Pure Curvation Shoot: Charmaine Charuma

I pulled up to Pete Baldrey's house on Sunday 18th March and unloaded my studio gear. We were shooting some of the Pure Curvation girls today. Pete was working with Natasha Teixeira who has returned from extended leave and needed some fresh portfolio images and I was test shooting Charmaine Charuma, the new girl.

Pete set up the backdrop and I set up the lights whilst waiting for the girls. Pete then went to collect Charmaine from the train station making us ready to shoot for about 11am.

Charmaine and I went for something a little soft and feminine initially and I went for four of the lights as we had the option today. The two D-Lite 4's at the front and the two D-Lite 2's whiting out the backdrop on almost full throttle.

 

Charmaine actually came to us via another of the PC girls, Yvonne Gumbere and we're very pleased she did. Charmaine was a total natural.

Next we untied Charmaine's plait, separated them for more of a dreadlock effect and went for a baggy shirt and leggings.

Interestingly, Charmaine and Yvonne actually have the exact same pair of leggings. XD

This next outfit was my favourite. I love turquoise for a start but get a load of this...

We were just wrapping up from this one when Charmaine put these glasses on and we just had to get some pictures!

This is by far my favourite from the shoot!

A bit Nicki Minaj? Wouldn't you say?

Finally we went for shorts and vest for a more hip hop feel.

Sexy, right?

This delightful new addition to the Pure Curvation team can be booked already via their website or by emailing bookings@purecurvation.com.

Well quick! Go on!

Alyssa Johnson: Secret Sex Kitten

Alyssa Johnson and I had been meaning to work together for a fair while. We wanted to wait until we had the right opportunity as Alyssa had a fab idea for a shoot and we wanted it to be perfect. Wanting perfection, I also enlisted the help of the ever-beautiful Rachel Nicholson for the make-up. (Yes, again. What can I say? I like variety but she's really good!).

So Alyssa and I decide on a date, the 13th August (I know, risky!) and somehow, the most wonderful Pete Baldrey (aka. ClickMore) finds it in his heart to open up his studio doors for us at 10am despite having LITERALLY just flown back from Greece the following night and therefore being subject to a heavy dose of The Jetlag. We like Pete a lot.

After a cup of tea, Rachel Nicholson got started on the make-up as is becoming the usual drill. I set up the backdrop and lights whilst keeping an eye out for Rehea Watson (you may recall from a previous blog) on Soccer AM. The most beautiful Soccerette there has ever been, I am sure of it:

Now, not many things things can convince me to watch a football-related programme, but I have to say, Rehea Watson, the leggy stunner is definitely one of the exceptions!

Here she is on the Soccerettes' website!

http://www.socceram.com/soccerettes/0,21655,13874_7091854,00.html

Meanwhile, as you can see below, the make-up was coming along rather beautifully. I took a couple of pictures along the way (obviously) and Alyssa was painted up nice.

We had a couple of quick looks at Jessie J for a little inspiration (she does take a very good picture, that one) as Alyssa had mentioned her previously and then in no time at all, we were off!)

Alyssa is part St Helena'n which apparently accounts for this stunningly curvy bottom of hers. I mean, seriously, just look at it. Wow.

I would apologise to Alyssa for objectifying her a little in that previous statement but I'm actually not sorry in the slightest. I'm sure all of you are more than happy to know that she is also a really intelligent, funny and kind young lady but that we clearly aren't studying those aspects of her so closely at present.

So that was using the honeycomb like a spotlight to get that sexy ringleader look with the hat and cane. This lighting was easily the best for this set and I found it hard to choose my favourite edit.

Despite that being the better lighting for shapes and shadows, I also was rather fond of this following shot (a good one for you Rach, stellar job).

After this bit, unfortunately (I had to hold back some tears) Alyssa had to go and wash all of the make-up off. *sob*

We stopped for pizza, again provided by Pete. *worship worship* So big thanks for that or we might have starved. I forget to eat when I'm shooting you see and then other people go hungry thinking I must be stopping for food soon... Soon right?... Right Chloe?... Nope. I starve them. Quite mean really but certainly not deliberate. Accidentally evil. Yes.

