Get to Know This Face, You're Gonna be Seeing A Lot of It!

As a photographer it's always good to have somebody to work with, somebody to try new things with. I used to have a model in Orlando that was perfect. She was beautiful, easy to work with and fun to be around. She got along great with my wife and daughters, and that's a big one. It was really nice....until she moved to New York. I haven't had anyone like that for the past few years. I've tried to find someone, but it just hasn't worked out, until now. This is Jessica. I just shot her wedding. She is stunning, no other way to put it, and now she's in the family....by marriage. We're going to start working together on some stock photography. I don't think that she has modeled before, but after shooting her engagement pics, bridal portraits, and her wedding, I have full confidence that she is going to do an outstanding job whatever challenge we tackle. You'll probably be seeing her in an advertisement here and there. Who knows where it will go from there.

It's Time!

Hey guess what? It's time, tomorrow I make Cliff Hodges Photography my full time employment. I would like to thank all the people who have supported Cliff Hodges Photography over the years, my kids, my wife, and all my friends that have offered their support. I took the above image at the very end of Mark and Jessica Broome's wedding. I think she looks relieved. Her face almost says, " I took the big step and it's gonna be great". Well that's how I feel. I am gonna do my best to provide you with high quality photography services and you have to do your part, provide me with INCOME! My wife likes living indoors. So call now, don't delay 321-432-8094, and let me show you how affordable great photography can be!

Different Viewpoint

Sometimes when things don't look like they are working out the way you want them to, you have to change your viewpoint. Maybe you are not looking at the situation from the right angle. Take for instance my photography. I am impatient, I want to be a full time photographer right now, this very minute, but I am not. I know that I am good enough. Not to sound conceited, but I see the work of professional photographers and my work is every bit as good. I am a contributing photographer for Swimsuit Illustrated Magazine, but that pays nothing  and I have financial responsibilities that I can not meet with the camera right now. So I am working another job to make ends meet. Should I get depressed, should I give up? I won't lie, sometimes I feel like giving up. I've been working on this for about six years.  Maybe it's just not meant to be. Maybe I am just one of those people who never get their big break. Maybe I am the classic under achiever. BULLCRAP!!!! I could sit here and have a little pity party, but I am not gonna do that. I am in perfect position for something good to happen. I have a job that is meeting my financial needs. I have a great boss that lets me take off anytime I need to do a shoot. I have a very supporting wife that is behind me 100%. I have very nice photography gear. My work is seen by over a million people every time an issue of Swimsuit Illustrated Magazine comes out. One day the right person is going to see my stuff. I have people who believe in me, some more than others LOL. Something good is going to happen. See, it's all how you look at something.

A Different Viewpoint from a Portrait Shoot.

Never Leave Home Without It

"Adrenalin"

I'm a little under the weather today. I've been laying around the house all afternoon drinking orange juice and taking cold medicine. I told my wife yesterday that I would take her to the beach today. She really loves the beach. I can take it or leave it. If I am busy, either shooting for Swimsuit Illustrated, or fishing, I don't mind it so much. But to just sit there in a chair, well lets just say I do it for her. It was time to "Cowboy Up" so I jumped up out of bed,( she'll say it was more of a roll filled with groans), got dressed, and was ready to go to the beach. At the last minute, I grabbed my camera. As we drove down the beach, we came upon a surfing contest. Surfing is my favorite thing to shoot. I was so glad that I brought my camera. It was late in the afternoon and the sun was not out. There was a pretty bad haze and I am not real happy with the way my pics turned out but guess what....the finals are tomorrow and I am going back and I hope to get some killer images then. These are my favorite three from the trip.

"Rail Grab"

"Waiting Her Turn"

Funny how things turn out

As a contributing photographer for Swimsuit Illustrated Magazine, I get to photograph some of the most beautiful women in Florida. Often, after shooting on the beach for the magazine, we'll end up shooting again for my stock photography business. I sell images to companies through Istock.com for their use in advertising. I am always in need of attractive, healthy, people for this project. Well along came Jessica. She is my son-in-laws sister and she is not a model, but she sure could be. She requires basically no photoshop, she readily takes direction and she photographs so well. I recently did her engagement pics and her bridals. After chatting a little, she has agreed to model for some stock images for me. I'm stoked. I think her images will sell well and you may be seeing her in some magazine adds real soon. After her wedding I hope to submit some of her bridals to a wedding magazine.

Always have a plan "B".

Today I was to spend the afternoon with the beautiful Stephanie Ziajka, but unfortunately she took ill. Not to sound like Ricky Bobby, but thank God I have a smoking hot wife! Melinda could tell I was a little disappointed, so she changed clothes quickly and we were off. We went to the planned location, we did a little different look than what I had planned, but I still shot and had a great time with my gorgeous wife. I am a blessed man. Now if your model gets sick, don't be calling my wife, but have a plan B.

My Morning with Clyde

 Clyde is a Weimaraner that someone dropped off at our house. I can only imagine what trials and tribulations that they must have been going through to want to drop of such a wonderful dog. He has been with our family for five years now and has brought us great joy and happiness.  This morning I took him out in the field, but instead of a Remington 870, I brought a Nikon D300S. Weimaraners are natural hunters. As far as I know Clyde has never been trained to hunt, but as you see, he just has the instinct. He will retrieve until he loses interest, and he will point. Sometimes his instinct gets him in a little trouble. On more than one occasion, he has been a victim of our cats razor sharp claws. As soon as we stepped into the field, Clyde locked on to something. Normally, I can't get more than a few feet away from him, but this morning, something else had his attention. He slowly moved toward a downed oak tree in our pasture. His concentration at the overload setting. Machine like best describes his actions. He was doing something and I am sure he didn't know why. It was just in his blood. After a few seconds it happened, the point. Clyde was on point. After taking a couple of quick images, a kicked the brush and a rabbit scurried away.

Clyde is all business when we step into the field.

He zeros in on his prey!

He is locked on now.

The point, I love it when he does this. 

"Mama always told me not to look into the sights of the sun"

Man I love "Blinded by the Light"! You younger folks won't know what I am talking about. I also love shooting outside. Throw in a beautiful model in a swimsuit, and you have the recipe for success! In all seriousness, when I am shooting someone outside, I never want to have them facing into the sun. NEVER EVER! Now pay attention, here comes the tricky part. I try to position them so the sun is behind or to the side of them. The sun then puts a rim light on their skin, and highlights in their hair. The problem is, the sun also makes your model become a silhouette. To counteract this effect, you need to use an off camera flash on the opposite side of your model from the sun. Set your camera to expose for the background that you have, and adjust the power on your flash to properly expose your model. (did you catch that play on words?) See the nice highlights in her hair and the rim light down her left side. Now that's what I am talking about!

This is Stephanie Ziajka. Remember the name. She competes in pageants and she is currently Miss Tampa Bay, and will be competing for the title of Miss Florida in July! We recently spent a chilly day on the beach shooting for Swimsuit Illustrated Magazine and Blue Sky Swimwear. I had a great time photographing her, she is such a nice young lady. I look forward to working with her again.