A lot of you have asked about the images we shot for Camille Russler at Ever After Miami last year, we had posted the video, but not the photographs, as those were being held for the official website launch for the store Ever After Miami. So here are some of our favorite images from the shoot. Hope you like them as much as we do. Also, I included the video from the shoot again, I love how it came out. Thanks to my friend Julien at Merge Studios.
I’ve worked with Crystal a few times and each time we have more fun. This was a shoot we did late last year. I only shot 2 1/2 minutes of video on the Canon 5D Mark II, and my friend Curt Apanovich edited together the fusion video, below the images. The video was my opener at the New Orleans Partner Con Conference this past November. Enjoy!
Rated MA: Mature Audiences Partner Con Promo from CARLOS BAEZ on Vimeo.
Promo video for Carlos Baez’ talk at Pictage Partner Con New Orleans 2009
Summer is a model I love to work with, she gets it. Not only that, she’s a genius, getting her biology degree from the University of Miami. She also tutors other students on campus. This is just one of many projects that Summer and I have collaborated on. Oh, and by the way, right when I took that last shot on the “bottom”, two guys broke into my truck, smashing the window, stealing her purse, and slashing my tire. Hey, “but” I got the shot. 
I’ve been asked by many a client and photographer to show more of my “personal work”. So this is one of many new posts coming that will share with you, my readers, images and insight of my work other then weddings. This shoot in particular was of Oleksandra while I was up in Chicago. It’s funny what you can accomplish in less than an hour. Oleksandra is the epitome of confidence and sensuality that most of strive for, or at least want to once in a while. The trust she had in me allowed us to bring out in her what she’s always wanted, freedom. Enjoy her freedom.
5 years ago today, April 1st, my papi passed away. He was not sick; he was 74. He mowed the yard that morning, took a nap, awoke saying he didn’t feel well, and then had a heart attack.
My mother was at their home, called a neighbor, who in turn called me. I raced over to their home from mine, 10 minutes at most, to already find paramedics, who had known my father personally, working on him on the floor.
I turned my attention to comforting my mother and thinking of all the things I needed to do to help. Everything was racing through my head, but everything lining up in perfect order of what needed to be done. It’s weird how you focus in crisis.
They did their best, kept him breathing, and took him to the hospital into intensive care.
He was put on all sorts of machines; I guess it is procedure, hoping for the best, or a miracle.
We were let in to see him; my mother and I went in. When you first see your father or loved one attached to countless machines, it’s not a site you want to remember, but I remember it clearly. It drives me everyday.
Of course we cried, but I tried to stay strong for my mother, and I knew my father would want that. My brother and sister were out of state, so them getting there anytime soon was not a possibility. But the Cuban phone chain went into action and one after the other, my cousins, aunts, uncles, friends started showing up to the waiting room.
My papi always taught me about honesty, truth. We were never ones for lies, don’t like liars, they do no serve anything well. So when I kept asking nurses or anyone for answers, they gave me textbook answers, lets wait and see. Of course we prayed for a miracle, but we are also very realistic family, no matter what faith.
Then came our family doctor, who is a straight shooter. I looked at him, he looked at me, and just told me, there is no chance for your father to survive. He was without oxygen for too long. He told me the machines were standard procedure for the next 48 or 72 hours. To me, once I heard his honest answer, I knew anything else was pointless.
It was his time to go. No matter what amount of consoling I got from family and friends, it made no difference, I knew he was gone.
Finally came the time to stop the machines, he kept breathing on his own for some time, but it was just the body, the machine, that was just still ticking, until he stopped.
Of course I was upset, so were the hundreds if not thousands who showed up to his funeral, all saying to me, your father was a great man. The most kind and HONEST man they had ever met.
Knowing this is what keeps me going.
My father never got to see my boys. Alison and I had told him the day before he died that we were pregnant with our first child through in vitro fertilization.
When Alison walked, my dad and I were standing on the porch of his home; I told him they had implanted 3 embryos, that we could possibly be having triplets if all took.
The last thing I ever heard my father say to me was, “Now you are going to know what it’s like to be a father.”
When the casket was going into the ground, I felt a nice breeze come across my arm. I felt at peace, I knew I had to step up to provide a good home for my new family, like my father did, coming to this country from Cuba with nothing except my mom and sister and brother, who were 3 and 5, and had to start all over again with nothing, but his 6th grade education and his skill as a mechanic, and did his best to support his family.
