Creative makeup with Shelby

My last blog entry for 2014 wrapping things up with another shoot I shot at the Makeup Forever Academy in Soho, NYC a few months back. 

The first look kind of lent itself to a more classic almost epic fantasy kind of look. The rouge coloured top our model Shelby from MC2 matched her lip perfectly. 

The 2nd look was an implied nude look with a mermaid inspiration. The amazing makeup and fake lashes complemented the hair and the lighting helped to give a nice soft glow on the skin. Another great image to work with in post production.

Model - Shelby Red Model Management - RED NYC

Makeup - Jen Evans 

Hair - Jill Schnapp 

© Simon Ackerman Photography 2014 - All Rights Reserved

www.simonackerman.co.uk

Creative Beauty with Marissa

Wrapping up my creative beauty work this year at the Makeup Forever Academy in Soho, here is a very vibrant spectrum of colours by makeup artist Jen Evans.

It's always nice to have work like this in Photoshop when you are retouching and can give the colours a nice boost. I find it's best not to overdue any colour enhancements as the image can end up looking a bit garish especially with bright reds.

This was one of the last looks we experimented with. It's great to start a shoot with a look that requires more natural makeup and the some goes for the hair, it's easier to build up on the looks as we go along. Depending on the type of story we're shooting the last look can end up quite crazy and in this instance Marissa our model was invited to trash the makeup.

© Simon Ackerman Photography 2014 - All Rights Reserved

www.simonackerman.co.uk

Tribal photoshoot in Central Park

At the end of the summer, I shot a tribal makeup inspired editorial in Central Park. Abby Stahlschmidt from Silent Models was our model and had flown in all the way from Nashville, Tennessee to work with us.

We caught the golden hour for some beautiful natural light portraits and here are some of the results.

Hair - Jill Schnapp 

Model - Abby Stahlschmidt @ Silent Model Management and Factor Women

Makeup - Laura Natalie Gattini 

Stylist - MC Lab 

© Simon Ackerman 2014 - All Rights Reserved 

www.simonackerman.co.uk

Backstage beauty with Josephine Skriver

Another favourite backstage to shoot in 2014, also at New York Fashion Week was the Zimmermann where I shot this portrait of Danish beauty Josephine Skriver. I loved the gold makeup look and the super big hooped earrings she was wearing as first look. Originally from Copenhagen, Denmark Josephine Skriver is one of the most stunning models I've shot to date. I originally took some backstage beauty shots of her at London Fashion Week in February 2011 when she was walking in the Jaeger London show. 

© Simon Ackerman Photography - All Rights Reserved

www.simonackerman.co.uk 

Backstage beauty with Adriana Lima

Looking back at some of my favourite shoots of 2014 brought me back to backstage at the Desigual show at New York Fashion Week for their Spring show. I photographed a series of beauty poses with arguably the best Victoria's Secret Brazilian supermodel Adrian Lima.

 I've been in similar situations in the past where you're booked for a show and it happens to be a big designer and you're not entirely sure which big names will be there. Adriana Lima is one of those extremely talented models like Cara Delevingne who doesn't need a great deal of direction, she just gave me lots of nice shapes and poses and we nailed the shots with little ease. This was definitely up there with one of my favourite moments shooting fashion as since the start I've always been a big fan.

© Simon Ackerman Photography 2014 - All Rights Reserved

www.simonackerman.co.uk 

Playing it wild in New York City - Wild New York for Fashionsing.com

Heavy cat-eyes, lace-up boots and the all-black look that so perfectly captures the core of New York’s wild spirit:  Michelle Hicks rocks the cool-girl aesthetic for Simon Ackerman, her attitude a suitable match for the burst of energy describing the city’s busiest streets.

With countless yellow cabs rushing through in the background, and the big screens lighting up the scene, the photo shoot puts forth the real New York experience, as well as the authentic expression of effortless style.

Written by Nicoleta Parascan

Photographer: Simon Ackerman @ www.simonackerman.co.uk
Model: Michelle Hicks @ New York Model Management
Makeup: Clarissa Montenegro

New Creative Beauty with Anna Cariad

Here is a work in progress from my final shoot at the Makeup Forever Academy in Soho, New York. Th finished story will be a nice mix of black and white and colour fashion toning. 

Photographer - Simon Ackerman

Makeup - Jen Evans at Makeup Forever New York 

Model - Anna Cariad at Red Model Management NYC

© Simon Ackerman Photography 2014 - All Rights Reserved

www.simonackerman.co.uk

New work with Kelly Gray in LA

New swimwear work with Kelly Gray at Next Models that I shot during my stay in Echo Park, Downtown LA. We shot some fabulous looks around the pool and around the park. The deep contrast and inky black edit gives the shot a certain kind of mood that's a little bit different for this kind of photography.  

I'll upload more shots from this story soon.

