Annual STC Miami Seminar/Workshop – April 02-03, 2016

Jarmo Pohjaniemi

Jarmo has over 30 years of extensive experience in both the world of fashion and Playboy. His ability to teach and pass on his passion, vision and business sense are some of the most valuable assets to Shoot The Centerfold and are invaluable to any photographer who wants to get to the next level of their career. During the STC seminar and workshop, you will be given complete access to his work methods and advice on how to plan setups in order to create stunning imagery for magazine layouts, advertisements and the unique look of Playboy’s centerfold, which has been long idolized in photography as the pinnacle in glamour photography. Jarmo will also discuss practical approaches to solve the countless photographic challenges a working photographer faces every day. Learn more about Jarmo Pohjaniemi and his work here www.JarmoPohjaniemi.com

Byron Newman

Byron shot many memorable pictorials for Playboy and also, being a London resident, contributed widely to the European and international editions of the magazine. A master of constant lighting, using HMI and tungsten, his technique became his signature and set his work apart. His photos have been published worldwide and in diverse publications including portfolios in Photo and the Sunday Times. He has shot publicity stills for major motion pictures including a Bond film, and has taken portraits of the stars such as Kevin Costner, Helen Mirren and Hugh Grant; also rock personalities: David Bowie, Sid Vicious, Iggy Pop, Pete Townsend and many more. Four books of his work have been published in the USA, Japan, the UK and France. Over the long time span of his career he has managed to work in most genres, including advertising campaigns for Bally shoes, Graff Diamonds and Twinings Tea. Byron loves to inspire the latent talent in others with an emphasis of unconventional yet simple lighting setups, composition, styling and conceptualizing. His techniques form a unique solution to photographic situations and will help you to develop a style that is recognizably your own.

Ales Bravnicar

Ales Bravničar is one of Europe’s most sought after fashion and commercial photographers, whose work has been published in almost all international Playboy editions worldwide, including US Playboy. Ales has 50-plus international Playmates and over 100 celebrity pictorials under his belt. He specializes in creative studio and location photography for corporate, advertising, and editorial clients like Max Factor, Elle, Elle Decor, Playboy, Cosmopolitan, Maxim, Adria Airways, Union & Laško Breweries, Sava-Goodyear, Hermes Softlab, Modna Jana, SKB-Societe Generale, Luna, Ytong, Trimo, Droga Kolinska, Eva, and Nancy Beachwear. Considered one of the most well-traveled photographers with visits to over 80 countries, he also shoots promotional campaigns for clients such as Peugeot, Opel, Fiat, Sony Ericsson, Frey Wille, SiMobil-Vodafone and Vichy.

BBC News website published his photographs from Algeria in 2007 and National Geographic Traveler regularly showcases his work. Ales Bravničar also gives lectures on photography. In 2008, Canon Adria entrusted him the role of a spokesperson for their state-of-the-art digital photographic equipment.

He participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions and exhibited at both Month of Design and Month of Photography. His series of photographs entitled “Androgynous” was awarded first prize at Slovenia Press Photo Awards 2010 (best story) and he recently exhibited his selected work at Mall Galleries and HoSt Gallery (Summershow08) in London, Kalman Krane in Brighton and at VII Gallery during New York Photo Festival. He lives and works in Ljubljana, Slovenia and is represented by Galerija Fotografija.

Ric Moore

Ric Moore is a photographic powerhouse, shooting everything from advertising and editorial to fashion and glamour. You may have seen his images in Playboy’s Biker Babes, Employee of the Month, Latin Ladies, Special Editions, Playmates, and Girls of Hawaiian Tropic (just to name a few). In addition to photographing the world’s most beautiful women, multi-billion dollar companies have Ric on their go-to list because they know he can make their products look just as sexy as a centerfold. Ric’s forte is the ability to use his photographic knowledge and experience to turn any lighting situation to his advantage. He will demonstrate outdoor lighting situations, how to work under pressure, and overcome some of the most challenging situations in today’s photography. Ric can best be described as a master of both studio and location lighting. His approach to minimal studio lighting gives him the ability to work with everything from a multi-light studio set-up to a one- to three-light system including the use of reflectors.

Our master photographers have an unparalleled degree of creativity, personal expression, and style. They’ll reveal and explain their personal unique style, techniques, and vision. They have accepted the challenge to deliver content that will entertain, intrigue, and propel participants in their careers.

You will be given complete access to work methods and best-practices in how to plan setups in creating stunning imagery for magazine layouts, advertisements, fashion, and for the unique look of a centerfold, which has been the long idolized photography in the world’s bestselling men’s magazine, Playboy. In addition, they’ll discuss practical approaches to solve the countless photographic challenges they face every day.
The talks are further illustrated by examples of their best work as well as an insight into how they were produced and photographed, location realities, and budget considerations. There will be a continuous dialogue between the master photographers and the participants with discussions, Q&A sessions, and a mutual sharing of experiences and viewpoints.

I HAVE ALREADY DEDICATED MYSELF TO PHOTOGRAPHY. WHY DO I NEED TO COME TO SHOOT THE CENTERFOLD’S SEMINAR?

The seminar is so much more than just a photography seminar and workshop. A true photographer realizes instinctively the nature of the craft is a continuous learning process not only of the art but also in personal growth. As you change, your perception influences your photography. You’ll need to learn and grow in order to adjust to these changes that will affect your photography in the future.

DO I NEED TO BE A PRO TO ATTEND?

