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Model Mercybongo Sixth Shoot, 1920's Vibe

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ts Mercy time again.!!!!

This lovely model is now on her sixth shoot with us, with still more to come

She is a great model and so enjoyable to be around. Permanently positive and happy she makes working with her so easy. So on this shoot we have a bit of a 1920s 'flapper' look going on/ Black and golden dress on a yellow background to highlight the gold. Mercy looks the part. We also have some sporty type pictures with a hula-hoop. Those images have a Leni Riefenstahl feel to them I am not saying I agree with her politics (far from it), or the unpleasant company she kept. Rather her strong images of statuesque German Olympic sports personnel/ She was and still is, a controversial photographer, but she was good at what work she produced. That said it was not my intention to produce that kind of image, rather it just happened and turned out that way.

We also created some dreamy effect pictures using a Vaseline smeared UV filter on the lens and Mercy wrapped in a white mesh material.. I am happy with the results we obtained, even with the more tongue in cheek 'Cowgirl' styled pictures, just for the fun of it. So thank you Mercybongo for being a true star. Thanks also to Shadrine at Kavour Beauty. Phil Lynam at The Boardroom Studio in Derby and to Carl and Amy for their help on the day

We shall see you again soon Mercy x

Model Gallery Lee Henshaw at the Art Gallery

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Male model and studio owner Lee Henshaw asked me to do a shoot for him recently. So I agreed and scratched my head a bit thinking of interesting places to go. After some deliberation I called a local Art Gallery with huge ca vinous walls and ceiling if we could shoot in their place. Thankfully they said yes and the shoot went ahead. I think we got some decent stuff. There was no up close portraits you would find from a studio setting, but we made use of the minimalist surroundings in the gallery and outside the building as well. I hope you enjoy the images?

Model Gallery for Lydia Clifford's Second Shoot

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Here was a shoot date with Zoe Birtwhistle in mind, sadly she was not ready with her hats that she was to model in so we have had to postpone till a later date. But not all was lost. The amazing Lydia Clifford stepped in to take the strain and so we did our four hour session with her. We have worked with Lydia before so I knew I could trust her. Her work ethic is a good one as is her time keeping and shear knowledge of her job. True to form she was brilliant and here are the results. One of the costumes was an orange pair of trousers with an orange t-shirt with the words 'RIOT' across her chest. She is also holding a bull horn as well for effect. Another look is based on an old picture I saw in a Hollywood magazine of actress and dancer Ann Margret wearing a black roll neck jumper and black tights. It was a fashion look that I thought was hood and have wanted to shoot in that style for a long time. Finally doing it with Lydia.

So thank you then to our model Lydia Clifford. Our makeup artist Shadrine at Kavour Beauty. Phil Lynam at The Boardroom Studio in Derby and my dear wife Amy for all their hard work.

Mercybongo – Third Shoot with Carl Tilson

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This is Mercybongo's second shoot this year with us and there are still two more to come before the year is out. However, this shoot was based on the video of 'Shock the monkey,' by Peter Gabriel complete with tribal makeup and match suits for both her and her partner Carl. The idea was to make both models look androgynous in white clothing and white background. I have actually used the alternative blue versions here as I think they look better. Thanks then to Mercybongo and Carl for their input and assistance. To Shadrine, at Kavour Beauty for here great makeup. To Phil Lynam at the boardroom studio for his help and of course Amy for being there.

Still Life Update

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In the closing days of April we did a great shoot with the amazing Mercybongo who we last shot in December. She is so keen we had to get her back. She cut some tulips from her garden on the day and brought them along for the shoot. They were so joyous and bright that I had to take their pictures when we got home. So as a bonus I have captured them as a Still life set as well as the standard flowers update. Mercybongos pictures are still being edited as we speak, so should be available in Mays update.


