ModelMayham.com (MM) Beirut?

Source www.lpmag.me
Model Mayhem  is a Platform and a network for professional & amateur models, photographers, makeup artists and stylists to meet and exchange talents. It is really helpful for those who want to advertise on the site, or those who are new to the industry… You can even be a veteran who has years of experience.
And the best part that it is for free.
Why MM is important?
I recently joined Model Mayhem late last year, and have already generated a lot of business, exposure and contacts from the site, (on top of my regular clients and network.)  After sifting through the creeps and deadbeats, I eventually met and worked with a lot of great models and MUA!
Currently in Lebanon there are only 21 person registered in ModelMayham, and I would like to see this number growing.
Some MM Frequently asked questions:
How long does it take a new profile to be approved?
It could take anywhere from one day to a week. To help expedite the process, it’s in your best interest to upload as many photos as possible and provide a nice substantial bio.
My profile was denied! What gives?
If you were given the option to re-submit your profile into the queue, you simply didn’t meet the requirements for Model Mayhem. Please read over them carefully and try applying again. If you were NOT given the option to re-submit, then that means your profile is not allowed on Model Mayhem.
What is VIP?
VIP is our premium subscription service. By signing up, not only do you instantly become a superstar, but you also get access to:

• Increased number of photos (100 instead of the normal 20)
• Increased number of private messages (100 per 24 hours instead of 15)
• Increased number of announcements (1 every 5 minutes instead of every 30 minutes)
• Ability to opt out of seeing ads on the site
• A cool VIP icon that follows you were ever you go on the site
• And an ever-updating set of new features and functions that we’ll continue to roll out

I’m being told that I am over my photos limit?
This is a result of you once being a VIP, getting access to the 100 photo limit, and then having your VIP membership status be canceled and so now your limit is back to 20 photos.
What does TFP Time or prints mean? TFCD? TF*?
Time for Prints
Time for Print (referred to as TFP) is an agreement between the photographer and the model where neither charges for their time. The photographer compensates the model with a number of printed images that are normally retouched and unframed. This allows the model to gain valuable experience dealing with various photographers, to practice in a working environment and to add photographs to their portfolio. The photographer gains experience has the time to experiment with differing techniques and to also add to their portfolio.
Why the TFP concept is important
There are many new models, parents of models, and individuals who'd like to be models but may not be able to afford the cost of employing a photographer to create professional images for their portfolio. Also, many photographers who wish to build up their own portfolio may not be in a financial position to employ professional models. Time for Prints and Time for CD allows for a fair exchange of time and skills by both parties. This brief guide gives an overview of what to expect.
What is GWC?GWC is an acronym for “Guy with Camera.” It’s a derogatory term for an amateur photographer. And it has taken the intraweb by storm thanks to MM. It usually implies that said guy is only interested in photography in order to get hot ladies to get naked for him.
Model Mayham for networking in couple of steps:
Present yourself well.
The first step to networking on Model Mayhem is to have your profile, portfolio pictures, and stats as appealing, professional, and up-to-date as possible. If you've gained or lost weight, say so! Stretching the truth in your stats is a dishonest move, and one that will not be appreciated if you show up to a scheduled shoot looking different than you portrayed yourself online. Also, make sure that your profile blurb clearly conveys important information that will be of interest to potential collaborators, such as what type of work you do, what type of collaboration you're seeking (TFP/pay/both), and other useful details.
Work the forums.
A great way to meet other Model Mayhem models/photographers/others is on the forums. Including "Newbie Forum", "Model Colloquy", and "Photography Talk", just to name a few, the forums get a lot of action, and therefore are the perfect place to get your name out in front of a lot of people at once. Just be sure to present yourself professionally at all times (forum drama is rampant, and quickly undermines the professionalism of those who engage), and to keep in mind the forum rules as you post.
Get in touch with the Lebanese community.
Third, you can always use the "browse" function to search for Model Mayhem members in your area. View their profiles, leave messages on their "wall", or send a private message. This is an invaluable tool for getting to know others!
Post a casting.
If you're looking for Model Mayhem members for a specific project, or will be traveling out of town and wish to collaborate with others while in another location, try the "Casting/Travel" section. Here, you can post casting calls that will be seen by any photographers/models/makeup artists/etc who search the database.
Make an announcement.
If you are trying to draw attention to your Model Mayhem profile, try the "Model Mayhem Announcements" on the front page. If you scroll to the very bottom of the page, you will see "Make an Announcement". Click on this link, and you will be taken to a screen where you can type a short message to be displayed on the front page. Then, when others view the front page of Model Mayhem, your avatar, name, and message will be displayed, potentially prompting them to visit your profile! Keep in mind that this function is busy and popular, and your message will not be displayed for more than a few seconds. Still, due to the aforementioned traffic, this still affords you the opportunity to get your name and message out there in front of a large number of people.
http://www.modelmayhem.com/

