Jess' (slightly botched) Av Shoot

[andavri]

When I do a photoshoot I have one of two things. An idea or a story. Stories are better. Ideas lead to shoots like CC's and Felicity's, which are great. But they always seem somewhat limited. Mostly it ends up with me moving the sim around in various places and seeing what I get.

Conversely, when I get a "story" what I'm really doing is telling something without saying it. Of course I'm not always successful, cause I do the same thing with my top banners sometimes and I know Juleah never notices that. But I tend to have a focus to what I'm doing, and that lets me be less aimless and gives me a better idea of what to shoot, rather than just whatever comes.

Well, I was feeling pretty good about this shoot—until I sat down to actually do the critique. I kind of—at least I think—didn't follow one of the few instructions that Jess gave me. I was so concerned about getting everything right that I completely ignored something that should have been readily apparent. You'll hear a bit of my mea culpa in the shoot text itself.

Jess, I really am sorry about the necklines. I can do more shots if you want me to. But I figured that I might as well put this up as I already have all this work into what I've got—even if I did fluff it up.

Besides, it proves that I am not anywhere near always right—sometimes I really far from right even with shoots.

Jess's shoot
~Steph

[Lily]

Lovely! It's really hard picking a favourite since I really liked all of the shots!

[Felicity]

I dont think it is botched at all Steph! I think the shots are wonderful.

My favourites of her are probably the ones where she is buying clothes. Her face looks beautiful in those particularly for me.

Felicity

[Jessica]

Oohh! Please, don't worry! It's OK about the necklines, it doesn't matter. I think that everything you had her wear was elegant and not "trashy" even if it had low necklines, so no worries. Those shots are beautiful and now I'm curious about the backstory and the vampire. Just please remember that I really don't want my self-sim romantically involved with anyone.

*Looks at shots in awe* OK, I shall try and pick some favourites...I like all of them though, and I'm really glad that you got an expressive sim with her, I was worried that she'd give you trouble. It amuses me greatly that you chose the far east for her, too.

My favourites are:

0017
0019
0023
0030
0034
0038... I pretty much love all the pics of her in the pink shirt.
0040
0043
0048 - really like the expression on this one.

Those are too many, aren't they? I'll trust you to make something beautiful. Thank you SO MUCH for doing this, Steph. And remember, no worries, I loved it!

[CountessCrazy]

Beautiful pics Steph! And if you notice neither Felicity's or my av is even showing enough to worry about a low neckline

[Nina]

I love the hair on the Vacation Interior. Where did you get it?

Beautiful pics!

[xmasqueen]

Those are really pretty. I don't really see anything wrong with the necklines though, it's not showing a lot. I was greatly amused at the one with the oriental dress when she was making faces in the mirror.

[Whitnerd]

Beautiful pictures! I love all of the shots where she's looking up like the ones in the rain and the one where she's catching lightning bugs. There's just something so pretty about the way it makes her eyes look.

[andavri]

*gives the hands down hugest sigh of relief ever*

Jun 11, 2008 11:26:57 GMT Jessica said:

Oohh! Please, don't worry!

As I'm always telling Kellie, tell me not to breathe, it's going to be more successful... I always worry. Unfortunately, it's part of what my disorder does to me.

Jun 11, 2008 11:26:57 GMT Jessica said:

It's OK about the necklines, it doesn't matter. I think that everything you had her wear was elegant and not "trashy" even if it had low necklines, so no worries.

Well you said nothing "sexy", I was trying for a sort casual but elegantly romantic look, I know your sim isn't going to be romantically involved, but you are what I would categorize as a romantic person, without getting sexy. It worked in my head. Really the only time I've ever had a sim look "trashy" was when I was really really mad at someone and put her into my game to work out some aggression. To give you a clue, I also made her get involved with José so this is definitely not something that's going to happen often.

I've been told I'm one of those people who can put a girl in Daisy Duke's shorts and a top cut to there and make her look like a runway model rather than a trailer park denizen.

Jun 11, 2008 11:26:57 GMT Jessica said:

Those shots are beautiful and now I'm curious about the backstory and the vampire. Just please remember that I really don't want my self-sim romantically involved with anyone.

I do remember that and actually, the vampire is why you're not involved with anyone. I was thinking more or less something like sim-Jess was widowed. "He" the nameless faceless guy in the coffin we'll never see was the love of sim-Jess's life, and then he died suddenly. And sim-Jess knows there'll never be another guy for her, thus sealing off her heart for any future relationships.

The vampire, whether real or imagined, is who sim-Jess believes killed her "husband" (The nameless faceless guy in the box that there was never actually a relationship with). And if he exists, he's probably the killer, if he doesn't she has the mystery of where he came from. The vampire is going to be a nemesis, possibly a figment of her imagination, and a bad guy, not a love interest.

Of course as I like details, I might put together some shots of a brown haired sim with my guy-in-the-box and using them for personal effects. Sort of like with my friends Heath and Caitlin, every shot Heath is in, Caitlin has her head turned so you see the back of it. Thus giving me my details and respecting your wish on no romances.

Well, Jess, at least I have plenty of choices to work from. I'll work on your av this evening. I like to do graphics stuff in the evening as I have people around to chat with and use my afternoons for shooting.

Jun 11, 2008 11:46:52 GMT CountessCrazy said:

And if you notice neither Felicity's or my av is even showing enough to worry about a low neckline

Yes, true, and in Jenni's av either. Jenni's sig you see enough of the body, but I don't have any shots that would work for something like that.

But there was that the shots themselves are sort of part of the gift. I really wanted the whole thing to be something that could be looked back at later. Hopefully more happily and less critically than when I do.

Thank you, all. I feel a lot better now. I know my reaction is kind of out of proportion to what this is, a bunch of shots in my sims game, but it's more I have some other things in RL that are worrying me so I'm at the "I don't know what I'll do if one more thing goes wrong" stage. The stress from those RL things are taking an outlet in my anxiety over my sims, because I can control my sims.
~Steph
edited: to fix an emote and clarify something

[Jessica]

Relax, everything's fine and I love your shoots. Thank you so much for respecting my feelings regarding my simself not being romantically involved with other sims, it means a lot to me. The story sounds very intriguing, can't wait to see what happens.

I'll be anxiously (but patiently ) waiting for my av and siggy.

[andavri]

Of course, I would respect your wishes on that, Jess. I always try (with admittedly varying degrees of success) to abide with everyone's wishes when it comes to their sim-selves. In fact, my whole drama here with this shoot was the worry that I hadn't respected your wishes, and necklines are a lot, lot, less important in the scheme of things than making your sim get involved with someone.

As far as the story goes, I'm afraid waiting will be slightly necessary, I can't start the hood until after I'm done with the shoots, and any good plot arc takes time. But I'm glad you're liking the teaser.

Now off to Moon's shoot.
~Steph

[lianne]

Stunning!

[Theachen7]

Beautiful pictures

[Moon]

Wow, great photo shoot Steph!

[Jenni Rose]

Those are very beautiful!

[CharlieChomper]

Beautiful shots, as always!