Recently, I enjoyed a great test shoot with amazing model and actress Jessica Elizabeth Swason, part of which included some retro fashion pinup-influences shots at The Lanes, Bristol.

Hair styling was done by Doug Hobbs at Hobbs Hairdressing, Bristol, organiser of the immensly popular Hobbs Shows with makeup work done by Jasmine Rogers, a talented makeup student at City of Bristol College.

The Lanes is a city-centre Bowling alley, decked out in a retro, 1950s style, so made a great backdrop for this part of the shoot, which could be called ‘vintage pinup with a modern twist’. For lighting, I mixed the ambient and natural light with a Bowens Softlight reflector – one of my favouring lighting modifiers – to give a studio-like ‘hyped’ feel to the shot. Not much Photoshop was needed, but Lightroom was used to boost contrast and darken/saturate certain colours.

We were looking for a modern take on pinup with these photographs.

Model Jess enjoys a glass of wine in this bar room scene at The Lanes, Bristol

The Lanes provided a wonderful retro setting.

Hair by Doug Hobbs.

Model and actress Jess finds a comfy chair.

These 1950s style shades were a nice touch.

Bowling ball portrait at The Lanes.

Oooh!