Tram Tran Photography | Los Angeles Photographer Specializing in Lifestyle, Fashion, and Weddings

Inspirations!

Yes, the thing we always are looking for to come up with our next idea. It can come as a dream or from watching a movie.

Or this weekend, just hiking up the hill. Yasmin and I had been talking about doing this photoshoot. With a simple cheshire the cat idea and maybe a different look or two, but during our shoot I saw this image below.

The thought hit me, she can be a big cat like a cheetah! A pink and black striped cheetah?! Why not.

I loved the idea and it really came through as Yasmin was such a gamer for any of the ideas. Climb on a tree and stand in heels? Sure, why not. Here is the pink cheetah set with Yasmin.

We also did two more different look. One is a elegance in the forest look.

For our last look we got a Austin Power flavored Evil Robot look.

Overall this was a wonderful shoot with a great model, but none of this would be possible with our makeup artist, Melissa D’ Angelo. Melissa did a great job with seeing our vision and the ability to put on the surface. I couldn’t ask for a better MUA on this photoshoot.

I love love shooting Formula D. It is very fun to hang out and shoot something you would watch anyways. However, I always thought the pictures were never amazing or great because I could never get it to give me an emotion, happy, sad, angry as a person could. Shooting weddings and other events, the human factor makes it interesting. Cars going sideways, not so much.

It was really bugging me that I could never find something I like, then I realize I need to give it a human factor. The driver showing their emotions through their car or driving or just the sheer happiness they get when they podium.

Here is Stephan Verdier jumping out of his to get his first ever victory. Even though his helmet is on, his eyes and body tell you the happiness he’s feeling.

This next picture you get the sense of relief and the realization that he’s won.

Not all drivers can win every event, but Formula D drivers are close with each other that they are happy when they see their friends win. Here you can see Robbie Nishida and mechanic’s happiness for Ken Gushi and Ryuji Miki’s 2nd and 3rd place finishes.

This shot makes me laugh every single time. Miki is really good at controlling the way the champange sprays and it doesn’t hurt that he can also open it very quickly, so before anyone can even get their their champagne bottles open. Miki quickly runs over to Ken Gushi and sprays him in the face. The reaction on Ken Gushi’s face is priceless.

The genuine feelings that these guys are so happy for each other is unreal. The first person to greet Stephan Verdier is no other than Rhys Millen. Rhys is the consumate veteran. Rhys has won race after race, yet he rushed the car to congratulate a first time winner. That is so amazing in my book, not only that. Rhys is humble enough to just sit in the stands with everyone else? Seriously this guy is amazing.

Other pictures and actual driving actions shots can be found on my flickr here

Shooting red carpet is a job. No, I’m not kidding. Photographers fight for their spot to photograph the stars (or supposed stars) and what they are aiming for is commission. Most of the time they don’t care if their shot is artistic or creative. They just need to capture the people on the list and what would sell.

Unfortunately, I’m not one of those photographers and so I let the ones who need to do what they want. I don’t grab the celebs or scream to them to look my way. I just take what I can and go on with it. Just because the events don’t call for you to be creative, doesn’t mean you can’t. I always try to find a way to squeeze a shot or two that is different.

Here is a shot of Joey Costa and his friends from the cast of House of Jazmin on MTV. Yes, I could have shot them in a group, but I ask Joey and his friends to stick their heads through the case. It turned out well and they love the shot.

Here this shot of a Li Cari model was actually shopping. I told her to continue shopping while I took a shot of her through the clothing rack. Trying to shoot from a different vantage point is a good way to shoot out of the norm, but that is what makes this shot interesting.

You can also use lighting to draw attention to the subject. Like the picture below, the subject would rather be dull if you hit them with a flash. Shooting them using the available lighting draws you to the girls talking on the side of the picture.

This one uses the lens flare and brokeh to draw attention to the subjects face. I don’t always go for the crisp clean well lit shots. Sometimes raising the ISO and keeping the lens flare in the photo is what makes the photo.

I also love shooting candid shots. The subjects to give an honest look which leads to the picture looking interesting.

Of course you still have to shoot the basic red carpet.

Vote for Pedro

Even on the red carpet you can do something a little fancy. Here I shot Monet Monico from P. Diddy’s Star Maker past the banner and composed her in the center, not a typical shot but still draws your attention.

Back to normal shots here is the Prodigal Son from Wu Tang Clan

Here is Miss California Tami Farrell

And of course I have to throw the candid celeb shot, here is Ian Ziering