If you need a "magic potion" image, I shot a ton.

I don't, but those are some terrific photos - excellent work!

If I ever need a cover like that, you'll be my go-to gal!  Those pics are terrific!

I love the colorful "vials" and bottles, and definitely the backgrounds (sillk, sequins, etc.).  Especially love the masks! 

What was in your magic potion?

We were throwing everything in the potion! Dry ice, boiling water, various colorants, sometimes fizzy things. Nothing blew up, although the glass was often hot on bottom and freezing on top, and we worried about the delicate ones--I had two artisan hand-blown ones in the mix. But all came through fine.

The masks were an afterthought. We go to a huge Samba party for Carnaval every year here in Austin, so we have quite a collection. The shots ended up being rather surreal with those, rather haunting for the male masks especially.

Great shots! I plan to write some more fantasy, so you never know, I might need one!

Wow, your photos are exceptional, very clean. Are you an exclusive contributor on Dreamstime? Or do you use any other stock sites?

Those are very pretty pics! Well done

They're fantastic. That said, the red one looks perfect for an erotica cover. Forgive me, I know I have a problem.

Awww, thank you! This is my 14th year as a professional photog, and I'm trying to move to stock work more than portrait as my fifth-grader is having a tough year and I need to be pretty available for her these days. Plus I have to shoot my own covers!

[email protected] said:

Are you an exclusive contributor on Dreamstime? Or do you use any other stock sites?

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I am exclusive to Dreamstime. I am not fond of some of the other sites for one reason or another so I might as well get the extra money of being exclusive.

But because I am exclusive, I also let people have a shot at my images before they go there.

Next up is a big group of shots of a girl in historical dress for both romances and drama (several have her being stalked by a man in a black cloak.) I can post in the thread if anyone wants to see those when I get them ready.

TexasGirl said:

I am exclusive to Dreamstime. I am not fond of some of the other sites for one reason or another so I might as well get the extra money of being exclusive.

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I can definitely understand that. My current subscription is not with Dreamstime, but I'm probably going to rotate soon. I'd like to add you as a favorite on my Dreamstine act. if you share that sort of info. I can't wait to see your next shoot.

THANK YOU to everyone who bought magic potion images! I am happy to have paid for all my bottles and dry ice plus the designer who will be doing *my* magic potion covers with the image I kept for myself.

Since interest had died down, I'm going to send them to Dreamstime tomorrow (Thursday.) If you wanted anything exclusive, hit me up before then. Otherwise they'll be part of the general stock supply if you need them!

And if you ever spot something like this that is grossly underrepresented on stock art (there are VERY FEW magic potions), let me know. I might can shoot it and get some things up.

TexasGirl said:

Next up is a big group of shots of a girl in historical dress for both romances and drama (several have her being stalked by a man in a black cloak.) I can post in the thread if anyone wants to see those when I get them ready.

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Ooh, ooh, ooh...what era?

I've been desperately seeking Civil War era images and believe me when I say there is a REAL dearth of these. Excerpt for soldiers reenacting a battle. Tons of those shots, but nothing with a girl in a dress unless she's cooking at a Civil War reenactment campsite. I don't want the actual Civil War...I want the time period. (I doubt that's the era you're doing, but it doesn't hurt to ask.)

I have a major list of things on my wall to watch out for. When people want a specific historical era, what I watch for are plays. Then I approach the people who do the plays to ask if in exchange for photographing the cast, will some of them pose for me in costume with model releases? I can generally do anything--angry, clutch, simple, sad, as long as it is character-dominated and not so much in a setting.

I will add Civil War to the list. I scour the indie stages for new productions each month.

Clever girl!

This is the type of "Civil War" era image I'd be looking for:
http://www.celeb-square.com/2010/10/fashion-friday-22-get-katherine-pierces.html

Very different from any of the photos you see on stock sites for models in period costumes from that era. Like I said, there are countless shots of men reenacting battle scenes, but I'm on the lookout for something more along the lines of Katherine Pierce in Vampire Diaries or Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind.

There are lots of "historical" shots that work for Regency or late Victorian, but not much in the middle of the century.

Whoa! The colors are fantastic! Great job!

I agree w/ Amanda about the "civil war era" shots.  I'm working on a cover that involves that era and it's hard to find.  I'll also add that this includes MEN, as well.  I don't need a "cowboy/western" look, and I don't want a Union or Confederate soldier, either.  Just an average man of that timeframe (1860-1870).  That's impossible to find, unfortunately.  So along with the women wearing hoop skirts and carrying parasols, don't forget the gentlemen with their dashing suits and vests and pocket watches. 

(Oh, and btw, I love those examples Amanda showed...  I'm a fan of The Vampire Diaries and it's always fun when they have 'flashback' episodes to various eras, to see how the characters are dressed.)

Those are some fun looks!