Inspiration Tuesday #4

I am posting this a little sooner because it's making me bounce around uncontrollably.

Music is a huge part of my work. I've said it many times before, how music is so essential to setting a mood in any of my trailers. And so it'll come as no surprise that I listen to a lot of it and different kinds. I thoroughly enjoy every type of music but there's few times that I find those gems. Those breathtaking pieces of music that make me weep. Literally.

Have you heard of Adele?

Well you should.

She's brilliant. That is all I can say. Her music and lyrics are what we'll one day consider classic. Purely amazing.

Her latest single "Rolling in the Deep" is one I cannot for the life of my stop listening to. And when I saw her video (below) you'll see why I am even more in love with her. An artist's fantasy, guys. An artist' wet dream!

For the music part of blog tomorrow/Wed, stay tuned for a song that will make you weep!

Hey BEA-goers & Bloggers! Want some portraits??

So been getting a lot of inquiry about some of you wanting your own VLC portrait. Want to use it for your Twitter or blogs? Well here's your chance.

I am offering mini-blogger shoots. For 20-30 mins I'll do a session with you. I'll edit the best 2 or 3 pics and give you those to use.

Catch is, that I have to book all the bloggers in one afternoon (to be determined) and in one location. I will pick a place where your picture's background and setting will vary. So you get your own unique portrait, unlike anyone else's.

I want to have fun and really do something you'd like and knowing bloggers work so hard pimping and reviewing books (and school and work) I thought I'd give you guys a huge discount!

$50 for 20-30 mins shooting, 2-3 edited pics and we'll have a blast in the process.

So if you'll be going to BEA and are a blogger(ish) and are interested in this one time shoot, send me an email to vandsmedia[at]gmail.com with your name, link to blog and a little about yourself. Just so I can get to know you! ;)

Music Time!

I LOVE Jason Mraz!

In fact I loved him way before his album had come out. Fell in love with this song:



But I recently came across this song too. An EP that i download that is sooo amazing!



ENJOY!!

Inspiration Tuesday #3

Inspiration Tuesday is where I share some cool snippets here and there of what I've come across that inspires me. Sometimes it might inspire a certain project, shoot, or what have you and if I can I will share. Sometimes it's just something pretty or unique that I want to share.

If there's anything that has inspired you, send me a link below or post it on your blog and send me a link to that.
I got this great little find for this week's post. I wil say that although the video's really neat it's inspired a trailer that I'll start working on in a few months. The book's called FORBIDDEN by Tabitha Suzuma. But you'll have to wait till this summer to see how this piece has inspired my book trailer.

What ya think?

Pretty Covers Wednesday #2

I am a photography and book freak so the epitome of my passions is book covers. I dream of one day gracing the cover.

So I love finding and bringing to attention pretty covers and great books and authors. So with this new meme I will highlight just that. The gorgeous photos and covers in YA and elsewhere.

This week's cover is the GORGEOUS cover for Moira Young's BLOOD RED ROAD!

I have seen some hype for this book already and it looks GREAT! But what I am currently drooling over is the mood this cover sets. Dusty desert, one girl walking in said desert. The title treatment has a beautiful sandy texture and the overall scheme is lovely. Although the cover gives off a lonely feeling, it also screams "epic"!

Once again, Simon & Schuster, GREAT cover!

What do you think of this cover?

5 Songs I Can't Stop Listening To

I am a song fanatic. Since I work so closely with music for the trailers anyways I have become to appreciate it and even crave it even more. And because I listen to so much music in my personal life and have to go through so much music for my work life I have come to love a very wide variety of music.

Here's my top 5 songs that are on repeat and that have served as great inspiration in my work.

Can't stop listening to this song. It's got such beautiful harmony and such angst. *sigh*

This is such a good angry-makes-you-feel-better-song. Plus I love the way it was shot. It's by far the most rockish song I listen to. But it's good.

This song is just addicting. Nuff said.

This is just so beautiful. In the right circumstances, it's made me cry.

This song is #1 in my books, forever. Why? It's soulful and passionate and the lyrics are beyond perfect. It moves so freely and just makes you sway and close yours eyes and you feel the music. I mean REALLY feel it.

~~

OK and for good measure I am adding a song that I've been listening to recently that reminds me of a scene I shot for a project. I'm looking at you Cassandra Clare.

