Fashion shoot – Portrait and commercial Photography Bristol, Bath and West

Butterfly fashion shoot with makeup artist Jo Peters

29/10/2012 By David Leave a Comment

Recently I was lucky to work again with Bristol-based makeup artist Jo Peters, a makeup lecturer at City of Bristol college and something on an online celebrity with a hugely popular YouTube channel. Our model for the shoot was Jess who was keen to try out an idea I’d had making use of lots and lots of butterflies.

Jo, who’s also know as Joanna Delilah online, is brilliant with theatrical makeup styles and it was great fun to be involved with something quite high concept. I last worked directly with Jo sometime ago on a shoot with burlesque performer Keda Breeze, but Jo’s also put me in touch with several of her makeup students, who have all proven fab to work with.

Here’s one of Jo’s YouTube makeup tutorials…

Before the shoot I’d used Pinterest to collate some great visual ideas to communicate with the rest of the team. Everything. took place at my Bristol flat in a very small space but if you work within limitations you can produce high-end images anywhere and don’t always need a grand location or vast studio.

It was also an opportunity for me to test a new piece of equipment, the Bowens Luminair OctaBank 140, which is a large 8-side softbox. Working in a tight space I didn’t use an additional fill light but assistant, Sophie, was sometimes on hand with a large silver reflector panel to help control shadows. Mounted to one of my Bowens Gemini 500 studio lights, the Luminar Octabank is such a cool light there’s not much need to over-egg the pudding. I was able to squeeze in a background support stand and we shoot against Rose Pink seamless paper, a fairly rich magenta colour, from Calumet.

I’d obtained a large number of feather butterflies from a floristry wholesaler for the shoot in shades of bright magenta and lilacs. There were relatively detailed and looked even better on camera and were relatively economical to buy in bulk. To attache them to Jess’s underwear and skin we used some hypoallergenic body tape.

Jo was able to integrate the colour scheme suggested my the butterflies into her makeup scheme, which took well over an house to apply to out model before hair was styled by assistant, Sophie, who is one of Jo’s students. Joe was clearly enjoying going to town on the project as work commitments had meant she hadn’t had the chance to work on something this fun for a while. Jo integrated some simple but clever touches like using paper on Jess’s eyelashes. The finished look melded perfectly with the butterflies and we were ready to shoot.

My Canon EOS 24-70mm f/2.8L tens to be my go-to lens when using studio flash, which use used for most of the images, although I did switch briefly to a 70-200mm lens for some tighter headshots. The Luminair Octabank was a delight to use if a little unwieldy in out tight shooting space. Still I could have been happier with how the images turned out.

Filed Under: David's blog, Fashion shoots, Personal Projects, Photographic techniques, Portrait shoots Tagged With: 24-70, avante garde, Bowens, Bowens Gemini, Bristol, bristol photography, Bristol portraiture, Canon, EOS, Fashion shoot, flash photography, freelance photography, portrait photography, Studio Lighting

Behind the scenes burlesque and boudoir photo shoot

01/08/2012 By David Leave a Comment

Regular blog readers may have notice the link to my recently created YouTube channel. So far it contains a few photo sildeshows and now my first stab at a ‘behind the scenes’ video.

I set up the YouTube channel as it gives me another ‘hook’ into the internet. Online video marketing is on the rise and with powerful smartphones, iPads and internet-enabled TVs on the rise, multimedia is fast becoming as important as text. Moreover, some research suggests that text pages that have a video clips embedded in them are more likely to show up first on traditional text web searches. Of course, online video marketers, or just anyone who uploads to YouTube, hope that their video will be interesting enough that people will share it via email or post it t their Twitter feeds and Facebook pages and thus ‘go viral’, generating a very large number of hits.

Bambi's 'Italian movie starlet' boudoir photo shoot.

That said, another big reason for created my YouTube channel was for sheer fun. I’ve always enjoyed watching ‘behind the scenes’ footage online and thought I would add a little something to the mix for friends and clients to enjoy.

