Carla

Carla is an aspiring model and had clearly gained confidence through a series of earlier shoots. She had also received good mentoring from photographers and a model I’ve had a long-standing professional relationship with. Carla had noted my relatively close regional proximity and got in touch, asking to shoot. Her manner of approach, existing portfolio and location held my attention and we quickly thrashed out some dates and themes.  

Being as we’d not worked together, I suggested we do two hours of fashion-based work and she should bring herself i.e., garments she felt comfortable and empowered in; while presenting an opportunity for her to model something she hadn’t been able to. We decided upon a forest/woodland backdrop.  

I knew a good public space but one where we weren't likely to be interrupted frequently.  She brought along a large bag and three changes, which was perfect. The first a light summery sheer dress and pale denim jacket, a pale blue “Alice in wonderland” style tea dress and a button-down, figure-hugging denim dress.  

I began with my traditional ice-breaker headshots and candid portraiture and from there, the shoot flowed very seamlessly. There were lots of sheltered areas making it relatively easy to achieve a uniform, even light and on another practical note, plenty of trees and foliage to change discretely behind. We did have the occasional speeding Spaniel but otherwise passers-by remained at a very respectful distance. 

There had also been rain forecast but we had bright sunshine and temperatures in the early 20s. I had brought an umbrella, in case of a heavy shower, which coupled with the 6300 body (which has weather sealing) would’ve made for some dramatic effects. Either way, we accomplished a decent amount in the two hours, Carla was pleased with the results, and we’ve agreed to shoot again in future. 

There's Something About Mary...

Mary had never modelled before but had a background in cosplay and making her own costumes, coupled with some acting experience. Being her first shoot and not having worked together in the past, we agreed on a fairly simple theme and set in a very public, park-based location of her choosing. She was initially a little nervous but relaxed considerably as the shoot progressed, Nothing new there. 

Model and photographer tend to produce their best work towards the end of the shoot when rapport and synchronicity is hopefully at its best. I was also keen to produce images that she could use in other commercial/professional contexts. Hence the portraiture. The  Cosplay dress she wanted to model had the potential for slippage and potentially exposure, so something best suited to a studio. 

Hence, our decision to err towards something more fluid and relaxed. For portraiture-based sessions, I go for a relaxed, conversational style, which sets the model at ease, thus letting their personality come through. I also factor regular breaks to review, rest, and reflect upon where we have been and the next frames. Mary was very pleased with the results of this two- hour session and we’re at the discussion stage of a second shoot.

Bella Almost Bare

 

Bella and I had been discussing a few implied nude themes. The sort that showed enough to be suggestive and sensual but within the boundaries of what would be acceptable to family and friends were they seen in the public domain. She and I often say an air of suggestion and sensuality is harder to capture, but more pleasing than gratuitous nudity. We had discussed a theme ranging from the “Sunday morning” white blouse and lingerie to something closer to the matrix and then some bolder implied nudes using flowers. I had expressed a desire to capture a mix of colour and monochrome. Bella has very even skin tone which helps, but the contrast was further accentuated by using contrasting pale white lingerie. 

Vintage Visions on a Wintry Day

It had been a while since Krystal, and I’d caught up and we both fancied a change from the day to day. She posed a vintage theme of lingerie; dresses and we’d even toyed with the idea of derelict buildings as a backdrop. Ultimately, and for several reasons, we elected to shoot from her home. Good thing too, given the torrential rains.  

 

Thankfully, her home had a reasonable amount of natural light and I’d brought flashgun, soft box, portable lighting, low light prime lenses, and reflector. I shot several frames outside, from her summer house in the drizzle. Thankfully, I had the A6300 body which has some weather sealing- shot at F1.8 with a Viltrox prime lens.  The other option is sheltering beneath a smaller umbrella and shooting. However, depending on the shutter speed and other settings, it runs the risk of some camera shake, resulting in blur. 

  

Indoors, given the low cloud, I alternated between the 6300 mounted on a tripod and the A6000 with prime lens and Godox flashgun. Coffee, breaks, chat- general and business the two hours flew by. Doesn’t it always when fun’s involved. I loaded up the car and headed back to post -process our chosen favourites.

 

Beauty & The East

It’s often said that photographers and other “creatives” should have a project for when things go quiet commercially, or if you’re just looking to “change things up a bit”. I can relate to this narrative on both tiers.  I’d recently bought a couple of third-party lenses for my Fuji XT100 and X-A5.  

An 85mm 1.8 prime for the XT and this budget TT Artisan 27mm F2.8 APS-C Autofocus. The latter being something of a wild card, the price being the main attraction. Image quality is reassuringly good, not on par with a premium Fuji lens but pleasing and the autofocus is also reasonably responsive.    

I have always been fascinated by people, although Eastern Europe has always been a region of particular interest. There are several reasons for this, but I can recall wondering (as I did with film censorship) what lay behind the Iron Curtain, and what were we not supposed to see. Propaganda was a two-way street and thanks to a well-traveled, very worldly father I never bought into the era's broad strokes narrative that communism bad, and capitalism good. 

Women within the Soviet Union were sometimes stereotyped as more liberated, better educated, and, more mysterious. Or conversely, uneducated and ignorant. Sweeping statements about anything, let alone people are by definition, inaccurate. Growing up, there was a narrative about bulletproof Soviet technology- MZ motorcycles and to a lesser extent, Jawa too. Tough, slow, built to last and in the west, dirt cheap.  

Before the fall of the Berlin Wall, you could buy a very serviceable, solid 250cc MZ for as little as £50. Vostok Amphibia dive watches and of course, film rangefinders and SLR cameras from the likes of Zenit, Kiev, and FED. Some reckoned to rival Leica but for a fraction of the price.  

My uncle met his second wife while driving an HGV back and forth from the UK and Warsaw with a friend during the late 1980s (They married in 1988-happily so ever since). She was working as a receptionist in a hotel where he regularly stayed. 

On several occasions (although most notably in my late teens/early adulthood), I had wanted to ride a motorcycle through Eastern Europe, starting in East Germany and working through towards Russia, photographing the old industrial and derelict places, people, and life generally.  

Given this backdrop, my quiet fascination and intrigue for those raised in this time and region is perhaps more obvious. My late father had also visited Odessa and Moscow in 1990. 

Then of course, there was a more recent migration of people from the former “Eastern Block” to the UK, many continuing the tradition of filling skilled and sometimes, unskilled work, studying, raising children, and generally building lives here. Leading up to Christmas 2007, I worked alongside some men and women from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland while doing some seasonal jobs. I have always been keen to learn how these countries and people’s lives, attitudes, and experiences have changed since 1989. We shared some fascinating, sometimes hilarious stories/anecdotes.

The Brexit vote of 2016 sounded some very unpleasant bells and made a lot of people feel incredibly unwelcome, seemingly overnight.  

Long story short, I am seeking to photograph people from these regions, living in the UK for a mix of themes. Primarily portraiture and fashion for those who have not modeled before. A more diverse range of themes for those who have. 

Models & Portraiture - Stenning Photographic Model & Portraiture Photography (format.com)

  

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