August 2021 - Daniel Medley Photography Blog

35 and Up! is an ongoing project of mine that I’ve been working on for a couple of years now. The 35 and Up! project features photographs of women who are 35 years of age and older. There are lots of reason why I love doing this project, but there are a couple main ones.

First: There is something about women at around 35 years old and older that sets them apart from most who are younger. It’s very difficult for me to quantify, but I can see it. There’s typically a confidence that comes with complete comfort in your skin because you’re at the age that it really is what it is. Typically, by about 35, in my experience, people are generally past the times when they’re trying to be something they’re not.

Not always, but usually.

And this is not to say that young women–or men for that matter–don’t have the capability for a certain je ne sais quoi, they absolutely do, but it’s usually something different.

Second: Casting calls for models 18-26 are a dime a dozen. Everybody and their uncle wants a model or models in the 18-26 age range. I don’t think models 35 and older get their just due. That’s my opinion.

Anyway, the following 35 and Up! participants appear in no particular order. I won’t disclose how old they are except that they are all over 35 and the are all stunning. Like I said, I love this project.

Tanya

Tanya isn’t a “model.” She’s just a dear friend who I love taking photos of.

Chelle

I met Chelle a couple of years ago and we’ve done a few shoots together. And, of course, she rocks the 35 and Up!

Kirsty

I put the word out that I was looking for some models for the project and Kirsty stepped up.

Eliana

Eliana made it to the studio and blessed me with some amazing shots.

Emily

Emily came in to the studio on extremely short notice. I think I had a shoot reschedule and I posted on Facebook that I was looking for someone to come to mess around with lighting.

Melody

Melody’s vibe is edgier than a switchblade knife.

Rachelle

Rachelle. Look at her!

Molly

Molly likes to say she’s changing beauty standards one gray hair at a time. Yep!

The 35 and Up1 project is an ongoing, never ending project. As I add more amazing women to it, I’ll put up more blogs to feature them.

And remember, when it comes to beauty, it’s not just a young person’s game.

This lifestyle editorial features the amazing Vittoria Hiltbrunn. The theme of the whole shoot was “road trip to the desert.” We spent the better part of a day and a couple hundred miles driving from the city making our way through much of Utah’s West Desert and finally ended up at the Little Sahara Sand Dunes.

I want to mention that it’s simply not possible to do a shoot like this and not be able to take photos in any lighting condition. You To hell with “golden hour!” I’ve always found it puzzling that people relegate themselves to be a slave to an hour or so at either end of the day to make photos. Don’t do that. Learn how to use flash, scrims, making some place work no matter what time of day, whatever. In other words, be able to take photos in whatever conditions you find yourself in.

We started the adventure at noon in the lobby of my studio because I love the mid-day light there. Plus it’s a great way to break the ice so to speak.

Vittoria in the doorway. — ISO100, 85mm, f2.8, 1/250

A quick change and another lobby shot. This one using the awesome Sigma 24-70 Art 2.8 lens.

Vittoria in the lobby. — ISO100, 35mm, f3.2, 1/160

After a few shots in the lobby of the studio we drove to a coffee shop before hitting the road. The coffee shop has some huge west facing windows that throw some amazing light into the common area.

Vittoria coffee shop stairs. — ISO100, 24mm, f2.8, 1/200

Vittoria coffee shop view — ISO200, 24mm, f2.8, 1/800

After our coffee, we hit the road in earnest traveling south for several miles then cut off of the freeway heading into Utah’s West Desert. Our first stop was the tiny town of Goshen, Utah. The only reason you even notice this little place is because the posted speed limit slows a bit.

The following photos taken with a Sigma 50mm 1.4 Art.

Vittoria in Goshen — ISO100, 50mm, f3.5, 1/640

Vittoria gas pump. — ISO100, 50mm, f2, 1/2000

The whole vibe of this extinct roadside gas station was pretty amazing.

Vittoria, extinct gas station. — ISO100, 50mm, f3.5, 1/400

Continuing further west, we hit a little wide spot in the road called Elberta.

A friend of mine looked at the photo below and commented, “I can almost hear the wind blowing, the door hinges squeaking as the doors bang in the background.”

Yes, so can I.

On this shot I did use a tiny bit of fill flash from camera right. The lighting conditions were all over the place with clouds coming and going.

Also, I’m using the Sony 85mm 1.8, one of the best sub $600 lenses there is. It’s absolutely a beast of a lens for any price point.

If you find an old broken down motorcycle, of course you integrate it into a photo.

Again, a tiny bit of fill flash from camera right.

Old motorcycle — ISO100, 85mm, f3.2, 1/1000

After we finished up in this cool little location, we packed it up and continued west, eventually arriving at the mining town of Eureka. I kid you not. A mining town called Eureka.

Vittoria changed it up and we found this great little stairway alley. It’s amazing the cool locations you can find just about any place.

Vittoria on the stairs. — ISO100, 85mm, f3.2, 1/800

Looking around, what did we find? An awesome door frame.

In the door frame — ISO100, 85mm, f4, 1/640

After the mighty town of Eureka, we headed to the final destination; the Little Sahara Recreation Area.

Pro tip: If you ever decide to shoot out at Little Sahara, do it on a Sunday. Any other day of the week it’s jammed with ATVs, motorcycles, and campers. On Sunday it’s generally nearly empty.

Vittoria changed her clothes, and Angela who was pulling assistant duties this day brushed sand from her bum. Of course I caught the moment. To be honest, without Angela, the whole day would have been much more difficult.