Exclusive interview with Toufic Araman, and Award winning Simplistic Photographer

 WE HAVE MOVED FOLLOW US.

WWW.LPMAG.ME

 LPM: Who is Toufic Araman? Introduce yourself, where did you study, how long have you been in photography, starting point, etc… 

Toufic: I have spent my early childhood in Lebanon then moved to Egypt in 1982.  I studied “Economics and Fine Arts” at the American University in Cairo.  In 2001, I landed a job in Dubai where I worked as a Training and Development Director in a multinational then an independent Business Consultant.  In Dubai, I started taking photography workshops and courses. A close friend of mine gave me an SLR camera with two lenses in 2003.  It had changed my life.  It was a shock for me to know that I can paint that easily and in a social way too.  Painting required a lot of solitude which I could not handle!  In 2006 I decided to go to New York to study photography at the “International Center of Photography, ICP” and the “School of Visual Arts, SVA” New York. 9 courses in 8 months were a challenged but I did it.   ICP focused on the conceptual side of photography and SVA on the technical side gave me a huge push.  I came back in 2007 and I stared my career as a full time photographer.  

LPM: How would you define yourself who is Toufic Araman as a photographer?

Toufic:I don't define myself as anything more than an observer; I don't give solutions, I simply reflect. My work takes the viewer through the journey of my thoughts, towards the exact feeling or moral I try to reflect. I want to be labeled as an effective communicator, and let that be through photography, painting or film.

Photographs are not real. They reflect the reality of the person behind the lens. Photography is very subjective, as a photographer I will choose my angle, and so the frame will reflect only what I have chosen to capture.

I don't build my creativity on a person's influence; however, I admire the pioneers, as they define the concept of uniqueness (individuality) to me. They dared to do the different against the mainstream, thus becoming the first in history.

I am will shoot anything creative, that has a strong concept behind it, be it fashion, food, interior or advertising. 

LPM: How would you describe your style?

Toufic:Simplistic, minimist and I depend on lighting to make my images to look the way it looks.  Light always play a character in my pictures. But ultimately, what makes a stunning picture is the team that puts together (i.e. model, makeup, stylist, everything)

LPM: What advice do you have for new photographers?
Toufic:

1- Shoot things that usually people don’t shoot
2- Don’t go for something usual and shoot things you like to shoot

3- Be pushy, and always ask yourself what the message you are trying to convey 

LPM: Did you get trained by another photographer?

Toufic:No. I am a self-taught never worked for anybody. I assist few for a day or two but the workshops I took and looking at other people’s work helped me a lot.

Some of my teachers in New York pushed me so hard that has affected my personal life not only my skills.   

LPM: How do you prepare for a photo shoot?

Toufic:I am meticulous.  Everything has to be well planned beforehand; I try as much as possible not to leave any details unknown.   Things have to be documented with the stylist and makeup artist etc.  I do a lot of brainstorming with my team.

LPM: What do you add to the photo when the client tells you this and that? 

