Pizza Shortage Inspires Photo Shoot

In order to nail perfect shots like this one, retro photographer Robbie Augspurger gives models a compelling backstory to pull emotions from, like imagining there's a pizza shortage.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010 17:27 GMT

For his photo series Glamour & Headshots, Robbie Augspurger uses an old studio lighting kit, thrift store clothes, and the power of storytelling to snap pictures that “look like they’ve been on the dashboard of your dad’s truck for the last few years in the sun.”

The snaps look “old and dusty” and show people in strange and dated outfits, like one girl in Princess Leia bun braids holding a machine gun.

To produce a shot that’s funny without looking forced, Augspurger gives his subjects a backstory so they can nail just the right body language and facial expression.

For instance, he told one model to imagine there was a pizza shortage.

He says, “I told her to look sober, thoughtful, and concerned about the pizza shortage, but she kept laughing. I try to get a natural expression and give them direction.”