i make fun

two things...

2009-10-28T17:58:00.000-07:00

hello!

sorry i have been away, i have been quite the busy bee! so, two little things that i wanted to share with everyone...

first, my boyfriend's band THE DELTA FIASCO just had their debut album, BLOOD WILL HAVE BLOOD come out on itunes!!
please go check it out, give it a listen, BUY IT, and rate it a 5!!! you can leave a comment about how awesome they are too...

click here!!!!

second, check out this funny interview of me and my good friend murtz jaffer, from the fox reality awards last week!

click here!!!

let me know what you think!

x
mc

a recap of the past few months

2008-07-28T22:12:00.000-07:00

so i have ben m.i.a.
yeah, yeah, yeah.
what that means is...super busy!

i'm back though, and i really will do better at keeping up with posts. so since january, i have...

had a victoria's secret cover swim 2008!

put the biggest check of my life thus far in the bank...

bought my first camera...
Canon Mark 3 1Ds!!!!!!!

thank you scott!!!!!

worked with amazing models all over the country...

thania

chris crocker

danielle

the delta fiasco

shooting in houston

shooting chris crocker on hollywood blvd with a crowd...

LnA Holiday 08 look book shoot

some of my gear...

i fell in love

i went to colombia

>

and made some really great work!

the delta fiasco

chris crocker

ashley hartman for nous

holly graves

talor marion for maxim

paige

thania peck for wilhelmina

well that was a mouthful....
hope you all enjoy, and let me know what you think!

xx

muse...

2009-09-29T10:17:00.000-07:00

happy tuesday everyone!

today i want to share with you my favorite model, hailey clauson. she is the 14 year old (yes, i said 14!!!!!!) bombshell with FORD, from right here in la, and i know she is gonna be the next big thing!

these are just a few images that i, myself have taken of hailey. she is such a great girl, has a huge, hilarious personality, and is a real pro. i love her, and can't wait to see what she does in the future!

xx

this is a must see!!!

2009-09-23T13:42:00.000-07:00

hey everyone, check out my sister, Ashley Hartman on itunes!!!

Her song, Love's Gonna Find You is the theme-song for her new MTV show, The Love Squad, airing soon!!!

Search her name and BUY IT!!!!!

Oh, and I shot her album art!!!!! x

what do you think?! i am obsessed!

x

reason #549 why my job is awesome

2009-10-02T23:27:00.000-07:00

what it this, you may ask...??

well, today i received a care package in the mail from a wonderful company called downeast basics!! they sent me this adorable sweater because i happened to mention how cute i thought their sweaters were, and that i would love to use them on a shoot...( in a post oneliza magazine's blog)

their awesome pr person, kathy (did i mention that she is awesome?) got in touch with me to say thank you, and sent me a sweater as a gift! so cool! not only is it cute, but it feels substantial, and expensive - but the price point is so low! quality, people!

now i must romance them into letting me shoot their next campaign...*cough* *cough* ;)

here are a couple more shots...
check out the cute frill detail!

check out their cute bow detail on the tag!

thanks again, kathy and everyone at downeast basics for making my day
*call me!* *wink* *seriously*

xx

promo cards

2009-09-25T12:13:00.000-07:00

today, i am gonna start working on my new promo cards...i am getting inspiration from all over the place, and trying to create something really beautiful, and of course, MEMORABLE. i think a lot of photogs waste their money creating something that will be thrown in the trash, so it's important to grab your viewer!

i will keep you posted on the outcome, and who i use to print, etc.

stay tuned!

x

green screens, houses on stilts, and tea!

2008-09-16T18:16:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!
It’s time for another recap on what I have been up to in the past few weeks…

as some of you know, I have been working with the super rad clothing company, think the higher end American Apparel), LNA. I recently shot their Holiday 08 look book (a catalog for buyers where they can look at the designers entire collection for that season). Usually look books are very straightforward, shot on a white or grey background, but we decided to try something a little more artistic.

I came up with a concept for a green screen shoot, where we would shoot the model separately from the background on a green screen, and composite the two in post production. Here is what the images looked like on the green screen…

It was my very first attempt at a green screen shoot, and it was an enormous amount of work, especially with Thania being a blonde, curly-haired model. I used no shortcut Photoshop plug-ins, which in hind sight, was seriously annoying. I loved this project though, because it really challenged me both as a photographer and a retoucher. I learned a lot, and was actually really inspired by the end of it. The project had morphed from the original idea, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome. Let me know what you think.

I will put up a link when the lookbook is up on the LNA site!

After finishing the LNA project, I was absolutely dying to shoot. Mt stylist roommate, Sarah Hawkins and I decided to brainstorm another project. We decided to shoot with Aria, a Brand Model, and a girlfriend of mine. The concept was something like, well, you decide what you would call it…here are a few

How incredible is that location?! I’m not telling where it is…it’s too good. ☺ sorry!
Here is a little video of the team on location…

After that shoot, I was off to England for a little holiday with my boyfriend for 10 days. We will be in his tiny home town of Haslington, which is nearest to Manchester, but still about a half hour away. Haslington is a teeny village on the countryside, it is so beautiful, and a nice change from LA. We also went to Liverpool, where Nikki actually lives, and spent some time in Manchester too. England is so awesome, and so different...and i am now obsessed with tea-no joke. Here are some images from the trip…

So here I am, back in the states, and ready to work! Collabo, anyone?

as of late...