Toufic:My clients leave space for me to develop the idea.  However, sometimes when shooting advertising, the picture sketch comes in a very specific format of how it should look like. Therefore my job is to help my client bringing to the concept to life in my own style.

LPM: How do you work out on the composition of the picture? 

Toufic:Many people work on rules (rules of third etc…), but I do not think about it.  No composition rules is the rule.  Breaking the rules making it less predictive.  It is a boring to predict an image.  

LPM: What distinguish a professional model from a non-professional one?

Toufic:Creativity, acting skills and knowledge of photography are very important criteria.  Experience makes a huge difference; they will help you make your images come to life.  They can tell the outcome of the photographs by knowing what lens and light you are using.  They basically become part of the team.  

LPM: What makes Lebanese photographers different from others / in the area photographers?

Toufic:They have more guts they can push it and this give them advantage in the region.  We live in somehow a more moderate society than anyone else in the region.  

LPM: What is your favorite lens? 

Toufic:I have no favorite lens.  It depends on what I am shooting, for example, for the portrait I shoot with 35 mm, 85 mm and 50 mm.  They use to tell me the longer the lens the better compact perspective of the picture and it makes the face look good.  I sold my 70- 200 last year, cause I have discovered that the closer to the people the more emotion you get out of them.  Wide angle lens tells a story.  I mainly use prime lenses; 35, 50, 85 mm and 90 tilt and shift, 24 tilt shift

LPM: What is your lighting equipment?

Toufic:I use profoto and bownes.  More and more I am using less artificial light and depend on natural light.  When I started photography I wanted every piece of equipment, now, I am ending up now using less and less equipment.  It is not a matter what equipment you have it is a matter of what you do with them.  For my last underwater shoot I just used a 35mm for the whole shoot and did not change the lens.  

LPM: A typical question what are you using, medium format or 35 m? 

Toufic:I use Mainly Canon 1Ds mark III.  I also own Mamiya RZ67 but I prefer Canon.

It doesn’t matter, you can use a Holga and get the same results, you don’t need a fancy camera.  It is not how big the file; it’s what is in the file.  I have all lenses but I want to be flexible, and faster, don’t like to put the camera on a tripod.  Putting the camera on a tripod makes the image looks staged.   I use it handheld, it gives me flexibility.
I’m using now the live view feature especially for interior; I shoot tethered and style the shot on the computer monitor.  

Technical Scope.
LPM: How was Angham picture taken?
Studio highlight, and lighting setup, Camera
 

  

Lighting Setup:

LPM: In general during a session to take the shot how many picture you take.

Toufic: It really depends, sometime just one and others 50 to 100.

LPM: Do you still have time to shoot for yourself something you love?

Toufic:Not as much as I would like to. But yes I do at least once in a month, I do a personal shoot.  You have to develop yourself so you need to test.

LPM: Can you share a website or blog you visit often?

Toufic:http://www.pdnonline.com. It is a magazine and a blog; it is the biggest photography business portal in America, for example how to budget your studio.

LPM: Who are your Famous Clients?
Toufic:

Qatar airways

LeoBurnett
JWT
American express
Starwood (owners of Sheraton, meridian, four points etc...)
And now I started shooting singers in a creative way; my first was Angham the Egyptian singer.

LPM: What awards did you win and some of your exhibitions?

Toufic:I won four main awards. Gulf photo plus best advertising photo 2008. Gulf photo plus 2006 photo of the year. Grapheast 2005 and just recently a shoot I have done for Qatar Airways won second place for a fashion shoot in Australia The creativity print award.  My work was exhibited in Noordelicht, Holland, Brecht Forum, New York and Dubai Gulf Art Fair, UAE.  I currently am taking part at The House of Frida show in ground 68 in Beirut.

LPM: Last four photo shoots?
Toufic:

Raffles Hotel, KSA
Angham
Qatar airways magazine, fashion editorial
shahiya.com

LPM: What do you say for people that love your work? 

