"Charlie's" 1st Shoot

After plucking up the courage for her 1st shoot (it took months to my knowledge), Sarah `Charlie' Harding had the dubious pleasure of working with me for her first shoot. I like to get to know models a bit before I shoot with them as it puts both parties at ease and makes the whole experience a great deal more pleasant. We met up in Bristol Centre and had a chat about anything and everything for a while, before even discussing the shoot. I do tend to inject quite a bit of humour into the shoot and this gave me a chance to check before hand, what type of personality Charlie had and if my light-hearted approach would be suitable; luckily it was.

This was just a `Testing' shoot, to get Charlie over the 1st hurdle and to have some photos to start her portfolio and get used to working with photographers. I do tend to give a lot of direction which is pretty much always needed with inexperienced models. I did warn about this at the very outset and asked Charlie to let me know if she needed a break to just say so. Each time when trying something different, I stopped to show Charlie the shots in the back of the camera so we could discuss what was and was not working. I think this is very important and don't understand why some photographers frown on `chimping'; I suspect it's nothing more than snobbery or deluded elitism .

We had no make-up artist or stylist so given this and the above, I wasn't expecting too much given the circumstances, but I did get a few portraits (below) that I think worked well.

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Modelling shoot with Holly `Bambi Berretta' Searle

Continuing my simplified equipment theme and really enjoying it, this was an urban shoot I was invited to and not knowing any of the models I wasn't sure what to expect. Of the 3 models there I started working with Holly (aka Bambi) and as usual, the shoot seemed to get better as it went.

All shots taken with Canon 5D mkii and Canon 24-70 F2.8 L lens.

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Kate - Back with Modelling Photography

After a 3 month break from not only modelling photography, but also back to digital imaging after using film only.

This was another shoot arranged for the Bristol & South West Modelling Photography (BSWMP). The model I feature here is Kate Davies (as she is fairly new to modelling and my 1st time with her).

I'm still in B&W mode after using only B&W film. I (as usual) set my camera's LCD to B&W so I could determine if I was getting the look I was after. After shooting with only film cameras (without an LCD preview) I found I didn't look at the LCD very much at all (I don't chimp much as a routine).

Anyway, Kate:

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A rare slightly desaturated colour image

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A Shoot With Annie Price

A selection of shots with Annie Price on an unseasonably hot (27 degrees C) October Sunday.

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Boo!

Nope, I'm not trying to scare you. I was referring to a recent shoot with the model & dancer known as `Boo'.

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Just One Shot

At a group shoot I thought my camera would remain in my bag; we had a number of models no let us down (thanks a bunch!) and quite a few togs.

I did manage to get one (and only one) shot of Hannah, but I was quite pleased with the result; so much so that I processed it two separate ways. Which is best? I can't decide.

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Beach Shoot

This was quite a cold evening so my respect for models: Laura Ruffell, Pritesh Jethwa & Connor McKenzy for donning the rather small outfits and making this shoot possible.  Key lighting was a single strobe fired through a softbox.  I also used a single strobe for fill or back-light in some shots.

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Finally, Some Improvement

I've dipped in and out of modelling photography a few times, but since May 2010 I have been doing this as a priority.  Helping me do this are the great models, make-up artists and photographers of a Flickr group I set up in September called 'Bristol & South West Modelling Photography' (we're also now on Facebook & Twitter).

The following are a few shots that I feel are my best images of each month so far this year.

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March (Model: Laura Ruffell)


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Modelling Shoot - Lorena

These were taken at a recent shoot.  It was supposed to be an experimental lighting workshop, but as all I had available to me was my usual lighting rig which I know inside out, there didn't seem much to experiment with.  Plus, I was trying to demonstrate to my co-photog my usual go-to setup which is used throughout.

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Camera & Lens: Canon 5D mkii and Canon 70-200 F4 L
Keylight: Softbox 45 degrees camera right
Fill: Umbrella slight camera left
Backdrop lit by 2 flashes


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60' Style Shoot

These were taken last month at a 60's-style shoot. It's been a bit manic lately so I'm a bit behind. The scooters belonged to the Bristol Scooter club. Rge models were Helen Drew and Cerise Banwell.

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