You see, he had to prove himself all over again. At a car dealership, he was given a challenge by the owner, to fix a diesel truck that none of the other guys could get started in the past year. Get it started and he would have a job. 2 days he worked on it alone, him and his tools. Then came a huge roar of the engine, white smoke filling the mechanics bay. When the owner came to see the commotion, my dad walked out of the smoke covered in grease, handed the owner a wrench, and got the job, all with his year’s of experience and his tools of his craft.
So today, in now our second home together, Alison and I have 2 beautiful boys, Carson Ramon and Cameron Alexander who are almost 4 ½ and 3. So every time I hear their voices running around the house, I wish my dad could be here to hear whatever sound they are making.
I know I am making him proud through my hard work and doing my best to be a good father and husband, but more importantly, that I am a man who is respected, honest, and truthful.
Papi, I miss you, but I know you can hear our boys.
My papi was Ramon Baez.
If you’ve known me for a long time, or follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you know cycling has been one of the things in my life that keeps me focused and balanced. I started racing when I turned 15 at the end of 1979. I was already a multi-sport athlete, so the fitness was there. In my first race I was 3rd, in my second I was 2nd, and in my third I was 1st, sounds funny I know. I moved up categories and started racing with older cyclists here in Miami, there weren’t a lot of cyclists my age around back then. In 1981 I won my first Florida State Sprint Championship on the track. I actually won 3 in a row (1981, 82 & 83). I was even invited to the Olympic Training center to try out for the US Junior World Cycling Team for Track. There were only 2 spots, I didn’t make the team, but I learned early about “politics” and how things work. The guy that made the team; turns out his personal coach was the one making the decisions. Oh well. In 1983 I raced at the National Championships in Los Angeles, it was my first year as a senior division cyclist (18 to 35). Like tennis, it’s about the draw or seeding you get. I unfortunately had to race against the National Champion and eventual 1984 Olympic Champion, Mark Gorski. It was like David vs. Goliath, but this time Goliath won. I was a boy racing against a seasoned professional. Although I had world class coaching, I was lacking the years and maturity it took to be World Class. I was also lacking the steroids(supposed) that the top athletes took too, but that was not even in my nature, I wasn’t a drug taking cyclist, never have, never will. After coming back from LA, I started my first semester of college. I was down and dejected from what happened in LA, but I was still racing, doing very well locally, but it didn’t mean as much.
A week after the photo above, left (BTW, that is one of my best friends Bret Sandoval next to me in the pic), I separated my shoulder in a crash during a race when a cyclist in front of me went down. Bret had to take me to the hospital. That crash changed my life and steered me in other directions other than cycling and my Computer Science in Engineering classes. Photography had always been an interest so I took a photography course while at FIU. One day my cycling coach, Claudio Costa, saw a box of Kodak Paper in my bag, and I showed him some prints I had made in my darkroom class. He said something to me that day in 1984 that again, changed my life. He said,”Carlos, you are a good cyclist, but you will be a great photographer one day.” I thought he was crazy, but eventually I went to the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale, where I studied photography full time for 2 years and got my degree. Flash forward 26 years and I’m still shooting. I’ve been all over the world and back with photography, done and seen some really cool things. So when my 45th birthday was approaching back in October, I started feeling those “mid-life” thoughts creep in. Instead of buying a new sports car, I bought a new racing bike, a Parlee Z5, 15.2 lbs of power and stability. Yes, I dabbled in cycling here and there throughout the years, but with traveling and my career, it took a backseat. But now, I have rekindled a lot of cycling friendships through long training rides, almost daily, of 50 miles, and my love for cycling is blooming again. I love the honesty true cyclists have, they are good people. The time on the bike has given me a lot of time to think of my family, career, ideas and what the future holds, plus the fitness to maybe even race again, for fun of course. It has given me lots of analogies between cycling and photography that I will be sharing with many of you soon. One in particular, that it takes many miles and hard work to make it to the top, and constant training to stay there. Building a strong base is very important in cycling, but also in your photography career. So if you are ever in Miami, have your bike and camera, look me up. We will have to put in some hard work, on and off the bike.
