1. WHEN and WHERE DO WE SHOOT?

MOON: We shoot the week running up to the full moon 🌓 to 🌔. Usually within 1-2 hours after sunset.

We shoot in Calabasas, Malibu, or Angeles Mountains (45 mins outside DTLA).

STARS: We shoot between 3/4 moon 🌗 and 1/4 moon 🌓; shot after astronomical twilight (1.5-2 hours after sunset depending on the time of year).

I gatekeep the locations but will give you more info as we get closer so you know, and so you can tell any friends/family that may be concerned about your wellbeing. It usually takes 2-3 hours EACH WAY to get to the locations needed for star shoots due to light pollution. Please maintain the sanctity of the locations - do not geotag the location or post the locations, and do not tell other models/photographers.

2. HOW DO WE GET THERE?

MOON: Let me know if you drive and where you’re coming from. I’ll figure out where/how makes the most sense.

STARS: Usually we carpool from LA. Your car or mine - I’m fine with driving my car or yours.

3. WHAT SHOULD I BRING?

CLOTHES FOR SHOOTING: Focus on raw, timeless, and eternal. Go earthy. Find things your great-grandparents would love to see you wear, or that you can imagine your great-grandchildren looking back on.

It’s ok if the pieces are ripped or torn if it looks cool. Raw fabrics work well. Pieces that move work well. Less is more.

White dresses, slips, and super conservative pieces also work well. What would you wear 100 years ago if you were running free in the mountains?

This is not about fashion or being the most stylish - you’re in deep raw nature, you know? This is about humanity, the Earth, the stars, and the moon. It should be “you” but your most raw and timeless self.

You are welcome to shoot nude if you’re 18+ and would like - that is 100% your decision.

Raw and eternal is better than looking fresh and stylish! Fads fade!

HAIR: Again, focus on raw, timeless, and eternal. Go natural, but you do you.

MAKEUP: And again: raw, timeless, and eternal. Less is more. You are probably way more beautiful than you realize. It’s honestly best to wear none. Concealer doesn’t even really work due to the lighting conditions. Anything shiny like lip gloss or highlighter ends up looking bad in the final images so it’s best to go as natural as possible and avoid anything that shines. That highlighter everyone puts on their nose looks exceptionally silly in these pictures.

SHOES: I suggest wearing shoes with traction that you can take off easily like Crocs or running shoes. Shoes usually don’t make it into the images since the series is about rawness.

FOR WARMTH: Bring something warm you can throw on. I keep a blanket in the car but bring anything else you may want to use for warmth.

FOOD AND WATER: Bring some snacks and water if you think you’ll need it. There are no gas stations or restaurants where we are going.

OTHER: Don’t forget your glasses. Bring binoculars if you have them to see galaxies. I’ll supply flashlights but feel free to bring one. Bring a journal if you want a moment to yourself for that.

4. CAN I BRING SOMEONE?

Minors: Yes, you need to bring a parent or legal guardian. Please bring the parent that is more tuned in to nature.

Adults: No, leave friends/family at home, please. Your safety and comfort are paramount to me - I want you to be fully safe and feel 100% comfortable. However, I also need to feel safe and comfortable to do my job.

I used to allow guests to tag along but there are no exceptions anymore after a couple of situations that made me very uncomfortable and question my own safety.

Unless I personally know the person, or they’re paying to be shot as well, the answer is a firm “no.” I understand if some are uncomfortable with this policy but let’s cancel if it’s too much.

5. POSES

I’ll guide you but I suggest looking through your favorite images of others from other time periods: Baroque paintings, Greek and Roman sculptures, national geographic pictures of wild animals, etc..

Also - film yourself dancing wild and free, then pause the video at random moments - see which look/feel good. (film from a lower angle since I will be shooting you from a lower angle). Play with those poses beforehand.

It’s important to know that, when you shoot this series, you can NOT move so it’s good to play with this in advance.

6. NOTES ON SAFETY

Nobody has ever been seriously hurt on any of my shoots. It’s super common for people to come back with some bug bites, scratches from shrubs, and some cuts from playing in nature - those are well-earned expenses for the images and are never life-threatening!

