Bookstore Flirtations / August 24, 2018 by Mike Daclan

This was definitely one of the funner shoots I did. It started with the thought of a stolen glance in a book store. The idea was that she spotted someone she had eyes for and wanted to entice him into following her. Once he realized her plan it would’ve been too late as her trap was set and he was hers.

She immediately took to this idea and ran with it all the way. I love how concepts and ideas turn into looks and feels evoked in the photos. By putting her in the subject of power she was able to put forth some great looks and poses. In the end I think it came off a little more natural and slightly voyeuristic which adds a better element to the shots.

There are a lot more concepts and ideas that I want to shoot so reag our and let’s create something fun together!

Scenes From a KTown Night / July 14, 2018 by Mike Daclan

It was a Thursday night and I was feeling tired and drained from the week but I’m so glad I went out into the night. Food. Drinks. Good memories.

Aolani & The Colorado Street Bridge / July 11, 2018 by Mike Daclan

Yesterday I had a chance to shoot in a location I've been wanting to shoot at for a very long time. I drive past it nearly weekly so once I found a model in Pasadena, I knew immediately where to book the shoot. It's definitely a popular spot as there were three other photo sessions that were taking place over the course of the afternoon/evening.

Aolani joined me with her mom as a chaperone and we had a very fun time on this shoot. Her would pop in every now and then to help adjust hair/makeup and swap stories with us while we walked to a different location. She's been at this since she was 5 years old and with her 18th birthday coming up later this year, she's excited to do some more traveling for work and see the world!

We joked and laughed throughout the shoot and she very much felt like the little sister I never had. By the time the shoot was wrapping up, we had already begun to plan our next shoot together later in the year. The themes and ideas she had for that one were things I haven't done yet so I'm excited to try them out!

52 Week Portrait Project - Week 26 / June 27, 2018 by Mike Daclan

Switching it up and throwing something new into the mix. Had a great time shooting this set with a model who was in town. There were a few ideas that we were kicking around but based on timing, we decided to go with a domme/sub idea that she wanted to do. As a bonus, I was able to book time at FD Photo Studios in DTLA. I've been wanting to shoot here for a while and it easily lived up to my expectations. You can definitely look forward to seeing more shoots in the different studios they have set there.

For this first round, I'm only posting the domme look and a bonus post will be the sub looks that she had. I knew from the beginning that I would have different feels to each and I love the way the black and white feel works with all these detail shots. It really helps to set a mood and atmosphere.

During my photo shoots I love to chat and get to know my subject a little bit more. You never know what kind of common bond of thread you will find and connect with. My shoot with Allyce was no exception. During our time together I found out her boyfriend is Cambodian (as is my wife), so we got to chatting about where to go for all the tasty Cambodian food and our relationships. It never ceases to amaze me on how people from so far away growing up in different worlds can always find something in common. In today’s current climate it’s definitely something to hold on to and appreciate.

NYC in the Fall & The 9-11 Memorial / June 11, 2018 by Mike Daclan

Metro Night Ride / December 10, 2014 by Mike Daclan

So my buddy Q asked me if I was interested in joining him, his girlfriend, his daughter and his cousin on a journey on the metro. His girlfriend needed to figure out which route to take to get to her evening college classes. It was just a simple evening ride but looking back on these photos there were so many that I love from this set.

Over the course of the evening we met a woman proud of her beautiful earrings despite having matter hair from her hair net after a long day of work, a fight breaking out in which one man swung a metal sign at the other, and solitude at many stops. People riding together but being alone.

The metro was and I suppose always will be an interesting cross section of the local population. The sights (and smells) tend to linger in your mind for a good period of time even after you reach your destination.

LACMA / October 9, 2013 by Mike Daclan

A quick walk around the museum and the Tar Pits in the late afternoon provided some great lighting for photos. I'm trying a few new techniques in my post processing with Lightroom and Silver Efex Pro which I've been happy with but needs a little more refinement.

Fashion District Street Shots / October 2, 2013 by Mike Daclan

Many weekends involve my girlfriend and I heading down to the fashion district while she shops for fabric to use on various projects. This provides me with an ample amount of time to walk around and capture what's going on in the streets.

There's a lot to take in and the streets are usually crowded during the weekends which is both good and bad. It does provide plenty of opportunities for great shots BUT with the increased crowd you have to deal with narrower windows of time to get a good shot.

I still have a long way to go with these shots. I'd like to get straight profile photos of people but it's going to take time to get to that point. For now I hope you enjoy these!