This is an update to let everyone out there know I have not forgot about you. There is a lot of work on my plate right now. I also am trying to meet some deadlines for Appeal Texarkana Magazine and that has me behind in a lot of my personal work, including but not limited to, getting photos out to my Nashville models. So, this is my plea to all of you: I am begging for your patience and understanding.

I have a lot of irons in the fire right now but am desperately trying to get the images needed for the next issue of Appeal out the door and on time. Then I can get back to the images I owe to my local models and those that I shot while in Nashville, TN last month. I also have a web site I am trying to launch that I hope you all will enjoy. Hopefully some of you will even want to get involved… you never know! And, of course, the Model Discovery web site which is so close to being finished it’s not even funny…

And, then there’s “Project Lima”… Yeah… More to come on that in the near future… I’m doing some research and a lot of trial and error on this project. I’ve had one attempt at it so far and am happy with the fact that what I want to do is possible. Now, I just need to drill down the specifics and the workflow and I should be on my way to doing some pretty creative things to show you all!

I hope you all are well! I appreciate your support and encouragement!

Until next time…

Early tomorrow morning I head out for Nashville, Tennessee again. A buddy of mine who lives in the area are going to attend a Model Mayhem “Meet & Greet” type gig tomorrow afternoon and do a little shooting. Then, on Sunday we’re going to be shooting about 8 models in a studio type setup. It’s a pretty good clip to Nashville, Tennessee from Texarkana, Texas/Arkansas but it will be well worth it. I hope to come back with some knowledge in my pocket from the “meet & greet” and some spectacular photos to share with you all as well from the shoot(s).

I haven’t posted in a while but I hope everyone is having a wonderful new year. I hope you’re off to a great start and that things continue in the positive for you and yours from this point forward. I really feel some big things are going to transpire related to my photographic work this year. I also think some things are going to change for me personally, for the better of course! I think it’s fair to say that 2010 is our year!

Stay tuned for more posts and photos. Soon, yes soon, I will have more than a blog up and you’ll be able to see more of my recent work. I’ve been working on my web site since the end of August 2008 and still don’t have it up… Can you say “busy”?! But, if you’ll be patient with me, I promise that the new site will be up soon as well as my promised Model Discovery site which will allow you to put your name in the hat to work with me on future projects.

Big things coming! Remember, 2010 is –OUR– year!

Until next time…

What a crazy year 2009 has turned out to be. Personal issues aside, it has been one hell of a ride as far as my “photography” goes. I tried to pursue the business aspect of “photography” and never quite took flight. I was headed in the wrong direction as far as what my creative vision was and my own personal goals were for expressing myself artistically. I’m glad I took a break, regrouped, determined what I would and wouldn’t shoot, and came out on the other side feeling like a million bucks, no longer stifled by the constraints that the terms “photography” and “photographer” seem to box you in to.

A lot of good things began happening for me in late 2009, both personally and related to my creative outlet. With the launch of Appeal Magazine, I have actually had the most fun and fulfilling times creating art for the covers, fashion spreads, and articles. The editors of Appeal have given me almost complete creative control of the photographic elements of the magazine and I love it. I can honestly say that I am dedicated to and believe in this new publication because I definitely feel they are 100% committed to me and assisting me in making my visions come to life.

With the close of 2009, I am hoping to launch my “throw your name in the hat” Model Discovery web site. This site will allow interested parties to register and provide their physical characteristics as well as their modeling and artistic interests for the possibility of being cast in an upcoming project of Jeff Cross Photography. A project could be for my own personal portfolio (and that of the participant), a client for use in advertising, or for artwork that is to be used in Appeal or any other publication. So, if you’re interested in working with me and Jeff Cross Photography on upcoming projects, visit http://www.jeffcrossphoto.com/discovery/ for more information or e-mail us at discovery@jeffcrossphoto.com.

I am also hoping to launch a little contest on my web site within the next few weeks. I’ll keep the details to myself for the time being but just know that the reward for the winner will be a $25 iTunes gift card. It will be very enjoyable for me to see this contest transpire. I hope you’ll visit often and stay tuned for further details.

And, last but not least, early next year I am planning to have a full-fledged web site and portfolio up and operational again. I took my entire site, blog, and photo blog down in August of this year and haven’t done anything with my site since. A lot of you have been asking about my blog and/or portfolio so just know that it will return and soon!

I think that pretty much gives you the highlights of 2009 and what to expect in early 2010. I trust you all have had a very Merry Christmas and keep it safe this holiday season. I look forward to corresponding and working with you in 2010! Once again, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!!!

