Body Jewelry

I like to use body jewelry in my images. I just like the way that chains, rings, charms and other objects look against skin. As I've done more projects over the last few years, I've purchased a number of pieces that work will with my glamour and fantasy project. A couple of years ago, I found a company, Chain Mail and More, that sells lovely products that are designed and manufactured directly by the artists. They have quite a variety of products, and though I haven't had anything custom made, I suspect for the right price, they would produce a custom piece for an interested customer.

One of my favorite pieces is called the Ice Flame Body Chain and I've used it for a number of shoots:

The Water Fairy


The River Fairy:

and this image from a recent shoot are good examples of this piece:


And they sell many smaller and larger pieces that can be combined to enhance costumes, such as the Diamond Waist Chain and the Barefoot Sandals in this shoot.


I recently purchased several other pieces from this company and I plan to use them for several shoots this year.

My Most Recent Shoot

Just a couple of images from a recent shoot with Krisa:

2009 Planning

Detailed planning contributes to great shoots. I learned that lesson in 2008 and I hope to build on it in 2009.

I'm planning all my 2009 photo shoots. 2008 was a most productive year for me photographically, both in my personal projects as well as my family projects. By my rough count I worked with 16 models for about 20 separate shoots over the course of the year. This isn't including all the family photo shoots I conducted. Indeed, one of my projects which I hope will lead to a book publication within the next 1 - 2 years, is going quite well. I have been working with some very nice, lovely and stable models lately. Some of my other models are a little less stable and seem unwilling to take directions well, but I love the images just as much from them as I do from my more mature and professional models.

You can read about my 2008 year in photography here in the post below.

The two little problem models are Jocelyn and Ryker who are cousins and born just a little more than a month apart. They're my latest granddaughter and my first grandson. So 2009 will keep my camera busy, no matter what other projects I'm able to start and finish. And they can always provide a bit of stress relief. If some of my other shoots go poorly, I can at least count on these two to give me a big old slobberly smile which can immediately light up my heart, just like hugs from their bigger sibling and cousin.

Anyway, I'm working on my 2009 project plans. I have several shoots I intend to complete this year. There are at least three or four to be done in January and February, two that I'm planning toward the middle to end of March, and another 6 over the course of the summer, and an additional 4 in the fall. This is, of course, if all goes well and I get enough models willing to work within my budget.

So, what are these projects? Well you can read about them all here:

Mark's Current Projects

If there are any of you that want to help with the project - photo assistant, 2nd camera, Makeup Artist or Stylist, model or csotume designer, let me know and make me a pitch. Any of these could be a fun project and I'm looking for some creative minds to work with during the year. Let's all create some art together.