2009-09-23T11:27:00.000-07:00

so, i have been working -ALOT- which is awesome, and of course i want even more! keep it coming, universe!

the latest 2 jobs were for california rising, a wonderful, green company, whose clothes you seriously want to live in AND for anzevino & florence, a fashion forward, beautiful line with great pieces, a must have!

i can't let you see the images yet, since the look books are for their new collections, but soon!

i am also retouching like a mad woman, and getting ready to shoot another COVER! very soon

stay tuned!

i am so pleased to announce...

2009-09-22T17:29:00.001-07:00

MY WEBSITE!!!!

it has been such a long time coming, and it is finally here!
please check it out and pass it along, and feedback is so appreciated...

www.MariaCarmel.com

don't forget to click on the video link too!!

xx

i'm baaaaaaack!

2009-09-22T17:24:00.000-07:00

i have been so lame about keeping up with this, but i vow to make a change. right here, right now.

xx

happy birthday daddy!

2007-07-19T21:01:00.001-07:00

lets talk about this guy for a minute. this is my dad, aka the coolest guy you wil ever meet. today he turned 50 years young, and when asked how he was today, he replied "fat and happy".
i just want to take a minute to say that i love him so much it kills me. he is the greatest dad anyone could ever be blessed to have...but i got him. he is the best, and that is it.
he lives in pennsylvania, and i wish we could be together today so we could be fat and happy with eachother.

so heres to my dad, the coolest, best dad in the world, may we get to spend fifty more healthy, happy years.
i love you.

lagging, but for good reason

2007-07-24T20:19:00.000-07:00

so for the past few days, i have been doing lots of stuff, having lots of fun, and doing lots of work. here is the rundown...
i had a photoshoot on sunday with joshua thomas, an amazing up-and-coming artist that everyone should keep their ears open for. the shoot was fantastic, and i'm pretty sure we broke the law at least 5 times. we were down by the la river, and on our way home, found this...

here are a few pics from the shoot...

click me

i couldn't stop thinking about that car, and decided to hook up with my friend, fellow photographer and resident MacGyver, myles (reppin philly). he looked up how to hotwire on google, and we decided that we were gonna hotwire it and throw a donut in place of the flat. now before you judge me, the car was totally abandoned. it was clearly used in a film, and then dumped. no plates, no people, and plenty of fake blood. long story short, we couldn't get it started, and so we decided to shoot. it was so fun, and we stayed until midnight. here are a couple of shots...

more to come...

she's baaaaack

2008-01-01T17:50:00.001-08:00

hey everyone! this is the official re-launch of my blog, i make fun. i really wanted to do this so that i can say a huge THANK YOU to all of my fans, friends, and family for your love, and support! i can’t tell you how much it has meant to me, and it made the process so much easier.

i also wanted to create a blog so that everyone could keep up with what i am doing professionally, and personally. i have had so many people reach out to me to say that they were inspired, and that they want to know what's next for me. the truth is, that i am not sure what's next. because of the holidays, i haven't heard from anyone yet, so i am anxiously awaiting the next step. in the mean time, i am just trying to make more work, and get my ducks in a row. what i do know, is that i will be making a trip to nyc very soon, to meet my new photo agent, palma driscoll, from the bryan bantry agency. i am so excited and thankful to have representation, and know that i am gonna be a very busy girl this year!

thanks again for all of your support, and bookmark me so you can stay updated! i hope that 2008 is the best year ever for all of you!

xx
maria

here is an article about me in the december issue of
RIVIERA magazine

connecting and reconnecting

2008-01-03T01:03:00.001-08:00

so today i spent the day kind of regrouping. i cleaned, ran errands, and followed my "to do" list. i actually got a lot done, which felt good. unfortunately, i am already messing up on one part of my resolution, which is to go to the gym. tomorrow i will be better.

on another note, i love myspace. i have reconnected with so many people, and that is so cool. recently, a friend i have known since first grade contacted me. we hadn't seen or heard from each other in years, and tonight we went to dinner so we could catch up. we went to buddha's belly, a great spot for thai food here in la. not authentic thai town, but it is really good, with great service. anyway, we had a great time, and pretty much shut the place down. good times!

i am also super excited, because today i was contacted by popphoto.com to do an interview for their site. click on it to see the write up they did for the finale! robin and i also did an interview for hp recently, check it out!

thanks again everyone for all of your messages! i love to get them!

ps, check out this new image that my very talented friend, evan lane took of me! what do you guys think?

big bear

2008-01-14T15:12:00.000-08:00

hey everyone!
so, this weekend, i was in big bear, ca for a little r&r and a shoot with model Ashley Hartman, who also happens to be my little sis! you may recognize her from this:

anyway, we had a blast! here are some snaps from the weekend. you may recognize someone else in these pictures too...

here are a couple of snaps from the shoot:

and a preview of the final images:

the weekend was so much fun, and the shoot went great. hope everyone had a great weekend!

on another note, i heard that the VS catalog might have come out while i was gone...has anyone seen it? let me know!

check it out!!