Elle Jones model in the style of Norma Jean Baker shoot

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During our last visit to see my parents I managed to watch a film on Netflix called 'Blondie.' I had previously heard some music from it and had downloaded it, so was curious to see the movie. It is a bio pic of the life of Norma Jean Baker (aka Marilyn Monroe). While not the greatest film I had ever seen it was not that bad either. This is despite the film getting a critical panning and a Golden Turkey award for its troubles. It did however contain some very sexually graphic and disturbing scenes that were both pertracted and uncomfortable to watch. Especially that is when your Mum is in the same room watching it with you !!! But it did show Norma Jean Baker as a very troubled and lonely woman bereft of a father figure in her life and early death. Very human with all our complications and far from the sex symbol and icon she has become today. So in the end it is quite a moving film in many ways. Norma Jean certainly did not deserve the abuse and treatment she got at the hands of the men in her life, Hollywood or the press. Sad.

Anyway, film critique aside, it did get me thinking of doing a shoot along the lines of some of her most iconic looks and pictures. And to this end I needed a model to pull this off … Enter fashion model Elle Jones.

Elle Jones and I had been contacting each other regarding doing something together in the studio for a long time. Since way before COVID came along, so I thought she would be perfect for the job. And she was. While not a blond like Marilyn, these images are not so much a carbon copy but rather a 'In the style of ….' look. Elle was brilliant and slayed the job completely. Shadrine at Kavour Beauty provided the hair and makeup and Phil Lynam provided the studio and lighting. Amy was as always my assistant. So I would like to give a big thank you to all there and for making these Elle Jones in the style of Norma Jean Baker pictures worth a second glance

Project – 'Lujon Fressonique' Update

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I had intended to do some more of these styled images at the December shoot with model Mercybongo, but never got around to it. So its back on the flowers again for this time and a new cream background, rather than the old sandpaper I photographed it against in previous sessions.


Mercybongo First Shoot (but not the last!)

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I finished of the year in the studio with a truly great model who is reasonably local to me and happy to have weird ideas run past her for shoots. Mercybongo is a lovely African lady who put herself to out of the way the day before the shoot and have her hair specially braided at Shadrines Beauty Salon This help enormously as on the day Shadrine could weave small pieces of rope into her hair.

Mercy was a pleasure to work with and we already have plans lined up for more shoots in the new year so I can not wait. The big rope was supplied by Phil Lynam at the excellent Boardroom Studio, so a big shout to him. As well as a thank you to both Mercy and at Kavour Beauty.


Marie Jean Saxton Second Fashion Shoot

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had planned to work with this months model a second time and the shoot was going ahead earlier this year – but then she got pregnant. Thankfully she is back now, and looking in great shape for this fashion shoot taken at The Boardroom Studio in Derby. Its always a joy and privileged to work with creatives like Marie and Shadrine my makeup artist. It makes all the difference to the shoot. So I hope the pictures speak for themselves. Thanks to Marie Jean Saxton for modelling. To Shadrine at Ka'Vour Beauty for all her hair and makeup work and to Phil Lynam at the brilliant Boardroom Studio for his valuable help and advice.

Zoe Birtwhistle Fashion Shoot – Before Long

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The largest part of this months shoot material is being used on another site, but here are a few head and shoulders shots I took of fashion model Zoe Birtwhistle. The head piece she is wearing that looks like a Radio Active sign, was made by hand for this shoot by Zoe herself. It was brilliant, I am eternally in her debt for going to such lengths to create something so original for this shoot.

The pictures as usual were taken in the amazing Boardroom Studio in Derby, with thanks to Phil Lynam for its use and his help. So also a special thanks also to Amy for helping me on the day and providing food. A warm thanks obviously to Zoe, you were brilliant.

Tasha Lawer Model Shoot

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A couple of months ago I made contact with a brilliant Derby model, Natasha Lawer who was going to stand in for Monalisa Moyo if she could not make our last shoot in the St. James Hotel. Well in the end she did not have to, but I appreciated her support and promised her a shoot of her own at The Boardroom Studio in Derby. I am pleased to be able to show you the pictures from the shoot and was amazed at this versatile model. Easy to get along and work with, her body moves were amazing and put to full use. So she was awesome and I would like her to do another shoot with me next year if she can. Thanks to Natasha for her poses, to Phil Lynam for his help at the studio and to Amy for making me some props to go in the models hair.