People often ask about wild animals:

• There have been no deaths by bears in California since 1968.

• It’s hard to find data on deaths by spider bites in California - most bites are from spiders that like barns, woodpiles, and basements. And most bites don’t result in deaths.

• 6 people die from Rattle Snake bites each year throughout all of California. Most of those happen in coastal areas during the day.

• There have been 20 Mountain Lion attacks in 100 years in California.

• 4,000 people are killed in California car accidents each year.

• I have not met anyone who has been abducted by aliens. your chances of dying from Alien encounters are… fuck I really don’t know dude. If they come, they come and I doubt they are going to go to empty mountains to attack a couple of people taking pictures of the stars. You probably have a higher chance of being killed by UFOs in LA than in an empty mountain range. (I wouldn’t mention this but have learned it’s a real fear for people). But you MAY actually see things that make you wonder!

Essentially: WE are the dangerous ones! Urban sprawl and light pollution have pushed wild animals into the corners and they are scared of us. We are more likely to die or get injured in LA than in nature.

5. WHAT ARE THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW?

• The shoots are very physical. You will need to maintain a pose for 2-10 seconds for every picture. Every move you make will result in a blur. Your muscles may be sore by the end. Be prepared - it’s a workout! Plus it gets cold…
  

• It can get very cold. I wear shorts and go barefoot in the snow. Since childhood, I haven’t felt cold the same way most others do. But you will probably feel the cold. I try to only shoot when it is at least 55°F for your comfort (we can go in lower temps if you are comfortable)

  It’s important to learn about your body and mind’s relationship with the cold beforehand. I HIGHLY suggest you research Wim Hof and other methods to stay warm. The mind is often more important than the body in regulating body temp and comfort: I’ve shot in temps as low as 34° and the model was fine, and I shot in temps at 71° and the model was shivering and complaining about the cold (she associated darkness with cold - it made no sense).

  Do yourself a favor and research body over mind and dealing with the cold.
  

• You will not have cell service for a while. Read that again. We often go to places where there is no service for a few hours so it’s important to notify anyone who may be worried if they see you don’t answer immediately. Stress with them that you will have NO contact for a few hours - people often don’t understand this but there are no cell towers in nature.

  • People get 10x worried when their loved ones go into nature,

  • 50x more worried when they go with a stranger,

  • 100x more worried when the stranger is a male photographer,

  • and 1000x more stressed when the person isn’t responding to texts/emails.

  Please, PLEASE, talk with your people beforehand to save them the stress! I promise to return you to civilization unharmed and you’ll be excited to tell them everything you saw and did under the moon and stars. But I can’t magically create cell towers where they don’t exist so they’ll have to trust and wait.

  (On another note, it’s always funny to return to civilization and see how people have been forewarned, yet they sent 30 texts, sent out a search party, and everyone assumes you are going to be on a true crime podcast. CHILL people!)

BONUS STUFF!

These shoots are unlike typical shoots. They’re calming and rooted in soulfulness.

We drove hours to get here. We waited for the sun, moon, and stars to line up. We don’t have the pressures of our phones going off. It takes me a minute to set up and break things down so you can use the time for a few things:

• CHILL: Look for planets, stars, and constellations. The SKyGuide app will help you identify some. I encourage people to find stars, constellations, and their zodiacs in the night sky. Reconnect with the stars!

• FIRE CEREMONY: Let me know if you want a fire ceremony. A fire ceremony is very short and simple: you write down something on paper and burn it. People often write about things they want to let go of, something they’re grateful for, a little letter to someone who passed, something for God, or whatever. I don’t see what you write - but I have a brass bowl you can use to burn the paper safely.

• DON’T RUSH CORE MEMORIES: Plan to have no plans. you’re going to have sick images that will last your lifetime. I tend to go slow on these shoots and I don’t look at the time once we start. I drove hours to get close to nature so I don’t want to rush. It’s best to reschedule if you HAVE to be somewhere at a set time.

• IF YOU SMOKE: People often ask if they can smoke a joint under the stars. I don’t smoke, but I’m chill if you want some time for yourself under the stars! People often wait until the end to have a final moment for themselves and the stars. Give yourself another core memory!