Lola Astanova – Press Kit Shoot

I had the glorious opportunity to shoot he lovely, talented, & gorgeous Lola Astonova. We shot in 2 parts; part 1 has been released, part 2 is a mystery to the public for the next few months. She is an incredible pianist with a list of accomplishments that take some people a life time, this young phenom has just begun and is already conquering the world. When I was first approached by her great manager Misha, he sent me a bunch of youtube videos of her playing the piano, one comment struck me, a girl who was def said: I cannot hear music, but watching you I can feel it and it is beautiful.

Below is a cover of a Russian magazine with one of out images

See the finals on my website 
http://www.carrieschechterstudios.com/

Listen to Lola here

Hair and Makeup: Roshar

Styling: Absolute Images by Ope

New Book Cover – The Gathering

R to L: Jamal, Eric, Carrie, Michelle, Erin, Hillary, Blythe, Jen. photo by JJ

Recently my new book cover photo for the incredible NY Times Best Selling Author, Kelley Armstrong’s “The Gathering” hit shelves.

I was very excited when HarperCollins Publishers called me up for the new trilogy by Kelley. She is an incredible talent and from what I hear a sensational person. The people I’ve rec’d her books to, have become huge fans of hers after the first chapter. HC is one of my favorite clients, they love to create visually stunning work that captivates its audience, and they are just really great people to work for. The lead character’s name is Maya and HC made sure we stayed as true as we could to the characters Native American heritage when casting our model Michelle.

Michelle is gorgeous and a total sweetheart! We had a great time on set with a killer crew.

The Art Director is none other than Hillary Zarycky, graphic designer is super star Erin Fitzsimmons. Hair by the incredible Jamal Hodges. Makeup by the sweet Jennifer Nam. Styling by the amazing Blythe Cain (who was creating new jewelery for the client on set) My assts are Eric and JJ.

The 2nd book cover has already showed up on-line, called “The Calling.” It hits shelves in 2012.

I’m very honored to be chosen to photograph another trilogy for Kelley and HarperCollins. Can’t wait for the next 2 books to come out! Congrats Kelley and HarperCollins on another smash hit!

New Cover. The Vampire Diaries. The Return:Midnight

The last book of my first trilogy for The Vampire Diaries, The Return - by L.J. Smith. I shot for the incredible HarperCollins Publishers, who I LOVE, they are all such a great group of people! This cover was art directed by the incredible and warm-hearted David Caplan, graphic design by the lovely and talented Jennifer Heuer, hair and makeup extraordinaire Roshar, one of my favorite team members. First asst Derrick C.

The shoot was lovely, I adored our model!! She became the character Caroline in the novel. What an amazing day we had on set, it’s an incredible series to be a part of. Congrats to all the success of the books and tv show and everyone involved, esp the fabulous L.J. Smith.

all 3 of my covers for the Return Trilogy

Oh snap…and thread

After going to the Bauhaus exhibit some months back at the MOMA, I was even more inspired to go back to basics..light, line and shape.  I walked into Mood, and got excited by spools of thread and snaps…finals below.

Marina from Fenton Moon Agency.

Hair and Makeup: Roshar

My Official Site

No Evil

I chose the concept: See No Evil, Speak No Evil Hear No Evil. Ro Shar crafted her mirrored shackles. When the shoot rapped, Ro began removing her hair and makeup. We stopped …looked at Calei….looked at each other & set back up and continued to shoot. Ro Shar began painting on her face and I was just in love with the photographing the deconstruction of hair and make up.

Model: Calei at Fenton Moon

MUA and Hair: Ro Shar

Official site: Carrie Schechter

New cover for Kelley Armstrong; The Reckoning

Here is the third cover for the YA Trilogy by Kelley Armstrong for HarperCollins Publishers. Titled: The Reckoning. It was wonderful getting to shoot the entire series of books and seeing the character through to the end. The covers have been picked up internationally and the book is on the NY Times Best Sellers List.

My trilogy for Kelley Armstrong and my first two covers (of 3) for the Vampire Diaries all out now

None of this would exist without the incredible Art Direction of David Caplan, brilliant graphic design by Joel Tippie, Makeup by Chris Milone, Hair by Chris Rithcey, Styling by Elodie, model Courtney Erickson, my asst Derrick. And most importantly a huge thank you and congratulations to the author that brought the character to life, New York Times Best Selling author Kelley Armstrong.

