Friday, June 29, 2007

BEST OF ASMP 2007

Just found out that I've been selected to be included in the BEST OF ASMP 2007 feature. Apparently, my work was selected out of 157 other professional photographers and out of 200 other projects. Look out for a one-page interview in PDN and more news in the ASMP Bulletin. I'm pretty stoked! This is turning out to be quite an awesome year.
(Note: Thanks for all those who inquired, but this is a separate award from the other ASMP-NY Image07 award)

Excerpts from the Interview::

ASMP: Please describe the processes and techniques central to the making of this work.
KEVIN: A huge part of this process was planning. We had to get every perspective, every shadow angle and element right. The background had to be made bland enough to allow the car and hoses to take center stage. The entire image was shot digital. The elements were all shot in the studio. Another key element is the technique used in the post production process.

ASMP: What is unique about your style/approach or what sets you and your work apart from other photographers?
KEVIN: My approach to photography is slightly different. First and foremost, I am a problem solver. Once the concept and idea is solid and has been nailed down. I can then progress to the aesthetics of the image. I work with my creative team as a group. Everyone gets the spotlight. Photography is a very collaborative sport to me.

ASMP: Please describe your relationship with your rep and how this began?
KEVIN: My rep agency is Four9Seven and is run by Stephen Dummit. One of the best parts of having Stephen as a rep is that he is a photographer himself and see’s work thru those eyes. He understands what I do and that makes the process a lot easier.

ASMP: Do you do your own Photoshop work? Please describe your background and training in this.
KEVIN: I have a certain standard of quality control on my own imagery. Thus the main retouching is done by myself and my studio. I trained under one of the best celebrity retoucher’s in the industry – Lisa Carney (currently based in France).

ASMP: Economics aside, what is most important consideration for you in working on a project? Do you ever turn down jobs, and if so, why?
KEVIN: I have three simple criteria for any projects I undertake. 1.)Is it fun? 2.) Does it pay? 3.) Would it make a key addition in my book? As long as one of those criteria is met, I would gladly do it. The rest of it is based on schedules. I travel around alot and will undertake multiple jobs if I'm near that city.

(Note: This is not the full interview)

KAYLIN OMO - Publicity Shoot

Publicity shoot for Kaylin Omo. Watch this face! It's one you're going to see alot of. The shoot was alot of fun and went by really quickly. I finally got a chance to shoot in a more cosy studio in Downtown LA, instead of the usual giant Hollywood stages. I'm so glad that I didn't have to scream all day. My entire creative team was alot of fun to work with. Can't put alot of the actual pictures up, so I'll put up the snapshots.

Off Topic Alert: By the way, if any of you are at Traction/3rd, there's an awesome Mexican restaurant that has a killer drink : Cucumber and Lime Juice. Try the fish Taco's too. The place is called Ay Caramba!

Photographer: Kevin Ou
Makeup: Anna del Carmen
Wardrobe: Tristin Akahoshi
Talent: Kaylin Omo
Manager: Katherine
Studio: Raisa Fastman

FINAL IMAGES


Tristin prepping outfits for the day
(Note: The above images are un-retouched and not the final images)

Friday, June 22, 2007

The Guys at GUYS

Finally found time to put down the camera and hang out with the guys at GUY'S. A little hole-in-the-wall Jazz club on Beverly Boulevard. The crowd is mainly entertainment management types and plenty of celebrities just lost in the crowd. I love the vibe. And the music is just insane! Everyone that steps on that stage is brilliantly talented!

COVER SHOOT - Daddy Yankee, California

On the set of my first cover shoot. We shot at 5th and Sunset studios in West Hollywood. We definitely needed a bigger studio, but Nadav Kander beat us to it. The shoot was awesome! Alot of energy in the air. I had my crew, DUB had their crew, 310 Motoring had their crew, Daddy Yankee brought his entourage and reps for Interscope/Universal came down too. The stage was packed!! With the caterers, I swear we almost had about 40 people on set. I hired DJ Sophenomenal to spin during the shoot to keep energy levels up. And it worked! She mixed some hip-hop and Daddy Yankee's own unreleased tracks, and that definitely got him moving during the shoot. Daddy Yankee was mad chill to shoot and hang out with. His crew had so much energy.