Toufic: Good Luck Hope you will always love my work.  Remember to tell me why. 

LPM: What do you say for Lebanese photography magazine? 

Toufic: Having this number of people interested in your website in this short time, is an AMAZING JOB.  Keep up the good work.

Contact info:
Website: www.aramanstudio.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/aramanstudio
Phone: +961 71 600 140
Email: toufic@aramanstudion.com 

Anthony Rahayel, Beirut Night Life lead Photographer

Anthony Rahayel, Beirut Night Life lead Photographer

LPM: Introduce yourself (how long, have you been taking photos, what did you study, any old exhibitions or books etc…)

My name is Anthony Rahayel, dental surgeon by profession, and photographer. I have been taking pictures since the year 1997. Had participated in many competitions in Lebanon and won the 3rd price in the AUB alumni and the 2nd price in the hospital St. Georges in Beirut a couple of years ago.

Have already participated to one book, (23 Visions): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9953015236 and publishing the second one http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9953019061 on the 24th of november:  the upcoming book is the first book describing the Lebanon by night.

LPM: Introduce Beirut Night Life (BNL)

BNL is the first online media in Lebanon, started in 2002, covering all events happening around town.
We started the nightlife photography concept in Lebanon, with artistic and colorful pictures reflecting the mood and the action of the night.

LPM: How do you describe your work at BNL?

After the company grew bigger, we started recruiting and have today 5 photographers and videographers traveling the 4 corners of Lebanon to keep the world up to date about the Lebanese nightlife scene. I am handling the production department, of photography, videography and editing.

LPM: Share your experience as being the lead photographer for BNL

Our work is different from normal photography.

The job is demanding, you need to stay awake all night, and sometimes have to deal with bizarre situations and awkward people. Nightlife photography is a passion, the colors of the night, capturing the moment, the dance, the deck and the DJ on a certain music mood. While shooting the night, all the camera settings are to be used, high ISO speed, long exposures and large apertures.

LPM: Do you consider yourself Fashion photographer, photo journalist or a professional photographer?

At BNL, we do it all. Our sections differ from fashion, to social, to nightlife, to sports and many others. During the years i had to develop my skills in all those fields to be up to the standard of our company's quality reputation.

LPM: Next job is a photography book? Tell us more

Today, a few cities can compete with Beirut’s reputation for elegance, sophistication and zeal for life that comes out exclusively at night.

In any season, the city’s nightlife is the constant pulse that keeps its people feeling alive. While other cities withdraw to sleep, Beirut prepares itself to shine out like a beacon in blazing colors, calling in hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to partake in the festivities and share the magic from dusk till dawn.

This is the true face of Lebanon; Lebanon by night that has captured international attention - CNN describes it as a “world-class party zone”, while the Guardian, UK calls its nightlife “sophisticated.”

We uncover the night’s secrets in a series of over 700 un-retouched photos. 

In a wealth of images taken over the years, I found myself drawn to the power of the night, discovering its true beauty in every event from festivals, shows and concerts to clubs, parties and more. Every image discovers the soul of the night tells a story and takes us on a journey that allows us to relive the magical moments.  

Jean Ghalo, advertising and marketing specialist and Co-Founder of BeirutNightlife.com, a number one digital media in Lebanon, combines his know-how with me talent to produce B. Lebanon. 

For the first time ever, a book dedicated to Lebanon’s nightlife, this unique publication is a compilation and a testament to the country’s vibrant spirit across 512 pages.  The book is a lasting souvenir for anyone who was part of the great times, and a window into the world’s most exquisite party scene for anyone who has yet to visit the country that never sleeps. 

LPM: What do you says to Lebanese photography magazine

I am so happy that we have now a magazine for photography in Lebanon; a magazine for photographers where we can learn from each other’s and express ourselves.

LPM: What do you give for advice for people whom would like to work in a similar position?

A camera is like a car, you need to know how to drive it to reach your destination. After that, let your imagination and creativity take the wheel for you to take your dream shot.