The video was shot with a small, consumer-grade Panasonic HD camcorder, which was operated on the shoot by Lucy heard, who was also the photographic assistant. The final production was put together on a Mac with Final Cut Pro X, which suffered a controversial launch due to missing features and lack of similarity to previous versions, but is a very fluid and quick editor to use. As the Panasonic video was only so-so in terms of quality, I filtered it to look like old black and white TV, which also allowed the colour photographs included to pop. The concept for the shoot was to make anglo-Italian model, burlesque performer Bambi Beretta, look reminscent of the stars of classic Italian cinema but shot in a contempory, boudoir-ish style.

Filed Under: David's blog, Fashion shoots, News, Portrait shoots, Recent photoshoots Tagged With: behind the scenes, boudoir photography, Bristol, Bristol Burlesque, bristol photography, BTS, Burlesque, cabaret, Editorial, Fashion shoot, flash photography, video, Vintage, youtube

Sun-kissed retro fashion shoot with Jess

20/06/2012 By David Leave a Comment

Here are some more images of actress and model Jessica Elizabeth Swanson for you to enjoy. Here we were looking to create a sun-kissed, retro pinup fashion vibe.

Hair was by Doug Hobbs at Hobbs Hairdressing, Bristol, and we used the garden at the back of his salon for much of the shoot. A brightly-painted wall full of bright oranges and blues, giving a great Mediterranean feel to the images. While it was a bright sunny day, the enclosed garden gave plenty of open shade and it was day to find great angles where Jess would be in soft, flattering light. As a contrast we also shot some images in the sun, and I had the model turn towards the light so the harsher sun would wrap around her face, rather than drag across it causing distracting shadows.

Doug Hobbs created Jess's do for our shoot.

Makeup work was done by Jasmine King, a student at City of bristol college who was able to wonders with our vintage brief.

Jasmine Rogers makeup artist with our model.

If you’re love to take part in your own fashion shoot, whether to begin a model book or just for your own enjoyment, get in touch today.

Filed Under: David's blog, Fashion shoots, Portrait shoots, Recent photoshoots Tagged With: bristol photography, Bristol portraiture, Editorial, Fashion, Fashion shoot, Freelance, pinup, portraits, Portraiture, retro, Vintage

Burlesque photo shoot with Heresy Clothing

27/05/2012 By David Leave a Comment

Here’s another set of photos of Bath-based burlesque performer, Gemma Sheree for you to enjoy. Gemma models a steel-boned corset from Heresy Clothing

Heresy-Emma offers a made to measure service and has been creating designs for over 15 years. She trained as a theatrical costumier, which is reflected in many designs. Check out the website below.

http://www.heresyclothing.com

If you are an musician, band, actor, stage, or cabaret performer and require promotional photography for applications or websites and flyers then I can help. I can provide images on CD or prints tailored to your requirements. Get in touch today for a quotation.

This beautiful steel-boned corset was created by Heresy Clothing and modelled by Bath-based burlesque star, Gemma Sheree

Gemma Sheree, burlesque star

Heresy corset detail.

Filed Under: David's blog, Fashion shoots, Personal Projects, Portrait shoots, Recent photoshoots Tagged With: boudoir, Bowens, Bowens Gemini, Bristol Burlesque, Burlesque, Fashion, Fashion shoot, flash photography, heresy clothing, pinup, portraits, Portraiture, Vintage

Summery vintage fashion shoot at Cox and Baloney’s, Bristol

27/02/2012 By David Leave a Comment

Last week saw me enjoy a fun test shoot with agency model, Milota, and a fantastic team.

The shoot took place at Bristol’s Cox and Baloney’s, a cool, quirky vintage boutique on Cheltenham Road, which itself feeds in to Gloucester Road, famous for its assortment of interesting independent business and dubbed by one national newspaper ‘Britain’s last real high street’.