We know it’s a busy time of year for everyone, and as you, we are looking forward to a great and prosperous 2010. Of course with Carson just finishing his first semester of pre-school, there are school plays to attend and all the holiday activities and traditions that Carson and Cameron enjoy so much, including mommy and daddy. Thanksgiving play, Christmas play, Santa’s Enchanted Forest, our neighborhoods Santa’s Runway, making cookies and leaving notes for Santa, and Christmas morning. Happy New Year!
As we all know, kids always have themes for their birthday parties. Right now Carson is all about BATMAN! My wife Alison made 3 marble cakes for the party. All the kids had a great time playing and hanging out, some more then others. Guess who was Batman at the party? Carson love’s being 4, and is already talking about his 5th Birthday, no theme yet, but he will be working on it, Star Wars?
Carson loving that pizza
The girls just chatting
Alisons yummy cakes
Alison, Carson, Batman?, and Alek
Carson telling Batman that he likes his party
Cameron waiting his turn.
What is hard about photographing weddings is not the job itself, it’s the personal family time and activities one misses out on. When you have kids, lots of things happen on Saturdays, and that is when the majority of weddings are too. Halloween was on a Saturday this year, but I had to leave on Friday to NY to photograph a wedding, I cried as I left Carson at his preschool parade, it broke my heart. My wife Alison and my mom took Carson and Cameron out for the usual Halloween in the neighborhood while I was working 1,200 miles away, missing my family and the memories. After NY I had to go be a platform speaker in New Orleans at the Pictage Partner Con, and also teach a private workshop. I was so upset I had to be gone during this time, especially since my boys are 2 1/2 and 4, and things like Halloween are a big deal. On a friends suggestion, we decided to do Halloween over again when I got back on November 6th. Several of our neighbors agreed to help us out and go along with it, so I can have those moments with my family again. The boys had so much fun and even got to where different outfits. It filled the void in my heart.
This is actual Halloween w/o me.
Halloween Do Over, nothing like Superheros and a train.
Cameron, me & Carson.
Carson could not be happier.
My wife Alison makes one hot Cat Woman.
This past weekend, our boys Carson and Cameron, walked in our friend Robert and Stephanie’s wedding. I was NOT shooting, I was just being a proud dad. We only went to the wedding with our point and shoot, hard to believe. We all had fun and got our dance and drink on, well the adults did.
In August the Baez Family went up to Kalamazoo, Michigan for my wife Alison’s high school reunion. We are blessed with great friends like Renato Armijo for Ever After Miami who made Alison’s dress custom. Alison’s purse is from the collection of our November bride, Laura Pimental, and her purse line LaLucca. Shoes by Badgley Mischka. Man, my wife is hot. This was the first time I met all her high school friends, they were all so sweet, and crazy, love it.
I have to say, I love Michigan in the summer, I’ve only been in the dead of winter, and it’s not much fun, unless you like LOTS of snow and really cold temperatures, like 15 degrees. We spent some time at Alison’s sisters house in Grand Haven on Lake Michigan, the boys had a blast with their cousins. You have to love the view from their house at the top of the bluff.
I love when the stars become aligned. This shoot with Sarah came about quite simply. She contacted me that she just moved to Miami and wanted to meet and shoot. So she came by the house the next day to chat and her confidence and enthusiasm were so compelling, that I said let’s shoot now. With no hair and makeup, we decided to stay simple and capture her true beauty. I think the images speak for themselves. She’s doing quite well modeling in NY now. Thank you Sarah for the inspiration.
As many of us in this down economy, we’ve learned the word “staycation” and decided to enjoy our lovely state of Florida. Alison and I, along with Carson and Cameron and their abuela “Aba”, decided to go to an old, but newly remodeled, staple of great family vacation on the west coast of Florida, South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island. We were there for a week and it didn’t seem enough. Next year, we have to do like the Europeans, and take a month off. Either way, the boys had SO much fun. We got our tan on, along with a few drinks for the parents of course. It’s hard to believe that 2 little boys can enjoy the pool for 6 to 7 hours everyday, and we have a pool at home. We also went out on a boat to watch dolphins jump around the wake of the boat, Cameron was yelling louder then anyone on the boat every time they jumped. From the beach, shells, petting zoo, awesome pools, and great service of all the staff, I highly recommend it. Quick note to photographers and parents alike, I bought the Canon PowerShot D10 before our vacation, you have to get it. It shoots great pictures and video under water, great camera to throw in your bag and go.
