Kate: Steely Gazes & Stunning Equines

 

Kate got in touch with me, initially looking to develop her modelling portfolio and to incorporate her horses. This appealed on several levels but required careful planning to get everything properly coordinated. We agreed a three-hour shoot, since this would allow for preparing the horses, along with changing outfits and comfort breaks.

As the shoot loomed closer, a heatwave, with temperatures 34 degrees plus created another layer of complexity. We initially thought leaving the shoot until the early evening (1730 onwards) would bring cooler temperatures and potentially kinder natural lighting. However, Kate called me early on the morning of our shoot, explaining her concerns, especially for the horses.

Mercifully, I hadn’t any other plans, so we agreed to shoot between 1030 and 1330. At that point, the heat was fairly intense, but we’d found some suitably shaded areas to shoot in. This would hopefully achieve a more even spread of light, while keeping the horses cooler. We ultimately elected to take one of the horses and shorten the riding sequences, focusing on fashion, portraiture and headshots for the remaining two hours.  I alternated between 85mm 1.8 Viltrox lens and 60mm Sigma 2.8 lens bolted to my trusty A6000 and 6300 bodies. I also employed a small hand- held reflector for some additional light. 

Helen Rose: Mood, Movement & Music

 

Helen got in touch since she was in the region and liked my work. Having learned she was an accomplished musician, rock climber and horse rider, I was intrigued and believed we could add something to our respective portfolios. 

Helen had been modelling on a part-time basis for eleven years, instigated by a relationship breakdown. Given these variables, I was keen to let her lead in terms of outfits and props.

We both knew the intended location very well, which helped in terms of planning for the unexpected, changing and good shooting areas.  Being the early part of an increasingly Spring-like day, there was a lot of activity. Public spaces are best for first, or formative shoots, but can present some challenges.

Passers-by can either be decidedly reverential and respectful, curious and chatty, or in some cases, intrusive. Mercifully, people were very respectful, but would also stop for a brief, flattering remark. As I am always saying, model and photographer also warm up during the course of a shoot, and I’m never surprised to find this tells in the images.

The light was generally favourable, although there were moments when the sun created annoying drop shadows- easily corrected by moving to areas with more even light and a small reflector.  I shot the majority of these with my trusty Sony Alpha 6300 and 50mm 1.8 prime lens set to F2 for most flattering effect, although when conditions became a little more restrictive, I switched to the 6000 and Viltrox 23mm set to F1.4

   

Karolina

 

I’d had a few postponements due to sickness and other unavoidable circumstances, and needed to tame the midwinter blues (not to mention a dental abscess) with some creativity. Enter Karolina, I’d noted she’d modelled in the recent past and was very striking.

We settled on a location-based winter fashion and portraiture theme. The port town was convenient and familiar to both of us. Standing 5’1 (155cm) she was petite. While this is considerably shorter than the traditional 5’7 (170cm) baseline for fashion models, there are other avenues to explore, and there’s more scope when it comes to posing and angles.

For example, by lying down, I can give a real sense of height. Doing the same with someone standing 6ft 2 (1m88) will make them look cartoonish- fine if you’re looking to recreate the “Attack of the 50ft Woman” vibe, but hardly flattering. We agreed on a 1400-1600 shoot, since this was most convenient for her and still allowed a decent amount of natural light.

Sunday was a similarly good fit, since there would be fewer people around. Experience says the public is generally respectful, but can also encroach and let well-intentioned curiosity get the better of them. Continuing this narrative, Karolina brought two outfits and accessories, allowing for variety and more convenient changes-an important consideration, especially in built up areas. 

I used whatever spoke to us in the immediate environment and some useful props, including this Kawasaki presented- Karolina proved very self-aware, posed fluidly, yet was very open to direction. She could also sense the Kawasaki’s draw for me and worked creatively around it. Light was beginning to fade come the close of our session, but no issue with a small reflector 50mm 1.8 and 33mm 1.4 lenses. I’m pleased with the results and look forward to working with her in future.                       

Molly Marie Portraiture & Precipitation

 

 

Molly Marie and I had worked together on several occasions. This time, she wanted some updated head shots and portraiture. We’d agreed on a mutually accessible location and time. Natural light is in fairly short supply during December, done by 1500hours. 

In the UK, winters tend to be wet and mercifully, forecasts are very accurate, although not foolproof by any means. In this instance, the rains held off for 50 minutes, before a persistent drizzle set in. Model comfort is paramount, and, in these contexts, weather sealed camera bodies come into their own, protecting the internals, while also permitting other creative opportunities. 

The A6300 is resistant to dust and light, drizzly rain, but not extended exposure, and this also applies to the Sony A7. Fearing I might shrink and Molly’s hair turn to frizz; we found a liberally graffitied underpass and shot for a further 30 minutes using a reflector and 6300 with 1.8 50mm and 6000 with 23mm 1.4 lenses. By that point, we headed to a local café’ to reflect, consume hot beverages and in my case, dash to the toilet. Us old boys and our bladders….

 

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.   

Playing with Light: In the Studio with Kym

 

I do a lot of location work and lean toward natural light, but Kym invited me to come and shoot her in a studio context. We decided on a few themes ranging from elegant dresses through to art and implied nude. Being mindful of blanket statements but on a very technical level, photography is concerned with control of light.

Kym is of Chinese ethnicity, and we wanted to play with her skin tones. High-key images have their place, especially in the context of product photography but leave little to the imagination and we sought to bring some erotic mystery, including the portraits. I took these using my A7body set to F11 and 1/125 and 35mm third-party prime lens.