"Drop everything now

Meet me in the pouring rain
Kiss me on the sidewalk
Take away the pain
cause I see, sparks fly whenever you smile "

CRYER'S CROSS by Lisa McMann book trailer

I kinda let this one slip just a little bit because I was busy with a long and extensive shoot but I wanted to share with you guys one of newest trailers for Lisa McMann's CRYER'S CROSS.

I had read her WAKE series and loved it so you can imagine my joy and excitement when I get a call asking to work on this trailer. Doesn't hurt that Lisa's a doll, either!

I LOVED this book. It's creepy and eerie and much like her previous series it has an egde that is so irresistible!

Best YA Book Trailer of 2010 is....

Two Hundred and Seventy four votes later and tons of love I can finally announce the winners

OMG it feels weird saying this but thank you all who voted for Clockwork Angel and Linger and Beautiful Darkness! YOU ALL ROCK!

So to celebrate I am giving away this:

RULES:

All you have to do is be a follower of my blog (here) and Twitter(there)

Extra Entry if you tweet/blog/etc about it.

And leave a comment with your email

See? EASY!

Pretty Covers Wednesday

I am a photography and book freak so the epitome of my passions is book covers. I dream of one day gracing the cover. No, not me, ewww... But maybe one of my photos. Who knows.

So I love finding and bringing to attention pretty covers and great books and authors. So with this new meme I will highlight just that. The gorgeous photos and covers in YA and elsewhere.

Today I am going bananas over Michelle Hodkin's THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER cover.

First and foremost it's eye catching and the lettering simple. The photo's a bit antiqued with a rustic edge. But what I love most is that hand that so gingerly graces the edge of the frame. *sigh*

Can you say NEED THIS BOOK?

I will now take the time to admit that I DO judge books by their covers and if gets my attention I'll look at the jacket copy...then I'd so buy this book!

I'm sold! SOLD I tell you!

Now go click on the cover and go pre-order on Amazon.

MARA DYER will be release September 27,2011 from Simon & Schuster

DESIRES OF THE DEAD by Kimberly Derting- book trailer's HERE!

Can I just say, I loved working with Harper Teen on this. They were patient and so easy to work with! And it doesn't hurt that they like my wacky ideas!

When I was reading Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting I was once again in awe of not only her story telling but her lively characters. Oh how sweet Jay and Vi are! But what I liked most of all, is that she has a wonderful knack for writing a book that is HILARIOUS and sweet and yet dark and gloomy at the same time. Anyone who knows me, knows I'm fan of all things dark, so I latched onto the creepy and the strange in Kim's book. But I still wanted to have the sweetness that is Jay & Vi. What I really enjoyed was adding in all the echoes. Can you spot them?

Again, thank you Harper Teen for giving me the chance to revisit The Body Finder and work with you guys! :D
Kim, keep up the good work!

Desires of the Dead is out February 15. Go pre-Order and Buy it! A little over a month left!

Inspiration Tuesday #2

Inspiration Tuesday is where I share some cool snippets here and there of what I've come across that inspires me. Sometimes it might inspire a certain project, shoot, or what have you and if I can, I will share. Sometimes it's just something pretty or unique that I want to share.

If there's anything that has inspired you, send me a link below or post it on your blog and send me a link to that.

This week's inspiration is something that reminds me of all the dystopian books we've read in 2010 and that we will read in 2011. It has a cold distant feel that at least I associate with dystopian fiction.

Book I Can't Wait for in 2011- Sequels

I LOVE LOVE LOVE sequels. Why? You get to get closer to the characters you fell in love with in the first book or previous few. You get to know the world better. You get to deeper into the plot and characters' lives. Overall, it's great journey whether it's a second or last in a series.

I will be so sad to see Melissa Marr's series end. I've already heard from people who've read DARKEST MERCY that they've cried. A lot. But it will be SO worth it. Can't wait!

Not to mention that whatever the 3rd book in the Caster Chronicles will be called will be ridiculously good and unexpected! These books always seem to throw me off and give me totally surprising and stunning. Can't wait for this continuation.

I once heard Sarah Rees Brennan say that 2nd books in a trilogy are called makeout books so you can imagine I am STOKED for CLOCKWORK PRINCE. Bring on the smoochies!

Here's some more titles I am willing to go ninja on you for...I mean books I can't wait for!

What are you excited for??(clicky link for tons of great books coming in 2011)