A couple of interesting websites to visit:

www.photo.rahayel.com

www.hotshotphotography.info

www.b-lebanon.com

wwww.beirutnightlife.com

  

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH DAVID ABDALLAH – A PHOTOGRAPHER WITH A PASSION.

LPM: Where did you study?

David: I studied Law at the Lebanese University

LPM: Introduce yourself? How long have you been in photography? Starting point? And what is fun and rewarding about Photography? In other words what makes David Abdallah, the famous David Abdallah.

David: I’ve been in this field for more than 15 years; it is a challenging, wide and fast growing domain. It first started as a hobby, I discovered later that it’s the only thing I want to do in life. The fun part is the creative part where you have to come up with something new each time, what is rewarding is the appreciation of the clients and people around me and my self satisfaction about the accomplishment, this is also challenging as it motivates me to give better results in the future.

LPM: How would you describe your photography style?

David: It is a different style that I have developed through my 15 years of experience, I am able now to master the direction and creativity of lights..and That’s what photography is all about .. Nevertheless I’m more interested in how others describe my style.

LPM: What advice do you have for new Photographers?

David:To improve their talent by being updated about all the new equipments in this field and mostly the lighting techniques, extensive researches about all kind of arts, to accept the criticize and work hard to improve their talent and skills.

LPM: Did you train at another photographer?

David:No

LPM: How do you prepare for a photo shoot?

David:I discuss with the client what he has in mind, we try to define and shimmer the idea until we come up with a fine concept. Sometimes we work with a creative Art director. Once the concept is approved, my team will arrange for the production, casting, finding the convenient location (if it’s an outdoor photo shoot) and all the necessary arrangements within the deadline agreed with the client.

LPM: Do you shoot what you feel is best for your clients or do you allow some to clearly define what they want?

David: The client explains me what is the main idea he has in mind and I help him shimmering this idea into a concept and than into imagery.

LPM:  How do you decide on locations & subjects?

David: Usually I sit and discuss these issues with the client, the Art director if any and my creative team

LPM: How do you work out your composition?

David: I get inspired from the subject/product of the photo session taking into consideration the main message which the client wants to promote through my photos.

LPM: What distinguishes a good model from a bad one?

David: She either can pose in front of the camera or not, she has to be active, self-confident and have a good eye contact.

LPM: What make the Lebanese photographers different from the west?

David: Their style due to their different culture

LPM: Do You Have A Favorite Lens…If So What Is It?

David: Noctilux 50 mm 0.95

LPM: What is your Lighting Equipment and Techniques?

David: Broncolor

LPM: In general, during a session, how many pictures would you say you take to find “the right one”?

David: It depends, sometimes the perfect one is within the first shots. Here the model, the art director if any also the set and lighting team have to be very well prepared. This will help getting the perfect shot at an early stage

LPM: Who are your famous clients?

David: BRANDS: to name a few : DIOR-GUERLAIN- ESTEE LAUDER- THIERRY MUGLER- HELENA RUBENSTEIN- FURLA- VIVIENNE WESTWOOD-CARTIER- LOUIS VUITTON- YSL-

Celebrities: Najwa Karam, Haifa Wehbe, Nancy Ajram, Sherine Abdel Wahab, Rashed al majid, Mjida El Roumi,  to name a few

LPM: What is your latest work (last 4)?

David: Fady Kataya (Beauty Shoot, Advertorial)-VIVIENNE WESTWOOD (Ad campaign, the overall ad campaign was assigned to my company) Dior (Fashion and Beauty shoot, Editorial), Helena Rubenstein and Cartier (Beauty and Jewelry shoot, Editorial)

LPM: What do you say for people who love your work?

David: Thank you for your support. The best is yet to come

LPM: What do you say to Lebanese Photography Magazine?

David: It was pleasures having this interview.I wish you all the success

Studio David Abdallah
Tel / Fax : +961 4 416 445
Mobile    : +961 3 167 000
www.davidabdallah.com