The Megaphone – Liz Parker's Blog

I love coordinating photo shoots more than anything.  It’s magic, alchemy, some smoke and mirrors, creative/panicked thinking, and truth-seeking all at once.  The biggest challenge is to get natural shots in a highly contrived situation.

I recently had the pleasure of art directing TorQ’s photo shoot a few weeks ago, as they prepared for their CD launch. 

What a fun bunch to work with – and photographer Tara McMullen did the honours. 

My job is made SO much easier when my clients are cute, funny, and playful.

They’re launching their self-titled CD at the Music Gallery (197 John Street ) this Thursday at 8 PM.  Tix are $15/$10, and the CD will be $10 at the launch only.  Guests include Paul Ormandy and Ray Dillard (who recorded and co-produced the CD).  www.torqpercussion.ca and www.taramcmullen.ca

In other photo shoot news, I had the huge pleasure of art directing my older bro Jon Kimura Parker (http://www.instantencore.com/contributor/contributor.aspx?CId=5014005
) at the Royal Conservatory of Music’s new Koerner Hall.  What a space – gorgeous facilities.  Warning: THESE ARE AMATEUR SHOTS….the great Tara McMullen worked her magic again, and she’ll blog about this shoot soon and offer a sneak peak. 

Real men wear makeup. www.paullangill.com

Outfit selection; Rosemarie Umetsu and her team busted their asses getting the purple shirt and vest ready for the shoot; my apologies for the safety pin incident. (I'll tell you about it later.)

Scarlett, Tara's assistant. Part of being a photographer is getting into all sorts of awkward poses.....

Tara lives with the fact I'll always get these kinds of shots of her.

Koerner Hall's glorious ceiling...(remember: I'm an AMATEUR photographer....)

I have a feeling this series of shots will be some of JKP's best; he was seriously warmed up by this point. Thank GOD Rosemarie Umetsu is now designing for men!

Action shots of JKP "at work"... he'll have music spread everywhere, his iphone nearby, and often his laptop (Tara got good laptop shots).

HUGE thanks to the staff of the Royal Conservatory of Music for making this happen: Peter Simon, Mervon Mehta, Kristen Campbell, and Malcolm Harris.  Kristen in particular was particularly patient with me and I was excited to meet her today – what a snappy dresser. 

Jackie’s Koerner Hall debut is this Sunday at 3 PM.  And let’s not forget I’m making MY debut as his page-turner!  The programme features Beethoven, Chick Corea, John Adams, and Stravinksy… please visit www.rcmusic.ca or call 416 408 0208.

See ya there!

Signed,

The Foundress….