Fire In the Studio... But A Good Session. :)

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

08/02/2008 10:37:01 PM · #1

Yesterday Ella's parents brought her by for her 1 year old session. It was the 3rd time Ella has been to the studio. About an hour into our 2 hour session, mom and I are changing Ella and mom handed dad the shirt we'd taken off of her. Dad drops it onto the table behind him without looking and turns back to watching us and Ella. 2 seconds later he gasped and we all looked. He'd dropped the cutest little white blouse onto the only candle in the whole place. Then he dropped it to the floor (it was really flaming) and stomped it out. I felt bad for not having seen that one coming. And the little top was so cute (luckily we'd already photographed it). I immediately moved the candle to as far from people as I could possibly get it and we continued the session. Oh, and I got dad a beer, he was feeling like a big doofus. lol

Here are some highlights from Ella's 1 Year Old session:

Mick

Canon EOS-5D

08/02/2008 10:45:35 PM · #2

Yup, candles can be dangerous. My wife loves them, and I hate them.

Why did you have a candle in the studio anyway? Was it on the cake?

gwe21

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4.0-5.6G ED

08/02/2008 10:45:44 PM · #3

gosh Cindi what a HOT session!! LOL Glad everything turned out okay though.

That little Ella is just the BEST model! I hope her parents continue to bring her to you because it will be fun to watch her grow up. She is a doll!! I LOVE the birthday cake ones!!

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

08/02/2008 10:47:25 PM · #4

Originally posted by Mick:

Yup, candles can be dangerous. My wife loves them, and I hate them.

Why did you have a candle in the studio anyway? Was it on the cake?

I had 2 consulatation appointments scheduled earlier yesterday and had lit the candle for some nice scent while I showed them around. I honestly forgot it was there when Ella and family came in.

I was so glad it wasn't worse.

Trumpeteer4

Nikon D7000

08/02/2008 10:59:42 PM · #5

I think somethings wrong with your camera. There's a wierd stripe through all of the pictures. j/k

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

08/02/2008 11:32:59 PM · #6

Originally posted by Trumpeteer4:

I think somethings wrong with your camera. There's a wierd stripe through all of the pictures. j/k

Stripes are in this year! ;)

Mick

Canon EOS-5D

08/03/2008 12:19:37 AM · #7

Originally posted by idnic:

As I tell my wife, air freshener is much safer. :D

gwe21

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4.0-5.6G ED

08/03/2008 12:28:37 AM · #8

just get wall flowers from bath and body works!

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

08/03/2008 12:28:50 AM · #9

Fire bad.

Pictures good.

Me drunk.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

08/03/2008 12:41:52 AM · #10

Originally posted by idnic:

Originally posted by Mick:
Yup, candles can be dangerous. My wife loves them, and I hate them.

Why did you have a candle in the studio anyway? Was it on the cake?

I had 2 consulatation appointments scheduled earlier yesterday and had lit the candle for some nice scent while I showed them around. I honestly forgot it was there when Ella and family came in.

I was so glad it wasn't worse.

Potpourri? Air freshener? Some of those pine trees hangin' from the rear view? All provide the nice scent without the fire hazard.

Glad to hear it wasn't serious.

Oh yeah, the pics are great too, as always.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

08/03/2008 01:47:40 AM · #11

Thanks for the comments, guys. And yeah, lesson learned... I won't use candles in the studio again!

ryand

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

08/03/2008 07:57:01 AM · #12

Great shots as always, and i just noticed that you have a really cool watermark, it actually fits in well with the shots, so its not completely tacky. Kind of random, but i just noticed that.

Bebe

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

08/03/2008 08:52:49 AM · #13

Sorry about the candle! The little girl doesn't seem too upset about it though. The pictures are terrific. My favorite is the one of her turned away from us, holding the flower, which is gorgeous. On a couple, the floor seems to be soft (carpeting?). Do you throw a carpet on the floor for baby pictures? Just curious.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

08/03/2008 10:21:46 AM · #14

I have a slightly different reaction to the "fire" issue than the rest of y'all. Sure, any open flame in a studio is a disaster waiting to happen, there shouldn't be any, but what really alarms me is that the father took a top off the baby and "dropped it on the candle" and just a few moments later it was totally in flames!

This doesn't sound right to me at all. I don't think kids, let alone little babies, should be wearing anything that burns that easily... So that's worth looking into, cindi... Should be a wake-up call for the parents, not just you.

R.

08/03/2008 11:31:55 AM · #15

Robert, I thought about how quickly the cotton blouse burned too. It scared me and I hope mom & dad noticed it too.

