SUYMU On The Scene: "Nice N' Nautical" Photo Shoot

Nice N' Nautical. June 2012. Makeup, creative director: Aleah Rae Dorsey for SHAPE UP YOUR MAKEUP. Wardrobe and Styling: Olisi Johnson for STAMP ON STYLE. Photography: Doug Ramsey for D. RAMSEY PHOTOGRAPHY.

As glamourous as they may appear, photo shoots are NOT all fun and games!  Like the first day of school, I'm always a ball of nerves and excitement...But it's a feeling I wouldn't trade for the world.

Nice N' Nautical. June 2012. Makeup, creative director: Aleah Rae Dorsey for SHAPE UP YOUR MAKEUP. Wardrobe and Styling: Olisi Johnson for STAMP ON STYLE. Photography: Doug Ramsey for D. RAMSEY PHOTOGRAPHY.

Earlier this month, I had the chance to collaborate for the first time with an uber talented group of artistic professionals for a National Harbor vintage-30s-by-the-sea inspired shoot, I titled "Nice N' Nautical".  From the intricate of styling of Olisi Johnson (Stamp On Style) to the smoldering stare and natural beauty of model (and lifestyle blogger) VeCoya Green, to the panoramic photography of Doug Ramsey --- teamwork really did make the dream work.  And the final shots were better than I could have ever hoped for.  

Nice N' Nautical. June 2012. Makeup, creative director: Aleah Rae Dorsey for SHAPE UP YOUR MAKEUP. Wardrobe and Styling: Olisi Johnson for STAMP ON STYLE. Photography: Doug Ramsey for D. RAMSEY PHOTOGRAPHY.

Nice N' Nautical. June 2012. Makeup, creative director: Aleah Rae Dorsey for SHAPE UP YOUR MAKEUP. Wardrobe and Styling: Olisi Johnson for STAMP ON STYLE. Photography: Doug Ramsey for D. RAMSEY PHOTOGRAPHY.

Curious about the man behind the lens, I decided to interview my new favorite photographer. 

Read on to see what I discovered after talking to the one person who probably knows D. Ramsey better than anyone else... 

SUYMU: Tell us about when did you first fell in love with photography.

DR: I’ve always had a fondness for viewing images.  My father introduced me to photography when I was fairly young; around 13 or so. He owned an old Minolta and a couple of lenses that he purchased the year I was born. I would love when my father would shoot and bring home newly developed black and white photos. Over the years the father’s hobby/passion eventually spilled over to the son and I silently fell in love with photography when he gave me his Minolta in the Summer of 1993, my freshman year in college.

SUYMU: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"...What feature do you find to be most beautiful in the women you shoot?

DR: Well, let me first say that all women are beautiful. The fact that you and I are on this earth bears witness to that fact. The Almighty in His infinite wisdom created woman such that she is the vessel for life and for the continuation of life on the planet. 

SUYMU:  Ok, get to the answer Doug! 

DR:  (laughs) Ok, ok, to answer your question, the feature I find most beautiful about women would be a tossup between the eyes and the lips. Eyes and lips both have the power to communicate strong signals as well as evoke a range of positive and/or negative emotions in the viewer.

SUYMU: So many women (me included) hate themselves in photos...What tips can you give for taking better photos? 

DR: We all are our own worst critics. I think that should be stated first! Moreover, if you really want to make yourself more appealing in a photo there are a few general rules to adhere to: 1) Smile 2) Have the photographer shoot from an elevated angle or tilt the head down to minimize extra skin under the chin area. 3) Relax, have fun and remember that people won’t typically judge you as hard as you’ll judge yourself!

SUYMU: Dream assignment???

DR: My dream assignment would probably be to manage, shoot and oversee the biggest ad campaigns for Apple, Ralph Lauren, the NFL or the NBA. On the extreme opposite side of that, I would love to shoot on location in a village that has had very minimal contact with the outside world. That would be an exhilarating experience!