Certainly not! Shoot The Centerfold’s seminar is geared to all levels of photographic proficiency. Most seminars teach only lessons. STC goes the extra mile and teaches not only the technical aspects of photography but also the philosophy and necessary attitude that will make your photos stand out. Anybody with a decent camera can take a halfway-decent picture but not just anyone can create a sellable image. STC teaches you how to incorporate your photo knowledge with the innate passion and vision that’s in your heart. It’s not enough to know how to take a picture, you also have to know why… and that is what turns a photographer into an artist.

WHAT ABOUT CAMERA GEAR? I DON’T HAVE AN EXPENSIVE CAMERA AND LIGHTS.

It’s a common misconception that a photographer needs to spend an extravagant amount on gear and equipment. Having a multitude of expensive lights won’t do the slightest bit of good if you don’t know how to use them. If you have complete control over your camera and equipment, you can work with any type of camera, big or small, cheap or expensive, because what really matters is what happens in that space four inches behind the camera – your mind. What Shoot The Centerfold teaches you is not only how to see light, but also how to evaluate and apply it to the images you’re creating.

THERE ARE SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS THAT COST ONLY $299. WHY IS IT THAT SHOOT THE CENTERFOLD IS SO MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE?

What’s the difference? STC master photographers not only offer their knowledge and experience in photography, but also the business side of the camera. Most seminars are only a way to get models in front of the camera and be taught someone else’s idea of what photography should be.

STC instructors are there to help YOU with YOUR photography. They are without question the best glamour photographers in the world and have decades of experience. Not only have they worked for the most prestigious men’s magazine of all time but they also know the industry and its demands inside out.

With STC, you will be taught by certified master photographers all of which have worked extensively for Playboy. Not only that, you’ll get to meet the most prestigious Director of Photography in the country who can evaluate your portfolio and let you know precisely where you stand and what your improvements need to be to made to succeed on a national level.

In real life, you can’t even get an appointment with a professional editor of this caliber. It just doesn’t happen.

If that wasn’t enough, you’ll also get to work with actual Playmates and top agency models. For most photographers, to get just one of them in front of the camera for a single day shoot is highly unlikely.

And one last thing; after the seminar, STC instructors will still be there when you get back home and try out what you’ve learned. Got a problem? Call them up or send an email. It’s as simple as that.

Okay, now do me a favor and add a quick total in your head of how much it would cost to hire all of these instructors, editors, Playmates and models individually. You’ll probably find out the price doesn’t seem to be that much compared to what you’re getting, does it? In fact, it’s a stone cold steal.

CAN I USE THE IMAGES I SHOOT AT THE SEMINAR IN MY PORTFOLIO TO PROMOTE AND MARKET MY CAREER?

Of course! During a full seminar and workshop*, the photos remain the intellectual property of STC, but you’ll be able to use your photos in any and all manner of promotion, whether it’s online, on your website, in your portfolio, or on your tablet. While the photos are not for re-sale, what it does tell anyone who sees them is that you’re serious about your photography because you’ve not only taken the time to seek out and learn from the best, you also have the knowledge and ability to create a quality product, which is something any model or client looks for in a prospective photographer.

(*restrictions may apply to seminar only photos)

How do we choose models for our seminars? They must not only have the right look but they must also have the experience necessary to work with everything from a novice photographer to a full-fledged professional. Our models must not only maximize the shooting experience, they must also have a grasp of the business side of modeling as well. STC’s beliefs and direction are to provide a wide selection of models to demonstrate the concept of having the model fit the assignment. We go through an extensive search when selecting models as this is one of the most important parts of your photoshoot if models are the subjects that you are photographing.

If you’ve turned to STC for assistance in your photography then you’ve mostly come to the conclusion that shooting for fun only goes so far. Eventually, all photographers who take their work seriously will start wondering how to turn a hobby into a paying job. This is where STC’s experience comes in with the choices we make when choosing the models. Glamour models, centerfolds, swimsuit and lingerie models are sexy and fun to shoot because they are their own product. The attraction to this type of photography is a sexuality and seductiveness that will always turn heads. The images will impress viewers even if they’re not in the photo industry and everyone will notice your photos. Well, almost everyone. What about commercial clients and fashion houses?

There’s a difference when shooting fashion models as opposed to glamour and not just in the poses or lighting. There’s a saying that a fashion model knows how to present the clothes she’s wearing and become secondary to the overall image. Her appearance and attitude are a reflection of the client or designer, not her own. People in the fashion biz say that models are just fancy clothes hangers and they’re pretty much spot on. The make-up, hair, accessories, attire, swimsuit or lingerie is the primary element in the image with everything else taking a backseat to the product. As fussy as clients are with models, you can’t imagine how meticulous they also are with the photographers they use to shoot their million-dollar campaigns or their catalogs. This is where the BIG bucks come in! Are you ready to learn about the methods of dazzling the billion-dollar industries and bringing home that fat paycheck?

So far, we have merged two different philosophies each with different directions and make impressions on two divergent, yet complimentary worlds. Sure, there’s a “Glam” category, but the main focus for STC is to teach you the best of both worlds and how to start making money with your camera. As much fun and as cool as our Miami seminar weekend will be, we will also be offering instruction and guidance that goes beyond shooting, lighting and posing. We will be exploring the business side of photography, evaluating career readiness and instructing you how to customize your skills in preparation for that awesome day when that major client comes knocking at your door.

And this, my friends, is how we choose our models. Stay tuned, there is much more to come!