Bella & Kristen

 Bella invited me to do another shoot and this time with her friend Kristen. I’ve only done a couple of duo shoots and I’m usually very cautious if I don’t know one, or indeed both parties. Having worked with Bella on two earlier occasions, I was confident she would choose someone who had a similarly professional attitude.  

They were eager to continue the lingerie theme of our last shoot but in a woodland setting. The window of opportunity was short, given the potential temperature and lighting constraints, so they wanted to shoot promptly. Thankfully, we had free time the following week, which was dry and more temperate. We’re talking high teens, which is still comfortable for lingerie and to a lesser extent glamour themes.  

Bella had chosen a location in Drayton, which was suitably secluded and at that time of day, had minimal footfall- the odd dog walker and mountain biker. In practice, this also included the odd teenager taking the scenic route home, but they kept a respectful, if slightly awkward distance. Kristen is new to modelling, which is significant since bad experiences mean I generally politely swerve aspiring models. However, there are (almost) always exceptions to any rule and in this instance, the gamble paid off.   

Bella is 5’7 (1m70) Kristen is slightly taller at 5’9 (1m80) both within what some suggest is the ideal height for a female model. This also made for a very compatible pairing, given the theme they wanted to explore.  I tend to break the ice and test settings by starting with portraits and headshots.  

A technique I’m told Kristen appreciated and helped establish a comfortable rapport. Two hours is generally my sweet spot for shooting, especially with newer models. It allows for rapport, changes in style/pace, and breaks to recap and recharge. This set was taken using my faithful A600/Viltrox 33mm (about 1.3 in) 1.4 and A6300 with 60mm (about 2.36 in) Sigma 2.8 (set to f.3.2). 

Risk it for The Rust...Jaywick and Krystal J

It had been a few years since I’d been to Jaywick and a few months since I’d shot with Krystal. I received a “Coming out to play?” email and fancied catching up. She’d had a challenging period in her life and wanted to shoot in part, as a creative distraction, a means of working through things. A philosophy, or mindset that resonates with me.

Jaywick is often presented as one of the most deprived areas in the UK and it’s certainly been starved of investment over the years. However, while romanticising poverty and deprivation is misguided, a palpable sense of community permeated.  

We started in a field, worked our way through to Jaywick Sands and some of the side streets. No one interfered or gave any cause for concern. Much of this is about being somewhere with a purpose, owning your space, and thus communicating that you have a right to be there.

In my experience, it’s also about being respectful and interacting graciously with those around you, while not courting attention. Arguably strong sunlight was our biggest challenge. I shot these with the A6000 and 33mm 1.8 and the A6300 with Sigma 60mm 2.8 (set to f 3.2 for most of these). 

 

Bella Pt2 Domestic Goddess

Bella came back to me, asking to do a second shoot. This time at her home. Now, I’ll confess to being particularly flattered by this invite. Our homes are at once the spaces we consider safest, but they are also where we can be most vulnerable. I am a very private person, and my home is my sanctuary. I am particularly selective when it comes to people crossing the threshold.  

Bella clearly felt comfortable with me (and vice versa) during our first shoot and we discussed something a little racier. Tasteful, but not the kind of themes typically associated with the great outdoors-especially given the wet and changeable conditions. Both of us commented that far from being closed-minded, we have become increasingly selective about the people and concepts we are happy to work with.

 

We continued the lingerie theme and four sets in total. Bella sent me a selection of themes and ideas she wanted to explore, which was extremely helpful as a pre-shoot template.   There was a decent amount of natural light in her home, but still required some help from a reflector and, for the kitchen shots, a Godox speedlight set to 1/125.

I’d taken these with my trusty A6000 set to ISO 400 and 33mm 1.4 Viltrox lens. In some respects, a 23mm 1.4 would’ve made some of the angles and shots easier but the lenses' wider angle can also give less flattering results, so I went for the 33mm with a 50mm 1.8 in reserve.

Norwich Bound to Bella

The fashion industry and by association, modeling have been widely criticised for their lack of diversity. I’ve discussed the inclusion of more diversity around height and body shapes, especially among some prominent high-street retailers. However, people from other backgrounds and ethnicities remain underrepresented.

Bella was born in Portugal but has spent most of her life, in Norwich. I’d spotted her a while back and had been keen to work with her, but opportunity eluded us, for one reason and another.  Bella knew a model I had worked with recently and was initially drawn to me, based upon her experience shooting with me. She liked my work and so we wasted no time comparing diaries.   

Bella began modelling for her friend’s GCSE photography course and it mushroomed from there.  We had discussed a few themes and settled on a mix of casual, dressy and lingerie.  

Given the contexts and themes, I prefer models to select locations where they are most familiar and comfortable. Some consideration and self-awareness are obviously key when conducting shoots in public spaces. However, for the most part, remaining respectful, while being calm, confident, and owning your space means passers-by stay at a respectful distance.   

We covered a decent amount of ground and are pleased with the results. I shot the majority of these with my faithful Sony A6000 and 33mm 1.4 lens, but I reached for my Fuji XT100 and 50mm prime for others. Cameras have attitudes in my experience and the Fuji XT100 and X100T tend to suit a less frenetic pace and reward with pin-sharp clarity, whether it's portraiture or street photography. Unfortunately, the SD card has been corrupted. Thankfully, I had only taken ten frames and hope to recover these.

 

Jane

 Jane had a successful career as a glamour model, and this was very apparent in so many ways. Aside from her very professional pre-shoot communications and military precise preparation/timekeeping, it was immediately obvious she knew how to pose and moreover, in ways that as most flattering to her physique. She also had an equally comprehensive and flattering wardrobe.  

No less than I’d expect from a professional, but it does illustrate the difference between aspirational models and those with successful careers. Aside from bouncing ideas between each other, we spent much of the shoot talking about business and strange experiences during shoots.  

This inevitably covered the topic of GWCs (Guy With Camera). Jane began her career when film was the dominant medium. She recalls posing for camera clubs and believed some “enthusiasts” had no film in their cameras, judging by the sheer number of frames they were taking-without replenishing.  

Again, you’d expect a change every 24, or 36 frames. This also highlights the point about some folks (men specifically) using the camera as a means of getting access to models. Conversely, there were also the young woman being cajoled by their boyfriends and partners into modelling and specifically at the higher levels. We’re talking nude, open-leg, and similar, not referring to fashion, or the upper industry. 

Two hours evaporated and crucially we had a lot to show for our time together.  As usual, these were shot with my trusty Sony A6000 and A6300 with 23 and 33mm 1.4 Viltrox lenses and Godox flashgun.