For the shoot I assembled Ellee Hitchens, who’s work I had seen several times and was really keen to work with, and Gemma Smart, an inventive hair stylist currently working local for Mack Daddies.

Hair stylist Gemma works with ShootDHS model, Milota

Vintage fashion shoot, behind the scenes.

Makeup artist Ellee Hitchens and hair stylist Gemma Smart prepare for the second half of the shoot.

Milota, represented by Bath-based agency ShootDHS, is a striking Slovakian model and together with the shop’s boho vibe I was somehow reminded of Czechoslovakian new wave cinema like Valerie and her Week of wonders and especially Daises, and used that early 70s feel to communicate what I was after to the hair/makeup team.

ShootDHS model Milota at Cox and Baloney's, Bristol

Summery vintage-style fashion. Milota relaxes with a book at Cox and Baloneys.

Cox and Baloney’s has a unique bohemian vibe offering plenty of instantly usable backdrops for photography. Downstairs is a bookstore, ‘Bud’s Books’, with an eclectic mix of used titles and a full dressmaking and alterations service, twentythreeworkshop, run by Laura.

If you're looking for a fabulous dress for summer, checking out twentythreeworkshop, based downstairs at Cox and Baloneys.

Milota reclines downstairs in Bud's Books as Cox and Baloneys.

For the shoot we had two outfits. One was kindly loaned by Laura, and the other made up of retro items from the assortment upstairs. I decided to create two distinct looks for each outfit, shooting downstairs with my Bowens Gemini 500 studio flash and TravekPak (there was not much usable natural or ambient light to speak of) for a more stylised look and then, shooting upstairs with fast prime lenses where there was plenty of window light. We also had hair stylist Gemma put the hair up for the second shot, hopefully giving an impression of two completely separate shoots – test shoots are all about trying our new ideas.

I shoot a lot with my Sigma 50mm f/1.4 these days, which is a truly brilliant little lens. Sigma is really coming out with lenses that are great in their own right, rather than simply being a cheaper versions of Canon’s offerings. In fact, the Sigma 50mm is pricier than Canon mid-range 50mm, but still well short of their L-series lens. The Sigma delivers beautiful out-of-focus areas and remain acceptable sharp at its widest aperture, if you’re careful to nail focus. I also made heavy use of another favourite, my Canon 85mm f/1.8, which is my go-to glass for portraits.

Vintage fashions at Cox and Baloney's, Bristol

Vintage fashions in the tea room at Cox and Baloney's, Bristol

Milota window light portrait

It was an enjoyable, relatively short photo shoot with an absolutely first rate team and I’m sure everyone will have something fabulous of their portfolios.

You can find Milota’s ShootDHS agency profile here, while Ellee Hitchens’s website can be found here. If you’ve never visited Cox and Baloney’s, check out their website too. Dressmaker Laura has her own blog here.

Filed Under: David's blog, Fashion shoots, Personal Projects Tagged With: bath, Bowens Gemini, Bristol, bristol photography, Bristol portraiture, Canon 85mm, cox and baloney, Dave Hill-Souch, Ellee Hitchens, Fashion shoot, gemma smart, montpelier, portraits, retro fashion, sigma 50mm, Studio Lighting, twentythreeworkshop, vintage fashion

Quick glimpse of me on OneTribe TV video

20/02/2012 By David Leave a Comment

A recent photo shoot for fashion designer Masato saw me assist Bath photographer Tim Baker. The shoot was covered by One Tribe TV, a locally-based product company thatmakes specialist factual programmes as well as offering media training. The Masato shoot was filmed and edited by Toby Russell and you can see the results via his Vimeo account here. See if you can shot me holding a reflector or two! Great job, Toby.

MASATO in Bath from Toby Russell on Vimeo.

Filed Under: David's blog, Fashion shoots, Recent photoshoots Tagged With: Fashion, Fashion shoot, OneTribe TV, Tim Baker, Toby Russell

Assisting on Masato fashion shoot, Bath

08/11/2011 By David 7 Comments

Last week I was fortunate enough to lend a hand on fashion shoot for the fast-emerging Masato-brand in Bath’s Parade gardens with fashion photographer, Tim Baker.