The cars were simply insane. There was a Bentley Continental Flying Spur and a Jaquar XK. Both black and shiny, my favorite colors!! Yes, shiny is a color to me! Can't put any pics up as it's for the cover. But if you see it on the stands soon, don't be cheap, go pick one up!

No escondas todo eso que traes! Peace!

Photographer: Kevin Christopher Ou
Art Director: Herman Flores
Writer: Kristie
Publicist: Fairley McCaskill
Wardrobe: Amber Corwin
Wardrobe Assistant:
Tristin Akahoshi
Make up: Anna del Carmen
Music: DJ Sophenomenal
Music Assistant: Michael Biggs
Digital Capture Technician: Stephen Dummit
Photo Assistants: Bryan Sullivan and Zack Herrera
Car stylists: 310 Motoring
Studio: 5th and Sunset, Los Angeles

Studio Line Up for the Day
Just how shiny are those cars?
Daddy Yankee and Kevin
Anna del Carmen - Make UpDJ Sophenomenal hard at work
Sneak peak at some imagesAmber (Wardrobe), Kevin + Daddy Yankee
(L to R)
Bryan, Stephen, Mikey, Sophia, Daddy Yankee & Kevin
Got the keys to a Bentley. Should have just driven off!
Video from the Shoot

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Caron Butler - Racine, Wisconsin

This was quite an adventure! The editor called last minute, and the next thing I knew I was on a plane flying down to Chicago. I immediately hopped into a rental car with my assistant + 200lbs of equipment, and raced 100-miles to Racine, Wisconsin to shoot Caron Butler of the Washington Wizards. You might know Caron from his journey through the Miami Heat, the LA Lakers and now the Wizards. The weather was simply perfect and I could not have asked for a bluer sky. (Although the wind did knock over a couple of my lights. Bummer!)

All in all, it was a terrific shoot. It was mad fun hanging out with Caron and his homies. Thanks also to Tricia and Lesley (Caron's Management/Publicist) for flying out from Washington DC for the shoot. I'll have more images up as soon as the magazine approves them. Enjoy these for the time being!

Caron Butler + Pimped out Oldsmobile Delta 88
Stopping for Autographs
Attempting to act Professional ...... Givin' up acting ProfessionalCaron Butler + Kevin

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

My ROOMBA is AMAZING!!

Oh Wow! So we just got a new iRobot ROOMBA for the agency office, AND IT'S AMAZING! It was pretty hilarious that Steve and I sat around the office and watched the Roomba do its thing. For the less geeky, the Roomba is a robotic vacuum cleaner that automatically cleans the floors and returns to its home base whenever its batteries run low.
And it does a pretty darn good job!
My good friend Daphne, from Boston, has the privilege of naming my Roomba. (She had the unfortunate timing of hearing us giggle like little girls before we launched the Roomba). Hmmm.. I wonder what she will name it?


The good news is now the office is always spotlessly clean. Too bad we had to fire Maria.

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Anonymous, Inc. - Premium Stock Shoot

Produced a big stock photo shoot for the Japanese Agency, Anonymous,Inc and for Photographer Cherry Li. It was a fun 2 Days. We shot a total of about 40 setups. Although it was a huge set, everyone got along and we all had a great time. The art director flew all the way from Tokyo to be with us during this shoot. Thank you to my amazing crew. You guys definitely made my job seem effortless.

Photographer: Cherry Li
Art Director: Yoko Iwao @ Anonymous, Inc.

Producer: Kevin Ou
Models: Brooke, Kaylin, Michaela and Maya
Makeup Artist: Anna del Carmen
Wardrobe Stylist: Amber Corwin
Location: Louise Manfe
Photo-Assistants: Stephen Dummit, Bryan Sullivan