Until next time…

[Click the Above Image to Enlarge]

Yesterday I had the opportunity to photograph a buddy of mine’s 2010 Nissan 370Z. He recently acquired it and wanted some photos of the stock, or “before”, look of the car. He has some performance and appearance enhancing modifications in mind and in the works. So, you may see more of this car’s progression as time slowly passes by.

During this shoot, I was assisted by a potential new member to the “JCP” crew (He’s down with the 527…), Michael Deloney. Mike is a local “fellow creative” and offered to assist when he was available. He did a great job and is quickly learning the ropes of the “JCP” setup and tear down. Mike also made it to another shoot later in the evening and then even to the house for some studio shooting on into the night. I even let him pop some shots of me to get the experience of shooting with lights, framing portraits, etc. He did a great job all around.

Stay tuned for more content on the blog. I already have a few more posts in the works and hope you’ll visit often to see what’s going on with me, Jeff Cross, and the work delivered by Jeff Cross Photography and the many people, friends, and family that support and assist me in making it all happen.

Until next time…

I’ve worked with Anni twice now and she is never less than stellar in working poses for for the camera. She is never still. She’s always moving and requires very little direction. But when direction is given, Anni’s right there and on the spot like it’s nothing.

Enjoy these photos and be on the lookout for another post in the near future with 1-2 more sets of photos. Comments are always welcomed and appreciated!

Until next time…

But, yesterday may have changed my mind, if only a little bit. Maybe “changed my mind” isn’t the correct way to phrase it, but it has at least given me the confidence to at least shoot in a studio environment if the need arises. I am very happy with my results from shooting on the seamless, as well as the performance by Anni throughout the shoot.

Anni and I had a very productive shoot yesterday. We shot 4 different looks, one of which you see below proving that I’m not the only one (Jeff Cross as Jeff Cross by Jeff Cross // Self Portraits) who can pull off the goggles and aviator gear with style and finesse. I was excited that Anni would even entertain the idea mixing something a little out there with fashion. But, she embraced it and was very excited to wear the aviator paraphernalia and actually had a good time in the process!

The below gallery contains the first round of images I have processed so far from yesterday’s shoot with Anni. Enjoy these images and check back soon for 3-4 more galleries from my shoot with Anni Bishop yesterday.

Until next time…

A week or so ago I had the opportunity to work with model Heather Tutolo Barnette. We were shooting one of my concepts for a cover image that will appear on a future issue of Appeal Texarkana Magazine in 2010. During this shoot, my trusty assistant, Chris, allowed me to burden his wife with the task of recording “Behind The Scenes” (BTS) video footage.

As my videography skills aren’t what they should be, or existent in any shape, form or fashion, it took me a whole weekend to finally come up with the video you see above. While my skills in video aren’t much, I am very happy with the way this video turned out and want to share it with the world.

This video basically represents what a fashion/beauty shoot with JCP (Jeff Cross Photography, or 527) is all about from start to finish. A huge thank you goes out to everyone who helped make this shoot possible: Deb, Cyenthia, Sergio, Chris, Jeri, Santana, and of course, Heather. Without you all and your hard work, this shoot would never have been a success. And, I’ve seen the images from this shoot… The shoot was definitely a huge success!

So, you can watch the video here on my web site or you can visit Vimeo and/or YouTube and see it a bit larger. All three, here, Vimeo, and YouTube, are available in HD. However, Vimeo videos are displayed in HD by default for my videos. I’d love to know what you think of the video. Leave a comment below and let me know what you think about the behind the scenes action at a JCP (Jeff Cross Photography, or 527) photo shoot and/or the video production.

The photo below is a sneak peek from the shoot. I hope you enjoy it! Stay tuned, more images from this shoot will be posted online after the images that will be published are determined by me and the Appeal editors.

Until next time…

I shut down my Web site in the latter part of August, 2009. I pulled my portfolio, pricing, services offered, and my contact information. I began turning down potential clients. I was in the process of being repurposed internally which also meant putting things on hold externally. To put it bluntly, I shut the doors on my photography “business”.

To this day, in the early morning of December 4th, 2009, you can still consider “Jeff Cross Photography” closed, out of business, out to lunch, or whatever you want to call it when someone no longer has their doors open providing a service or product to the general public for money. My approach to my artistic expression became so skewed since I began in February 2008, and even after reinventing my process and photographic style in July of 2008.

I was destroying what I had so passionately and [somewhat] patiently learned and sought to do so that I may get my creative visions out to the screen, to print, and to the public. While trying to share my art with the world, I became dissatisfied. I was doing what I had grown to love for all the wrong reasons and was headed towards a dead end before I could even realize it.

So, I sat down. I became still. I refocused on what was important in life, totally unrelated to photography. I found that I was working too hard to please people with my talents and in the process, I myself was becoming dissatisfied with every click of the shutter and mouse.