Minnesota
After several days of touring D.C. and Baltimore I landed in Philadelphia last week.
Determined to experience more of the city than in previous visits I chose a historic waterfront property to set up shop and sell my wares.
Upon arrival I was disappointed to find the lobby a boutique-style square replete with over-zealous staffers and a key-access elevator.
Frustrated and complicated by the prospect of having to play MacGuyver to get my guests upstairs to me discreetly, my assistant and I decided to call it a day and resume after I moved to another property.
Faced with several free hours my thoughts turned to a Pennsylvania photographer, highly endorsed by several provider friends. I decided to look him up and see if he could accommodate an impromptu photoshoot. He responded quickly, indicating that he was booked but that I was welcome to travel to his studio two hours outside of Philadelphia and then recanted when he realized that I wasn't familiar with the area.
I assured him that after forty thousand miles driven last year alone I was a rockstar on the road and could certainly find him.
I booked a reservation late-evening for a ZipCar and took a cab to pick it up. Upon arriving at a dark Market Street alley I immediately regretted having not waited until the morning and fought with the keyless ignition as I contemplated the possibility of being carjacked by the strangers on the street who were attentively watching my struggle to start the little Mini Cooper.
After a time I figured the vehicle out and took off excitedly, zipping through the Philly hard and fast (of course when you're just borrowing it you ride it a little harder, you know what I mean 
) and familiarizing myself with a new city in the only way that you truly can (as apposed to materializing in the center of it via train or plane). After a few hours I wandered back to my hotel and fell asleep contentedly, excited about shooting the next day.
I woke early and packed a little case and a few things that I thought would look pretty on camera, but I was fairly determined to shoot nude- something that I have seldom done.
I drove 90 mph through the Pennsylvania country enjoying the sights (cows and silos and such) until I arrived in a sleepy little town in which barns were situated next door to shopping plazas.
I climbed the stairs and was greeted by a straight-faced man with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth and shaggy blonde hair.
He politely instructed me to get ready while he gave me a one over and assessed my makeup-less face and undone hair. His makeup artist followed me into one of her several dressing spaces and watched me intently as I transformed.
I she gave little gasps of surprise as I expertly applied my makeup and she loosened me up considerably with girl chatter.
When I emerged for his first set it was in a black cocktail dress. He directed me to the center of a naturally lit room and tugged me like a doll until I was satisfactory for his camera's gaze. He looked bored until he began snapping-
a rapid succession of clicks and 10 or 15 pictures later he was done.
He congratulated himself and said in the monotone of self-satisfaction:
"I just shot the shit out of that dress, go change." and took a deep drag of another cigarette.
Artists.
Xo,
Ally
WhoIsAlly.Moore on Y!
I hope you guys like my new pictures.
Sorry about the "phantom" trip last week- my prebookings didn't justify the travel and whereas usually I'll tour anyway and play games with you on the internet to make you come out...I just didn't have the energy or the inclination for "taking a chance".
I miss my friends and hope to see you again soon, I also look forward to meeting the people who it simply hasn't worked out schedule-wise during my last couple of trips.
I am planning my May tour schedule (before you even email me, you-know-who- I know, I know. May 5-7 LOL)- if you would like to meet me give me an idea of when the best time to return is.
My website gallery isn't finished but enjoy the new snapshots on each page and let me know what you think.