The day wasn’t much different then today in Miami, hot, muggy and rainy. Our fateful meeting took place at the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens on a Saturday, June 26th, 1999. I was there as the photographer for Alison’s sister’s wedding, Andrea. I arrived early as I always do, getting my camera gear ready for the job, listening the two guitarists warming up and getting in tune. I happen to look up as someone walked into the room where we were, it was the reception hall, and I see this beautiful woman who caught my eye. I joked to myself, “Ah, maybe it won’t be a bad day after all”, not knowing that she was the bride’s sister, or that I would even talk to her later in the day. The rain eventually stopped, people started showing up, and the ceremony started in the garden a little late. It was a small wedding, maybe about 30 or 40 guests. I was there on my own, shooting away, having a fun and easy time of it. As the party progressed, and the music started picking up, I was tapping my foot and swaying to the music like everyone else, but still doing my job. Then, that same beautiful woman who I noticed earlier in the day, Alison, came up to me and asked me to dance. I was flattered and told her I couldn’t dance because I was working. Alison said to me, “You have to dance with me, I’m the bride’s sister and maid of honor.” Being the gentleman that I am, I couldn’t say no again, so we danced. The weird thing is, the second we started dancing, I got this feeling that I would marry this woman. Of course Alison always laughs when I say that, but here we are today, 10 years later. We’ve been married for 6 1/2 years, are on our second home, have 2 gorgeous little boys, Carson and Cameron who are 3 1/2 and 2.
So when someone asks you to do them a favor and shoot their wedding, and you are dreading it, due to no money, heat, rain, humidity and sweat; you truly never know what you will get out of it. This picture below was taken that night. That day has changed my life for the better, forever. Thank you Alison for asking me to dance…..I love you.
So after much debate, and countless votes and emails from my friends, I decided to go for the “shaved or buzzed” look again. Hey, it’s just hair! It will grow back, at least the parts that are still growing. Since so many asked, here is the video of the event. Don’t laugh too hard, but we did. If you haven’t done this before, try it, it’s liberating.
Carlos Baez – Carlos pulls a “Britney” from CARLOS BAEZ on Vimeo.
My wife Alison buzzing my hair off for the first time, for her that is.
Filmed and edited by Catalina Ayubi
I wanted to share some fun pictures from a fundraiser called PawPurrazzi we were involed with 2 years ago. Several photographers, including myself, were assigned to local celebrities for us to photograph their pets and in turn the photographs would be auctioned off to raise funds for the Humane Society. It was a great event and raised more then $30,000. The images below are the pets of Miami Dolphin Jason Taylor, shoe designer Donald Pliner, and Barry Gibb of the BeeGees. It was a blast as you can see.
One of the things I remember from my childhood was when I had the chance to mow the lawn with my dad. Well, I wouldn’t actually mow, I would follow him around with my plastic mower that would make sounds that I thought I was mowing. It made me feel big like him.
Fast forward 40 years, Carson and Cameron now look forward to mowing the lawn with their plastic mowers. I feel blessed and honored that my boys are keeping this somewhat tradition going. It’s the coolest thing for them, and me, that we can share what some people think mundane and or hard work, into bonding time as the Baez Boys. Now that rainy season has rolled around in Miami, we have to mow the lawn every week or it gets out of control, but Carson and Cameron don’t mind. As you can see, it becomes a competition for the mowing and the water that mommy brings out to us.
So here is our first poll or vote on the blog. To quote Jason Maraz’ song I’m Yours “to rid yourself of vanities and just go with the seasons”, the big question is: Do I keep the naturaly receding hairline OR shave my head again, as I use to have it when I was in my fashion photography heyday in New York in 1995. So the vote is ONLY on the hair, photo A or B, not the black nail polish. This was before Adam Lambert people. Only vote here on the blog.
While I was in studio shooting for one of my fashion clients, Alison, Carson and Cameron showed up to say hello to daddy, but also to catch up with our friends in the photography team. While at the studio, Alison grabbed one of my cameras and started following the boys while they were burning off some energy, and doing their best to distract the models during my shoot. I think the boys wanted to start their modeling careers, let’s see about that. They definitely have mommy’s good looks and hair.