Tim operates the The Watermill Studios just outside Bath, where he completes work for a wide range of clients. His studio is perhaps unique in that it’s entirely water-powered, making for an incredibly eco-friendly location. When not in use for Tim’s own projects, the well-equipped studio is available for hire.

UK-based Japanese fashion designer Masato, began his working life as a hair stylist before he applied for a degree in Fashion Design at Saint Martins University. Masato was in great demand, working with Giles Deacon and brands like Ghost. He has also worked with the English National Ballet, creating three dresses that featured in a major publicity campaign.

He launched his own Masato label in 2011 allowing to put togather his own stunning collections. These are becoming available at more boutiques across the UK and you can find his designs at British Designers@Fashion Capital in Bath. This is where the photo shoot began. ShootDHS-represented model Sophie was prepared by hair stylist Zac Fennell and Bristol-based makeup artist Ellee Hitchens. Photo assistant was April Barrie, who also has a great portfolio of fashion images on her website.

Zac is co-director of Bath’s Artizan Salons and styles the hair of VIPs like Olympic Gold Medalist Amy Williams. He also made it through to the through to the final of the national TV show Great British Hairdresser.

ShootDHS founder Dave Hill-Souch has recently seen his agency become the exclusive supplier to the label and has forged a close working relationship with Masato and his increasingly talked-about brand. Dave had a clear idea of the kids of imagery Masato tends to favour. Part of the brief on this occasion was to make the images scream Bath in order to complement other Masato photo shoots that would say ‘London’.

With the entire run of Parade Gardens available (it was closed to the general public due to the season) Tim and team had plenty of options to set up great shots. This time of year sees warm golden light present throughout the day and Tim used this to great effect to create rich and involving imagery to complement Masato’s beautiful and cleverly-designed dresses and jackets.

Tim downloaded the images directly to his MacBook and but the end of the shoot he had some stunning fashion images in the can.

Here are a few ‘behind the scenes’ images I managed to capture.

Zac Fennell works his magic on ShootDHS's Sophie

The shoot was filmed by a local TV outfit, One Tribe Media.

The Masato fashion shoot was even filmed by a local TV outfit, One Tribe Media.

More hair styling in progress.

Tim Baker find a great shot in the shade of a tree to show off this fabulous Masato jacket.

Dave Hill-Souch helps the model warm up her hands on an increasingly chilly Autumn day in Bath's Parade Gardens.

Zac creates a hair up style for some of the images.

A hair-up style was used for for some of the photographs.

Hair stylist Zac Fennell pauses for a live Tweet of his work.

Tim was able to use the trees' Autumn colours to great effect on the shoot.

Fashion Photographer Tim Baker was able to use the trees' Autumn colours to great effect on the shoot.

Makeup Artist Ellee Hitchens works her magic.

Makeup Artist Ellee Hitchens gives Sophie some finishing touches.

Model Sophie takes a break for some orange juice, while Artizan Hair's Zac Fennel adjusts her 'do.

Golden Autumn light shone across Parade Gardens during the shoot.

Bath Fashion Photographer Tim Baker lines up a shot in the City's Parade Gardens.

Tim Baker and assistant, April Barrie.

UPDATE: A selection of Tim Baker’s fabulous images from the Masato shoot can be viewed on the designer’s blog here:

Filed Under: David's blog, Fashion shoots, Recent photoshoots Tagged With: April Barrie, Artizan hair, bath, Dave Hill-Souch, Ellee Hitchens, Fashion, Fashion shoot, Masato, Parade Gardens, ShootDHS, Tim Baker, Zac Fennell

Alt model mini-shoot

31/10/2011 By David Leave a Comment

I enjoyed a fun little shoot with fab Bristol-Based model Chantelle last week. Chantelle had been enjoying some shoots recently and had a Model Mayhem page with plenty of ‘alt’ like images. As there’d been a lot of fetish elements in recent fashion collections from the likes of Louis Vuitton I thought shooting the model in more of a ‘fashion’ style might be fun and give her a different look in her portfolio.

