Cigi & Alvarado .. « Neil vN

I’ve been an admirer of the pin-up style photography of Robert Alvarado ever since I first saw his work on the photography forums. So it was quite a thrill to hear he was presenting a few workshops across the USA where he’d be showing his technique in the studio, as well as his post-production style. I caught up with him and several members of the Pro4um at the workshop in Chicago this weekend. Our model was the very delightful (and gorgeous) Cigi.

Here are some of the results from the workshop, where we were able to closely watch Robert’s technique and try it out ourselves. I love the results! Robert and Cigi, thank you for your patience and your kind enthusiasm.

But of course, (as I mentioned in the mini-interview), the challenge now would be to take this all in, and allow what I learned to infuse my own style.

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17 Comments »

Neil, I’m jealous! We had a conversation at DWF about how fantastic his work is. Your images and pp are incredible. Can’t wait to see more from you. Cheers!

Comment by Dionne Haglund — February 8, 2009 @ 9:05 am
There should be an easier way to find out when there are workshops in Chicago. There are to many forums to follow and it’s just to hard. Now I’m envious a bit. Ok a bit more.

Comment by Gabriel — February 8, 2009 @ 2:07 pm
wow- I can see the line of girls outside of your door waiting to get their their pin-up … very cool!

Comment by monika broz — February 9, 2009 @ 12:49 am
Neil,

Fabulous pics, is the pp on these pics very difficult? I can’t think where to even start to get this ‘look’.

Keep up the great work

Steve

Comment by Steve — February 9, 2009 @ 4:40 am
The look that he achieves relies on both the lighting and post-processing. The post-processing is a fairly involved method, relying on various Photoshop techniques and plug-ins. It doesn’t seem like something you’d accidentally stumble on.

Just for interest, here is the image as out of the RAW converter, and the final image, next to each other.
Neil vN

Comment by Neil — February 10, 2009 @ 8:41 pm
Wow, that is quite a difference between RAW and post-processed states. Your RAW is excellent though and probably helped your post-processing.

Comment by Stephen — February 11, 2009 @ 8:45 am
is there a book or website that goes over this kind of post-processing?Which plug-ins?

Comment by Daniel — February 12, 2009 @ 7:32 am
Daniel … I have no idea which books would cover this.
I also don’t want to reveal much about the specific technique, since it is pertinent to his style, and doing so would undercut the value of his workshops.

Neil vN

Comment by Neil — February 12, 2009 @ 10:50 am
thanks.. I understand

Comment by Daniel — February 12, 2009 @ 12:01 pm
Daniel,
If you search “pin-up” and “photoshop” on Google, you can find some links describing some techniques in creating this type of photograph. While the information presented in the links is probably not the same as Mr. Alvarado’s techniques, you could probably achieve a similar effect.

I saw one Google link here:
http://www.planetphotoshop.com/pin-up-effect.html

Comment by Stephen — February 13, 2009 @ 11:54 am
Robert is going to be teaching a workshop in Metuchen, NJ on March 9th!
If anyone is interested email Terry at terry@aprettypixel.com.

Comment by Lisa — February 19, 2009 @ 11:10 am
Lisa, If it was completely worth it for me to fly out from NJ to Chicago to attend the workshop, and spend two days in total, plus hotel, car rental .. then I don’t understand how this workshop that has been announced for NJ, isn’t sold out yet.

Neil vN

Comment by Neil — February 19, 2009 @ 1:17 pm
Yeah I don’t know either… though I don’t know anything about how/when it was first announced. I actually just found about it today & plan on going.

I just noticed that the link you have to his site above is different than the one I had seen (http://www.robertalvarado.net )
I’m not sure which is more current?!

Anyway, great photos above! Thanks for showing the raw one also.

Comment by Lisa — February 19, 2009 @ 4:51 pm
Neil, have you found that the skills you acquired in the alvarado workshop are applicable to your wedding post processing workflow? If so, can you elaborate?

Thanks,
Corey

Comment by Corey — April 13, 2010 @ 9:01 am
Corey … I can’t say that the lighting and post-processing techniques are things I directly apply to my wedding photography. However, I do a fair amount of portraits and boudoir photography, and then I do use the post-processing techniques, although I have adapted them for myself.

Here is a recent intimate photo session, where I most certainly do use some of Alvarado’s post-processing .. but with a twist of my own.

So even when I don’t directly mimic the work and style, I do use what I learned at the workshop.

Neil vN

Comment by Neil vN — April 13, 2010 @ 11:58 am
Hi Neil,

I am wondering how can I join one of Robert Alvarado workshop?
I can’t seem to find it anywhere. And do you think he would give an online tutorial as I actually live outside of the US?
Thanks

Comment by Budi — October 3, 2010 @ 1:46 pm
Budi … I only heard about the workshop through an online forum, so I wouldn’t know his schedule at all. Best would be to contact him through one of his sites. Check him out on Model Mayhem.

Neil vN

Comment by Neil vN — November 7, 2010 @ 5:34 am