2008-01-09T22:23:00.001-08:00

hey everyone! so, my dad just sent me an email today, with the latest on the victoria's secret website

>

they are running an ad for the swim 2008 catalog, and advertising "the shot" marathon, running all day on jan. 15th on VH1!

hope everyone watches, or tivo's it! if you missed an episode, here is your way to catch up!

click here to see the website!

yikes!!

2008-01-09T14:39:00.001-08:00

good news and bad news...so the bad news is that my website is down, due to my bandwidth being exceeded! the good news is that so many people are checking it out, and sending me messages, that my site couldn't handle it! i guess it's time to upgrade, huh?! i am still working on getting vh1 to give me all of my images, and am dying to get my site finished asap.

also, i realized that since my website is down, i am unable to get mail. that sucks! so, everyone just hang tight while i get it fixed. the contest WILL GO ON! i have already recieved a bunch of images, and can't wait to see who wins. i have a lot of work ahead of me!

other than all of this, i am still pretty sick with the tonsillitis, and now i have an ear ache too. rest rest rest.

what are you guys up to? tell me a story, i can't get out of bed!

britney spears

2008-01-06T15:17:00.000-08:00

she needs prayers, and so do her kids.

i'm sick

2008-01-06T15:42:00.000-08:00

i'm sick, and it sucks. my roommate, sarah, has tonsillitis, and i am afraid that i may have it now too. :( anyone have any vitamin c?
needless to say, i will probably be in bed blogging a lot!

happy sunday funday!

oh, and i am starting to take submissions for image of the week! this week's theme is ACTION

send them to maria@mariacarmel.com

last day to submit each week will be friday!!! good luck, and i am really looking forward to seeing everyone's work!!

summer pool parties are standard

2007-07-22T01:43:00.000-07:00

the weather was perfect, and all the cool kids were hanging out at a little place i like to call the standard downtown. for all of you who are not in the quote on quote loop, the standard has a fabulous pool on the roof, and we like to take over every third saturday in the summertime.

anyway, heres the scenario (for all of you on the east coast and jealous)...the most beautiful hipsters, the coolest artists and the best djs all come together in a fluorescent-filled-fashionable water fight. it is perfection, and this is how i roll.

click me

disco prom la cita style

2007-07-21T02:35:00.000-07:00

so i know this is such a lag, but i had no computer today...blah blah...excuses excuses.
last night (thursday) we went to la cita for their one year anniversary of dance right. it was a disco prom theme, and boy did we handle it. i dont know if we were disco, or prom, but we were in full effect...

click me

rumble at the ravine

2007-07-18T16:59:00.000-07:00

so today i suprised nate with a mid-afternoon ballgame...not just any ballgame, it was the dodgers vs. the phillies. nate is from philly and i am from here, so of course, it would make for a good time.

i have to admit that i used to be an angels fan (dont judge me los angeles) until they changed their name to the los angeles angels of the most retarded name in baseball history- land anaheim. when that shit went down, i was out. so i now count myself as an equal fan to the phillies and the dodgers.
dont get philosophical on me, it is what it is.

it was hot as hell, but we had great seats--that we got for FREE off of craigslist--we found FREE parking, AND we got hooked up for FREE with the craziest most delicious nachos you have ever laid your eyes on...

exhibit a

the dodgers won by one run (5-4) blah blah blah. after we left, we realized that we had spent a total of $12.75 to see the dodgers and phillies. damn it feels good to be a gangster.

on our way home, we saw something incredibly fantastic. a guy on a bike, we will call him "jimmy" was wronged by a city bus, and was not gonna lie down and take it. he rode his bike in front of the bus and deliberately went as slow as possible on SUNSET BLVD. he then preceded to shout "fuck you!" and flip the bus driver off and then, then he spit! on the windshield!!! it was the greatest thing we had ever seen. thanks jimmy...

and here is the perpetrator...

for your viewing pleasure

happy hump day los angeles

fun, who likes it anyway?

2007-07-16T16:51:00.000-07:00

i guess this picture is supposed to describe fun...you be the judge

fun [fuhn]
-noun
1. something that provides mirth or amusement: "I wanna be president...that would be fun."-W
2. enjoyment or playfulness: It is so fun to make fun of dumb people.
–verb (used without object), verb (used with object)
3. Informal. joke; kid.
–adjective
4. Informal. of or pertaining to fun, esp. to social fun: a fun thing to do; really a fun person.
5. Informal. whimsical: flamboyant: I love gay men, especially the fun ones.
—Idioms
6. for or in fun, as a joke; not seriously; playfully: It must be really fun to be Paula Abdul's publicist.
7. like fun, Informal. certainly not; of doubtful truth: Paula Adbul made the best dressed list. Like fun she did!
8. make fun of, to make the object of ridicule; deride: It is so fun to make fun of dumb people.

ok, ok, so i added a couple of my own sentences in there, it was fun.