Bella Casual Sensuality

 

Bella took a break from modelling during the last trimester of her pregnancy and a year later reached out to me with a desire to return to modelling. She feared a loss of modelling mojo and was a little self-conscious about her post-pregnancy body. However, as the images Illustrate, she required but a few frames to regain her stride and confidence. 

We’d discussed a blend of themes, one a homage to Cindy Crawford, with a further two mixing lingerie and implied nude.  For this shoot, we’d elected to capture her with natural hair. Bella is very creative and engaging. Traits that make the rapport, comfort and conversation flow easily.  I shot these using natural light, a simple reflector and alternating between 33 and 50mm prime lenses and hope to work with her again, soon.   

Down By The River With Elle

 

Elle and I had last shot together at the close of January, so I was pleased when she suggested a location themed shoot. The directive was a little loose but a mix of swimwear, lingerie and some topless. This required a fitting location that was within mutually convenient travelling distance.

I suggested a couple and both resonated with her. Suitably discreet, where were unlikely to encounter dog walkers and young families. Children and nudity don’t mix, yet not too secluded that either party might feel uncomfortable. The entrance I had chosen wasn’t as picturesque as we’d hoped but sometimes it’s about thinking laterally and making best use of your environment. 

I had defaulted to the Sony A6300 and 50mm 1.8 prime. 50mm primes are often referred to as the “nifty fifty” given their versatility and they are a great choice for portraits and headshots. Though she wasn’t overly taken with the immediate surroundings, the use of bokeh ensured she was the main focal point. Ultimately, we were happy with the images captured during our two hours. 

Ethereal Themes

 

Krystal got in touch, initially wanting to do an ethereal-themed group shoot with other models. I liked the concept, and we agreed to undertake, once she’d found suitable and willing models. She fancied a solo session, so having agreed times, dates, and timescales, we shot by and indeed, in the streams before changing to a yellow dress and switching locations. I shot these using my A6300 and 50mm Sony prime lens, using only natural light.    

Carla: Spring Shoot by the sea

 

I’d been almost a year since I’d worked with Carla and I was immediately struck by how far her confidence had grown since then, though she had lost none of her humility, warmth, and charm. She’d approached me about a winter fashion shoot but then decided she fancied shooting in Spring when the weather was more temperate. She proposed a beach theme with a mix of dresses and swimwear, which was a little different from recent commissions, so an easy “yes” on my part.

After some discussion, we decided upon Walcott Beach in Norfolk and took a gamble on the weather. Despite being dry for several weeks, various forecasts were predicting rain, but that’s a calculated risk with location shoots and just calls for some forward planning and creativity. I took my trusty A6300, which has reasonable weather sealing along with my full frame A7 and 40mm lens.

Carla’s bikini hadn’t arrived, so she brought several dresses with denim shorts and crop top as contrast. Thankfully the weather held, and the strong tide offered some powerful, natural effect. Working on location also requires some sensitivity to those around you. I am particularly careful around children and families, but aside from the odd curious and decidedly soggy spaniel we had large areas of beach to ourselves. Oh, and the weather proved equally well-mannered. 

Vik: Warm Smiles & Slavic Charm

 

Vik is an aspiring model who saw my work and expressed an interest in shooting with me. She was looking to return to modelling after a break and sought to boost her confidence. Vik felt slightly constrained by studio settings and wanted to do something location-based. I suggested a mixture of spring fashion, headshots, and portraits, since the latter could be used in various professional contexts, modelling and otherwise. 

Vik was fairly local to me, but having not worked together previously, I was eager for her to choose a location she felt most secure and comfortable in. She also advised she would be bringing her husband as a chaperone. Chaperones are again, absolutely fine with ne, so long as they are an uninvasive, supportive influence. 

I had also urged her to bring "herself" as I like to capture someone's character and personality throughout the session. Upon meeting I learned she was originally from Slovakia and, having family from the former Eastern block we chatted about Slavic people, some of the cultural similarities and contrasts. I had always been very taken by their tremendous warmth that lay beneath a slightly austere exterior, shaped in no small part by the Soviet era where outward expression of emotion was frowned upon.  

Conversation flowed readily, her comfort and confidence grew progressively, and I clicked away unobtrusively bringing a mix of posed and candid captures. Vik was very self-aware and had a wonderful desire to learn and develop. At 5'9 (175cm) she is relatively tall and I was keen to capture this in the most flattering ways possible. We were mutually pleased with the results of our first two hours, and I hope to work with her in future.  These were taken using my trusty A6300 and 50mm 1.8 Sony prime lens. 

Blue: Tattooed Dancer

 

Blue has a dance background and approached me regarding shooting a range of themes, from lingerie to full-frontal nudes. Themes I am comfortable shooting, provided they tell a story and where appropriate, capture something of the model’s personality.

Blue was very personable, warm and engaging, which makes my job that bit easier, although I always make time to cultivate rapport before and during the shoot. I took these with a single lens-mounted reflector and using only window light.

Thankfully there was ample, negating need for slow shutter speeds and tripods, allowing me to weave about seamlessly taking frames while the conversation flowed, and Blue wasn’t overly aware of the camera- a technique I practiced while getting candid shots of people in industrial contexts. We achieved a pleasing amount well within the allotted two-hours and have agreed to shoot again at a mutually convenient time.  

Jen- A Cheeky Valentine

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