© Simon Ackerman 2014 - All Rights Reserved 

www.simonackerman.co.uk 

New shots with Anna C

New images from my shoot on location in Bowery, Lower East Side, Chinatown and Little Italy in Manhattan, New York with Anna Cariad from Red NYC and Leni's Models London.

Photographer - Simon Ackerman

Model - Anna Cariad @ Red Model Management NYC & Leni's Models

Makeup - Clarissa Montenegro

© Simon Ackerman Photography 2014 - All Rights Reserved

www.simonackerman.co.uk 

San Diego, The City By The Sea

During my last trip to the USA I spent a week in San Diego, California mostly shooting sunsets and coastlines. San Diego is a city 2 hours drive from Los Angeles, it's filled with stunning coastlines, aqua blue water and palm trees. 

There are some amazing restaurants with delicious tacos and Mexican food.

Here follows some of my favourite images from San Diego

  

Moonlight Beach Sunset

Dog Beach

Palm Tree eclipse, San Diego

Downtown

Pacific Beach Sunset

Sunset silhouette at Dog Beach, San Diego 

GoPro image from Pacific Coast Beach

Motion blur at Dog Beach

Location shoot in Times Square with Michelle Hicks

Here's a sneak preview of my new fashion story featuring the beautiful Michelle Hicks from New York Model Management and Ford Models Chicago. A really fun afternoons shooting with cats eye makeup by Clarissa Montenegro. Full story coming soon. 

Model - Michelle Hicks @ New York Model Management

Photographer - Simon Ackerman

Makeup - Clarissa Montenegro

© Simon Ackerman 2014 - All Rights Reserved

www.simonackerman.co.uk 

Living in New York City

I have been visiting NYC back and forth since February 2012 when I was accredited at my first Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Since that time I've throughly enjoyed shooting the cityscapes, architecture, graffiti, the Subway and generally anything that has taken my interest in the city. I've put together a collection of new images from my last trip to New York City from August to October 2014. Previous trips to the city I have mostly focused on the more touristy destinations, however at the start of this trip I moved to Bushwick in Brooklyn we gave me an opportunity to shoot more of the the non touristy parts of the city. 

Moody sky view of the Empire State Building

My trip started assisting very talented fashion photographer Alex Covo who was shooting a 4 x 5 large format fashion story on a Manhattan rooftop. This is a shot of one of the assistants over looking the model.

Historic Brownstone buildings, Manhattan

I've been meaning to visit the Ghostbusters Firehouse for some time and finally remembered. The filming location is situated at Hook & Ladder Company #8, 14 N. Moore Street, New York 10013. A perfect location to practice some slow exposure motion blur on the cars passing to give it that kind of a ghostly effect.

Astor Place and Broadway, Manhattan

Street Art in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Downtown Manhattan

Brooklyn in the fall

Midtown Manhattan, New York

I loved shooting classic American cars and producing an image to match the feel of that particular era.

Graffiti, Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn, New York

Classic American car action shot in Brooklyn. 

Moody red Manhattan sunset shot against One World Trade Center. 

Manhattan skyline at dusk

Lower East Side, Manhattan

Graffiti, East Village, Manhattan 

Motion blur NYPD, Lower East Side, Manhattan

Traffic signals in Lower East Side

Macy's, Manhattan, New York

Broadway Junction, New York City Subway, Brooklyn

Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York

E 26th St leading to the Empire State Building

Williamsburg signs to Williamsburg Bridge

Architecture at Columbus Circle, Manhattan

Coca Cola truck, Midtown Manhattan

Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York

NYPD outside Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center, Manhattan

Subway in Brooklyn

Williamsburg Bridge at night

Architecture in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Columbus Circle, Manhattan

Broadway Junction, Brookyln

2nd Avenue, NYC Subway

14th Street Union Square on a rainy Autumn day

Columbus Circle, Manhattan, New York

Williamsburg, Brooklyn

One World Trade Center, Manhattan

9/11 Memorial Lights on September 11th 2014

Williamsburg, Brookyln

The view from Williamsburg Bridge

Brooklyn, New York

Meatpacking District, Manhattan

14th St, Manhattan, New York

14th St, Manhattan, New York

Meatpacking District, Manhattan

One World Trade Center

One World Trade Center

Times Square, NYC

Manhattan skyline with Empire State Building

Williamsburg Bridge night shot

Broadway Junction, Brooklyn

City Hall, Manhattan

Manhattan skyline

Canon Power Shot advertising with an pretty amazing sky behind. Manhattan, NYC

Taxi motion blur and NYPD

Financial District, Manhattan

9/11 Memorial Lights behind a firehouse, Brooklyn, New York

One World Trade Center

Lower Manhattan architecture

Tompkins Square Park, the heart of New York City, East Village, Manhattan

Essex & Delancey sunset, Manhattan

Williamsburg Bridge and dusk

Bowery, Manhattan

Motion blur shot from Williamsburg Bridge

Williamsburg Bridge at night

Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn