The Topanga Canyon Sessions:
Book a photoshoot in Topanga Canyon with STUDIO J/P ROBBINS. Together, we will work one-on-one to co-realize your Portrait series.
“Until sitting in front of Julia's camera, I had never considered the distinction between a female photographer and being photographed through a feminine gaze. The shift was quite profound.”
— Elana Langer
Commissioned Session for Khora
Online Platform Series within “Women in their Strength”
Structured Precision, Every Step
Studio J/P Robbins applies a systematic series of phases, ensuring in-depth creative support for each phase of the photographic process
1 Pre-Production
Photography pre-production (“pre-pro”) is everything planned and prepared before the shoot. It usually includes:
Creative direction: Define the concept, mood, visual style, and intended audience; prepare references or a mood board.YOU WILL RECEIVE A CUSTOMIZED SWIPE catalogue of visual references from the Studio J/P Robbins Museum Archive. THIS WILL BE DEVELOPED AND TAILORED FOR YOU OVER TWO ZOOM SESSIONS.
Deliverables: Confirm the number of final images, formats, crops, usage, and deadlines.
Shot list: Identify the required subjects, setups, angles, and priority shots.
Budget: Estimate photography fees, crew, equipment, location, talent, styling, transportation, and post-production. (THIS IS NOT REQUIRED FOR THE TOPANGA SESSIONS)
Team and casting: Book assistants, producers, models, stylists, hair and makeup artists, and other necessary crew.
Location and logistics: Scout and book locations; coordinate access, transportation, parking, weather alternatives, and any permits.
Styling and set preparation: Source wardrobe, props, products, backgrounds, and set materials.
Technical planning: Choose cameras, lenses, lighting, and equipment; plan power, tethering, and file backups.
Schedule and paperwork: Prepare the call sheet, shoot schedule, agreements, and releases.
Final alignment: Confirm responsibilities and approvals so everyone understands what needs to be captured.
The scope depends on the shoot—a portrait session may need a simple brief and schedule, while a commercial campaign can require weeks of coordination.
2 The Photoshoot
The photoshoot is the production phase—when the planning comes together and the images are captured. It usually includes:
Setup: Prepare the location, backgrounds, props, equipment, and crew workstations.
Lighting and camera tests: Check exposure, color, composition, and lighting before shooting.
Talent preparation: Complete hair, makeup, and wardrobe; check styling and fit.
Team briefing: Review the shot list, schedule, creative direction, and responsibilities.
Photography and direction: Capture the images while directing poses, expressions, movement, or product placement.
Styling and set adjustments: Refine wardrobe, props, backgrounds, and lighting between shots.
Client and creative approvals: Confirm that key images meet the brief before moving to the next setup.
Schedule management: Coordinate setups, changes, breaks, and crew to complete the priority shots.
File management: Organize and back up images throughout the day.
Wrap: Confirm all required shots are captured, pack equipment, restore the location, and coordinate returns.
The scope depends on the shoot—a portrait session may involve one photographer and a single setup, while a commercial campaign may require multiple teams and carefully coordinated scenes.
3 Post-Processing
Photography post-processing is the work completed after the shoot to select, refine, and prepare images for their final use. It usually includes:
File organization and backup: Transfer, organize, and securely back up the original images.
Image selection: Review the shoot, remove unusable frames, and identify the strongest photographs. Studio J/P Robbins will Provide a link to the processed photos. With This digital contact sheet, the client makes their final selections.
Client selections: Share a proof gallery or contact sheet for review and approval.
Basic adjustments: Refine exposure, contrast, white balance, highlights, and shadows.
Color correction and grading: Correct color inconsistencies and establish the intended visual style across the images.
Retouching: Refine skin, hair, clothing, products, and backgrounds according to the creative brief.
Cleanup and compositing: Remove distractions or combine elements from multiple images when needed.
Cropping and alignment: Adjust framing, straighten images, and prepare crops for different placements.
Quality control: Check sharpness, detail, color consistency, and retouching at the intended output size.
Client review and revisions: Present edited images, gather feedback, and complete agreed revisions.
Export and delivery: Prepare files in the required sizes, formats, resolutions, and color profiles for print or digital use.
Archiving: Preserve original files, edited masters, and final deliverables for future access.
The scope depends on the shoot—a portrait session may require light color correction and retouching, while a commercial campaign can involve detailed compositing and multiple rounds of approval.
4 The Selects
Photography selects are the images chosen from a shoot for review, retouching, and final delivery. The selection process usually includes:
Initial review: Look through the full shoot to assess image quality and coverage of the brief.
Technical screening: Remove frames with missed focus, unintended motion blur, exposure issues, or other technical problems.
Creative evaluation: Assess composition, expression, movement, lighting, and how well each image communicates the concept.
Comparison of similar frames: Review subtle differences in poses, gestures, expressions, and product details to identify the strongest options.
Shortlisting: Create a focused group of images that represents the best work from each look or setup.
Coverage check: Confirm that the shortlist includes the required subjects, shots, orientations, and space for text where needed.
Proof preparation: Organize selected images into a contact sheet or proof gallery with clear filenames or image numbers.
Client and creative review: Share the shortlist with the people responsible for choosing and approving images.
Final selection: Confirm which images will move into retouching, based on the agreed deliverables and budget.
Retouching notes: Record specific requests for each approved image and identify reference frames for any compositing.
Selection tracking: Document approved filenames so the correct images are edited and delivered.
The scope depends on the shoot—a portrait session may end with a few chosen images, while a commercial campaign may require coordinated selections across multiple looks, products, and placements.
“THIS IS THE NICEST PHOTOSHOOT I’VE EVER DONE. YOU’RE SO PLEASANT TO SHOOT WITH.”
— GJERMUND GJESME
Netflix series CLIENT
Availability
October 12 - November 12
Topanga Canyon, Los Angeles
“Don’t think I’ve met someone who moved me in such a short amount of time as you. Such a pleasure working with you!”
— Lia Bass
Commissioned Session, Musical Artist @oldirtiislim
Get Started: book your shoot
“STUDIO J/P ROBBINS! FREEING THE HUMAN SPIRIT.”
— SUMMER P. MINERVA
THE FEMMINIELLI SERIES FOR THE SACRED GENDER PROJECT”
Time for Pre-Pro
Complete the form with contextual information regarding your photoshoot request, timelines, and desired outcomes, and our team will respond promptly with next steps
“you are just this wild, mystical, powerful, wise wise wise shaman who, when we sit in front of you to be photographed, you awaken all that is within us."
— Sah d'Simone
Private Session Client “Spiritually Sassy”
“THESE ARE MY FAVORITE PHOTOS OF ME EVER!! SO HAPPY.”
— VINCE LEBON, ROLLIE NATION
COMMISSIONED SESSION
““I had the choice about what type of face I presented — always feeling seen as beautiful through the eyes of Julia's heart. It was the experience of being honored and trusted as a woman in my power, by a woman in her power, to make that choice and let what needed to come up just emerge naturally.”
— Elana Langer
Commissioned Session for Khora
Online Platform Series within “Women in their Strength”