Lara Jade Workshop

Photographer - Rosa Fay

Models - Gemma (dark wig) and Christie (blonde wig)

Make Up - Leah M

Hair - Adele C

Styling - Georgia

Now this, was an amazing day!

I recently attended a photography workshop hosted by Lara Jade. I absolutely adore her photography and generally admire her, so when I heard that she would be holding a workshop in London; I just had to get a place!

The studio was fantastic, although very well hidden. So well hidden, that I - me being the clever-clogs I am - stood around the entrance for about 15 mins/half an hour, wondering how to get in... Before realizing that there was a bell. Once inside though, I saw that it was filled with all sorts of amazing props, including: a carousel horse, a shelf of antique books, an iron bed, several big letters, a row of old folding theatre seats and many other awesome things!

Meeting Lara in person was very surreal. I'd only ever seen her in pictures and on the Creative Live shoot she hosted, so to suddenly see her in person... She was a celebrity!

Throughout the day I met many lovely photographers who had joined the course too, and after swapping cards, we then got to do some shooting. 

We had two models, both styled and makeuped with a 60s theme - which just so happens to be my favorite era, so I was very excited when they came out. Firstly, we got split up into two groups with a model each, and took it in turns to have our own time with the model so that we got a change to pose them ourselves. Then the models swapped outfits and the groups swapped models and we continued to take it in turns. After that, both models and groups were brought together and we all shot at the same time, jostling for the right place to get the best shot.

All in all, it was a fantastic day! Met new people and learnt a lot.

Shots 3 & 6 are of Lara Jade herself.

Beautiful Creature

 

This is another one of my infamous, thrown-together-at-the-last-second shoots that we all know and love. Seriously though, I really had no idea what this shoot would be on. All I knew is that I had to do a shoot that very day as i was going to a workshop with Lara Jade the next day (more on that later) and that I wanted to use this particular model (also used in THIS and THIS shoot) as I hadn't shot with her in a while. Hours before the shoot, the model asked what she should bring and I mentioned a couple of things I had briefly seen her wear before: A flower garland headpiece - that she made herself - and some awesome contact lenses.

Yep, thats right - Contacts. Those are not her normal eyes, nor have they been computerized or photoshopped. Those are purple contact lenses. They begin where her real iris's end, making her eyes seem bigger. As soon as I saw her with them in, I instantly knew that I wanted the shoot to be otherworldly. I wanted it to seem as if she was an innocent creature from another world, come to observe earth through dazzeling eyes. Kind of like The Host in a way.

Other items include: collar necklace, real amethyst earrings and dress from an old shop that is now closed down. Heels from charity shop.

Highlight Of The Day!

(Your going to want to read this)

We were taking some shots down a very narrow road, in front of a decrepit wall. The passage was so narrow, though, that I had to stand on the opposite side of the road to photograph the model. Whilst I was taking shots, a couple (pictured below) came walking towards us. Without saying a word to one another - or to us - they casually strode up to the model, standing either side of her with big grins for the camera. It was hilarious!

They swiftly moved on after I'd taken the picture so I didn't get a chance to give them my card. However, if they ever see this post - from the both of us: Thank you for making our day!

Red Rose Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day!

This would be the type of shoot I'd do when I suddenly find myself with a prop and want to do a shoot right there and then. The prop being the beautiful, real red rose. It was being used as a pin for someone's jacket and I decided to steal it. Its an extraordinary flower, I really haven't seen anything so beautiful before. It is also, very symbolic of valentines day (chocolate and roses) and thus the shoot became my valentines post. I complimented the look with a necklace used as a head piece.

Style Profile: Boy George/Grace

So I wanted to do a post on someone for their style and fashion sense. This is essentially a style profile, and my subject is Grace. I have known Grace all my life but I chose her because I think her style is fascinating. Whenever I see her she's always dressed in something more interesting than the last time. Among her own clothes, she also uses her parents' old clothes to style her everyday outfits.

A typical, everyday outfit for Grace would consist of denim shorts (cut from jeans), tights, a flamboyantly patterned old '80s shirt (from her dad's wardrobe), an oversized heavy-knit jumper, and trainers of some description. She keeps the ensemble together with a messy up-do, and of course, the signature, unintentionally Boy George black hat. This style always seems to give off the just-got-out-of-bed-but-I-look-fabulous look.