I sent her a brief mood board showing some cool fashion images and some drawn from classic european horror movies, which seemed to chime with the style and had an interesting aesthetic.

The photographs were shot in my small home studio, making use of a silver bounce umbrella and Bowens Softlite reflector. Chantelle took care of her own makeup.

Black lace. Shot with Bowens Softlite beauty size and bounce umbrella.

Model Chantelle.

A hint of fetish-fashion with the 'bondage tape' tape. Fetish style hit the catwalks this season with names like Louis Vuitton appropriating elements of the aesthetic..

Chantelle has a fantastic face with elfin features reminiscent of a young Tori Amos.

Sadly, I don't get as much time as I'd like to rock out on the guitar these days. Still this custom red-and-orange Zilla Cabs amp cabinet and sunburst Gibson ES335 were great props to set off Chantelle's rock chick looks.

Filed Under: Fashion shoots, Personal Projects, Portrait shoots, Recent photoshoots Tagged With: Bowens, Bowens Gemini, bristol photography, Fashion shoot, flash photography, portraits, Portraiture

‘Dark suit’ – model test fashion shoot, Bristol

26/10/2011 By David Leave a Comment

I recently had a small test shoot with Bristol-raised model Ozy Hussian. A Computing student and part-time model, Ozy was keen to show a bit more versatility in his portfolio, which currently contained some good sports/streetwear images.

The obvious thing to do was involve a suit but dress it up in a way that wouldn’t be out of place with Ozy’s personal style.

To make things interesting, I thought we’d approach the shoot as if we were devising a small magazine feature with the title, ‘One high-street suit, four looks’ – the idea to take the same suit and go from workwear through to clubwear. A lot of young guys get their first suit for weddings, funerals, graduations and the like so our imaginary magazine feature would showcase a few cool looks beyond this. So, in other words, I turned personal stylist for the day. Gok Wan – watch out.

The four styles created were:

A sharp workwear look, where Ozy would look the part thrashing out a big deal with a top client.
A dress-to impress partywear look.
A rock’n'roll dress-down gig look.
A cool night-on-the-tiles clubbin’ look.

Not bad stuff from one inexpensive high street suit!

Lighting-wise I wanted to introduce loads of drama. The model was primarily lit by my Bowens Softlite reflector and a Bowens Gemini 500 studio flash. The Bowens Softlite a kind of beauty dish, which gives a great compromise between hard and soft light. It’s best when you can get it quite close to the model. A slight lick of fill was sometimes used too, provided by another Bowens Gemini and a ‘soft silver’ bounce umbrella.

Hard day at the office? Ozy wears Zara suit, Tie Rack tie, Charles Tyrwhitt slimfit shirt.

Party where it's 'dress to impress'? Ozy wears Zara suit, Primark tuxedo shirt, Primark skinny tie.

Rock'n'Roll. In the band? At the gig? Ozy wears Zara suit, T. Rex tee, vintage scarf, commando-style Dr Martens boots.

In da club. Ozy wears Zara suit, Asos vest top, Wrangler jeans belt.

Filed Under: Fashion shoots, Personal Projects, Portrait shoots, Recent photoshoots Tagged With: Bowens, Bowens Gemini, Bristol, bristol photography, Bristol portraiture, Fashion, Fashion shoot, flash photography, male model, model, portrait photography, portraits, Portraiture, test shoot

Maxidress, halterneck dress fashions…

10/10/2011 By David Leave a Comment

During the summer I enjoyed a small shoot with aspiring local burlesque artist, Missy Bijou, with styling and makeup work provided by Ally Katte. We made use of my ‘living room studio’ using Bowens Gemini studio lighting and a Lastolite Hilite background. Cross-processing and black and white conversions were done with Photoshop.