Bebe, its a large piece of faux fur fabric that I call Poodle Fabric. I have it in white & black. Washes easily and looks great.

Ryand, thanks, glad you don't feel its too "in your face". :)

08/03/2008 11:40:04 AM · #16

Sober, today, and quite hung over.

In the business I call a career, and hope to win the lottery so that I can quit the business, we always have a safety meeting with all crew members, production staff, and effects staff when using ANY open flames on set.

The 1st AD (assistant director), gathers everyone and talks about worst case scenerio's, where all the exits are, and where all the fire extinguishers are.

Whom is in charge of the open flame weather it is just a birthday candle, or a flame bar.

Who is in charge of extinguishing said flame at the end of the shot.

A Fire Marshall is always on set, effects or not, to over see all safety issues within the production safety guidelines.

I agree with Robert, the quick flammability of a child's garment is unacceptable, especially in a situation during a shooting schedule.

The costume department would of known if the garment was flammable beforehand, and prolly would of nixed it in favor for something less dangerous.

Did you at least have a fire extinguisher near by Cindi?

If you did not, then, you need to have one is my advice if you choose to use open flame again.

08/03/2008 11:43:15 AM · #17

Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:

Did you at least have a fire extinguisher near by Cindi?
.....

As it happens, yes I did have one just a few steps away. Not that I'd ever expected anything to catch fire in the studio, that just happens to be where we keep the spare on in the house (main one is in the kitchen).

Believe me, scented oils from now on; no flames unless its for a shoot and then only when there are NO clients around.

08/03/2008 11:45:35 AM · #18

Originally posted by idnic:

Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:
Did you at least have a fire extinguisher near by Cindi?
.....

As it happens, yes I did have one just a few steps away. Not that I'd ever expected anything to catch fire in the studio, that just happens to be where we keep the spare on in the house (main one is in the kitchen).

Believe me, scented oils from now on; no flames unless its for a shoot and then only when there are NO clients around.

I wouldn't say NO to flame. Who knows you may get a client that wants an inferno.

Just have a game plan on what to do if the situation arises again.

That's all.

08/03/2008 11:05:38 PM · #19

Here is a perfect example of the Unit Production Manager emailing all departments about the tent that is being rigged on stage, and the tent company putting safety restrictions attached to the rental agreement.

OH Yeah, and this is a clue to the tv show that I currently am on, and can't talk about. Produced by TNT and airing in December.

Today for tomorrow.

One more thing to all...

According to the tent company rep, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY LIGHTS CLOSER THAN 8 FEET (W/GEL) AND 10 FEET (W/O GEL) WHEN LIGHTING THE THROUGH THE CEILING.

This is despite the pieces being sprayed with flame retardant.

Please rig and shoot accordingly.

Gary Strangis

On Aug 3, 2008, at 6:23 PM, Lauren Crasco (Disigner) wrote:

A few tent safety notes:

The horizontal cables cannot be removed at any time.

If set dressing chandeliers are hung from the tent frame, they can only be
hung at each end of the top 30' horizontal pipe, at the "crowns", and they
cannot exceed 75 pounds each. If chandeliers are hung from these points,
nothing else can be hung on the top center pole. If a center chandelier is
hung, it must be rigged from the ceiling beams.

Weight limit is 60 pounds per pole section for hanging anything.

The barrels cannot be detached, they and the center cables keep the tent
from collapsing.

If the fabric of the canopy must be cut, please cut a small hole and make it
a vertical cut. If a cut is made parallel to the ground the fabric will
gape open.

The dance floor is raised a few inches and could be a trip hazard if people
aren't paying attention.

The canopy has been treated to be fire resistant. It is not fireproof,
please use common sense and don't put lights too close to the material.

Exit signs and fire extinguishers are in the tent. If they must be relocated
for picture, one sign must be in each section of the tent when it is divided
in two. Two exits must be noted at all times.

It's a big tent on a crowded stage and we will have the fire marshal on set
either Tuesday or Wednesday. Let's keep firelanes clear and equipment out
of the way. Access to goldrooms may also be affected by the direction in
which we are shooting, please plan accordingly.

Thanks.

Gary M. Strangis
Production Manager
LEVERAGE

Message edited by author 2008-08-03 23:09:39.

08/03/2008 11:28:14 PM · #20

LOL That sounds so tedius, but I see the logic. I'm all for preparations, and better to over-prepare than under. I just made an error! lol

Here's one more E-shot before I see her again... I set this up as a 20X20 square.... here's hoping mom buys!! :D