My Abano Terme Cosmetics Ad’s Are Out

Here is the ad’s I did for Abano Terme Cosmetics (you can also read their blog here) in Abano Terme, Italy. There’s even some of my product photography I did for the ad.  Due to the time of the day, the water was naturally green in color, but generally it is the beautiful blue color above, in Photoshop we matched the color to its usual tint, I prefer the green, I have those on my site. My amazing client, CEO Junio Lamannis, gave me the ok to put up which ever image I wanted to since we like them both. (thank you Junio!)

I love what these products do for the skin, our beautiful model Elena had been using (and still is) the products on her skin for months before the shoot, so this ad is a true testament to how incredibly healing and nourishing Abano Terme Cosmetics is.

The people who own & work for the company are unbelievably genuine, I felt like family while I was there, they kept me laughing, fed, and gave me a wonderful few days in a glorious spa right outside of Venice, Italy. I love them.

Aponus Cosmetics Ad Campaign

When I was in Italy for my Capsule Collection at the Bauer (hosted by Ministerio Della Belleza) I had the pleasure to shoot for a wonderful line of skin care products for Aponus Cosmetics in Abano Terme. The products are AMAZING. I was given so many that my luggage was over weight I had to buy a suitcase at the airport to come back to America. It was so worth it because my skin has never looked so good. The water in Abano Terme has long been known for some pretty amazing healing qualities and after spending a few days in the spa (thank you Aponus Cosmetics) my skin was amazing.

The shoot itself was hysterical. I got to work with the gorgeous Estonian model Elena, who luckily could speak Russian, Italian, and English so we could communicate easily (and she could help me with my client.) Elena is a fire cracker, shes strong, bold and beautiful and I completely love her. We shot mid afternoon on a beautifully sunny Fall day in Italy, in the healing waters the region is known for. For a joke she had the client go out and get us bright-colored swimcaps. For the first time in history, I forgot a bathing suit, so the spa provided me with a super 80′s one piece that really smushed my body parts for this great behind the scenes below with my sharpie marker tattoo.

Vampire Diaries Cover Shoot Book 2, The Return: Shadow Souls

Photographer: Carrie Schechter | Art Director: David Caplan | Designer: Jennifer Heuer | Model: Pi | Client: HarperCollins Publishers | Author L.J. Smith

The 2nd book cover I shot in the Vampire Diaries/The Return Series, hit shelves last week. I am very excited since the model that plays Damon is a friend of mine that I pulled in to the castings in hopes that the Art Director from HarperCollins, David Caplan, would cast him. David, being the genius that he is, was sold on Pi as well, and I booked him  a few days later.

I have just completed the 3rd and final book cover for the last of  The Return Series to be released either 2010 or 2011, and I believe it will be called “Vampire Diaries, The Return: Midnight.” I receive a lot of emails from the V.Diaries fan clubs and I love it all. Everyone wants to now who the 3rd cover is and my lips are sealed!!! I’m a superb secret keeper.  Judging form fans emails….I think it might end up being a little surprise who or what got the cover.

I love shooting these covers!! Getting to shoot the cover of a book series that has been around since I was little, has been a favorite of so many people, and now a high rated TV show on the WB is an honor and a privilege and I am extraordinary grateful. Now go buy the book.

my 2 covers next to each other...still one to go....

here is my cover in Slovakian (thanks HC for sending these over), which comes out in a few days over seas. The craziest part of this is the book is 2/3's smaller than the American version. Its the size of a readers digest. So either its censored in Slovakia or their one word = 20 of our words.

Film Noir….

Part 4 of the marathon shoot, here we have a few of the finals of Kara, Bri and Erin. Minimal retouching on these shots,  just some beautiful girls, some lights, an incredible mua, and a photographer. I play both rolls, I love to direct and I love to just let magic happen. When Bri walked on set and asked if she could cry, I was excited. I love moments like that, raw, uncensored and naked in front of the camera, it takes a lot of trust from the girls, especially when there 7 other models on set as well as assistants, the glam squad, etc., watching you as friends and competitors. I’ve never had any trouble having a model go back and forth from the light to the dark side. I chose all of theses girls because their portfolio showed me something very special, and they exceeded any expectations. Basic, Red, NY Models and Q Agencies are amazing – and Ceri, Boyanna, Kara, Bri, Victoria, Erin, and Valaria – you’re ridiculous! Makeup/Hair: the amazing Roshar

SEE IT ALL!!!

Behind the scenes