When we met for the shoot, I asked Grace about the Boy George look she had going. She told me that it was completely unintentional! The black hat is what she seems to wear the most, but it just seems to give off the Boy George look. Apparently among her friends, this style has given her the nickname Boy George.

I asked a Grace a few questions on what led to her style:

How would you describe your style?

I find it really hard to name it. I guess soft grunge/hipster.

Who were your clothes originally inspired by?

Eliza Doolittle.

Music Type?

Indie. Favourite bands include - Bombay Bicycle Club, The Vaccines, and Two Door Cinema Club.

Do you have an idol?

Fav person ever is Matt Smith!

Where do you shop most?

BS8, Urban Outfitters, Topshop and my dad's wardrobe.

So there you have it! For the shoot, I asked Grace to bring along three outfits and these are shown in the photos above. I absolutely adore her denim play suit used in photos 1, 2 and 7. Also, the yellow spotted top in photos 5 and 6 was actually her mum's when she was younger. Grace simply took off the sleeves!

To see more of what makes Grace, Grace - check out her Tumblr:

http://lipstickminds.tumblr.com

Second Snow Shoot (Say My Name)

This shoot was very, very quickly thrown together the night before. It all came about because there was suddenly another burst of beautiful snow in the evening. We were frantically chucking messages back and forth about clothes and such, but then quickly realized that the snow might not last till the morning as it seemed to be disappearing quickly. So, we left  it and waited over night to see what would happen. 

The next morning I woke very early (unheard of for me) and sent one, very bleary eyed text to the model: 'Worth it?' Turns out, yes it was! Within the next three hours, a very cold model arrived on my doorstep, I chucked a vintage River Island coat at her - used previously in the Noir shoot - and we charged out into the cold.

Although it hadn't snowed much that morning and there where big patches of non-snow everywhere, as soon as we strode out the house, thick flakes began to fall down. It was perfect! Exactly what we wanted. When we finally made it back, we had hot chocolate and listened to a mix of Eminem and Destiny's Child remixes (hence, Say My Name) whilst I edited.

Innocence (Turn Around)

So, I'd been considering doing a shoot like this for a while, but I wanted to find a model that would be comfortable in that sort of situation. So, in the end I settled on the model I had used before in 'The Devon Summer'. That shoot was done such a long time ago, I find it fascinating how much my photography has changed since then.

The post is labeled thusly because one, the 'Innocence' is an inside joke and the 'Turn Around' is due to the fact that I asked the model to turn around a few times so I could get different angels of shots. However, every time I said those words, the lyrics to Conor Maynard's 'Turn Around ft. Ne-Yo' would invariably slip out. Therefore, every time I asked the model to do so, I would suddenly break out into song. ...Yeah. I am always the professional. 

(The model from the next shoot coming up also pointed out that I could have broken into 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart' by Bonnie Tyler as well - More on that later).

Snow (Finally!)

Yes! This is what we've been waiting for!

If you live in this city, you will know that snow is something that happens over a day or two, every other year. Its something that is very rare around these parts. Its even more rare that we get more than a light snowy dusting. To put this into perspective; the last time we had a proper, thick snow fall - I didn't have a blog. 

In fact, I was so positive that we wouldn't be getting any snow this year that my last Twitter comment was: 'The #Weather tomorrow: 'Omg! Is that snow?! ...No, wait, it's just dandruff.' Long story short, it won't snow. #LetDownTooManyTimes' Yes, I was that positive that nothing would happen. I was up till about two the night before editing, and still no signs. However, very early the next morning I was woken up to the sound of people yelling 'SNOOOW!!! YES!!' 

Anyway, to get to the point - I'd never done a snow shoot before and I was so desperate to grab this opportunity that I practically dragged my mini model out the house, covered her in my vintage fur coat and old fluffy hat, threw a Hamleys bear at her and stuck her in the middle of the snow. The poor thing was freezing but I very much appreciate her effort!

Click here to follow my Twitter babblings!