was very sexy and fashion-like. Right off the bat I was envisioning what it would look like, but when Hailey and model Iulia came over Wednesday morning and the transformation began, my jaw dropped.

I am looking forward to making mistakes on this journey because I know how amazing it feels when things finally all click together!

Enter: My first solo Fashion / Fine Art Photoshoot

Hair: Grit Becker
Makeup: Hailey Howse
Model: Iulia
Photographer: Michael Wachniak

For Photographers: The entire session was a one light setup with an approx. 50″ softbox and 42″ silver reflector for fill. All images processed in Lightroom with my own custom presets. 1 image in this entry was taken into Photoshop for further dodging and burning.

Michelle + David were married last year under the nice warm sun in Mexico. They had a wonderful idea of having another shoot around their one year anniversary but this time to try something a little different…Michelle has done some figure skating and David has played hockey so they thought it would be a lot of fun to meet up and have a photo session at the new Robson Ice Rink! There was SO many people but it was so much fun! The second I left after the session I called my brother-in-law and told him we were coming back in the next few days (except he can skate…I will be the only adult with one of those blue plastic push-y chair-y thingies…). Michelle and David pulled out all the stops, I was SO impressed with how warm they looked in the freezing weather (-1C…Calgarians please don’t hurt me!), and matching fuzzy hats? Come on… it doesn’t get more awesome than that! We had quite the crowd watching us shoot and we couldn’t help but have an awesome time! On top of that, the rink was playing Bony M Christmas songs all night!

I had a blast with you guys! Happy Anniversary and I hope you like the images! :)

Update: Annnnd just for fun I’ve added a cute slideshow at the bottom :)

To continue with tradition, here are my favorite Engagement Session images from 2009! Enjoy.

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Today I joined a small group of photographer friends WAY up in Mission for a vintage fashion shoot. Special thanks to Jason Brown aka “The Birthday Boy” (this coming Tuesday)

I have always wanted to shoot fashion, and in all honesty I don’t know why I haven’t until today. I absolutely loved it, and I’m looking forward to getting some concepts I have out of my head and into the real world!

P.S. This is Amber, she is such an AMAZING model and was so much fun to work with! Thanks Amber!

Melissa and I have known each other for a LONG time… like, wayyyyy back in “the day”. Her and I used to go to school together in Brooks, Alberta!

Although I just met Jim at the session, I could already tell how great of a guy he was. He is funny, friendly, basically the kind of guy that you’d want to hang around with!

These guys look like they have so much fun together and its so apparant how much in love they are with each other! Oh, by the way, both Melissa and Jim have extremely contagious smiles, I mean come on!!! Show me a person that can look at these photos without smiling!! I dare you!

No?

…I thought not. :)