I had a special treat this month and photographed an individual I photographed a few years ago as a model. She has transformed into an actress. Lana is a gorgeous actor out of the bay area.

I'm so pleased with what we made with the help of Ernesto makeup artist. There's a difference between posing as just a beautiful face and giving emotional content to the photographer. Lana did an excellent job giving me a tremendous amount of variety. It's so motivational when you get that kind of effort on the other side of the camera.

We started the day with a discussion and a plan of attack that we want to accomplish. With the help of Ernesto, we knocked out the locks, and I was able to match the lighting to the style of each look.

I typically have a plan on most shoots, even if it's a simple as lens selection. But with the best-laid plans, you have to be willing to alter or change direction quickly as opportunities or images present themselves. I feel it's like making a cake. I know all the ingredients, but I'm not sure how I will combine them in the end. Many photographers stick to a very rigid game plan, and I haven't found that it works for me. Being fluid and taking cues from your subject on the direction and look is what got me to where I am.