So, a generous-sized portion of ClickMore pizza each (guzzled like little piggies) and a little rest. Alyssa half-naked and wearing her undies and a really gorgeous little wrap around whilst she ate and then had the next round of make-up applied. We were doing lingerie next. Exciting.

I set up the next load of lighting and backdrop stuffs. Put something comfy down and covered it over in backdrop. Worked rather nicely, I think:

That was a softbox up by the face and another dimmer one up high shining down over the body. I liked it as I think it gave a beautiful tone and shade variety that highlighted all of Alyssa's shapes and curves rather well.

Also adore the following shot. Same lighting but a lot more powerful, I think. Gorgeous expression from Alyssa and I think it just really highlights those eyes of hers. Especially with the delicate blue eyeshadow.

Then we had the flowery shorts! Love these.

Cute on a stool!:

And I got a couple of lovely headshots too!

... and of Rachel:

And of course, one of me, courtesy of Rachel:

Stunner.

Pure Curvation Day

On Sunday 24th June, an event was going on in little Cranleigh. OK, not that little. (It's the biggest village in the UK, don't you know?). Pure Curvation (model agency) were having what I guess you'd call a 'fun day'.

There was a make-up artist (Rachel Nicholson again!), make-up assistant, Sammy Ford ;) a handful of photographers (myself, Pete Baldrey and Wayne KC) and a few of the girls from Pure Curvation flitting in and out throughout the day.

Activities included shooting, BBQ, ClickMore Pizza (if you've had it, you'll know), a bit of editing and generally nattering and having a giggle!

The Pure Curvation models who turned up were Jo Wood, Rehea Watson, Nickilee Hallett and the soon-to-be-PC, Marlyn Woodend! We also had a couple of extras who popped along to say hi and talk about potential modelling opportunities. All 'round, a pretty good day!

Pete did a little bit of shooting with Jo and a bit with Marlyn and I, myself some relaxed shooting with Marlyn and Rehea. Wayne got a couple of cheeky images of Rehea aswell having a little experimentation session (and a few arguments) with the studio equipment as generally, he prefers to work on location.

Meeting Marlyn face-to-face for the first time was an absolute pleasure. She was a wonderful girl to work with. Such a natural and I loved the makeup from Rachel for our little shoot.

And Rehea was beautiful (as usual... cow) and even in such a long flowing plain coloured dress, you could still see that she's got it. All she's got to do is get those big sexy lips in front of the lens and BAM! Stunned! The girl is oustanding. Fact.

She didn't even technically need the makeup but as you can see, you can't deny, it's pretty lovely. Good choice of colours again from our Rachel! (Thanks Rachel!)

I'm hoping there'll be another one of these events because, even though I didn't get that many images, it's alway wonderful to meet up with the Pure Curvation team and their girls.

Pure Curvation Website

They're always so sweet (or pleasantly abrupt in Nickilee's, case ;) ) and I still managed to chat to a few of the girls about arranging other shoots and discussing the potential to work with a few of my clients towards the end of this year and next year.

The Beginning

OK, so... I've finally decided to start blogging about my photography. I'm not sure whether this will be interesting for anyone but at the very least, I might find it interesting to read back one day!

 I'm going to start it off by briefly summing up how I got started and what I've been up to so far so that I can blog from the present.

I became interested in photography quite late. I  picked up a camera for the first time in 2009 at the fresh young age of 20 years.

Starting out as a freelance part-time model, I spent a lot of time with photographers, building up portfolios and the like. I had a lot of ideas for photoshoots but I found that the photographs themselves rarely came out as I had envisioned them. I realised that I wanted more than anything to create. To be the creator. As a model, your creativity can be limited as, whether your photographer is easygoing and flexible or not, you never truly have the control you need to create the image you are hoping for. You are always relying heavily on the photographer.

After getting to know a couple of photographers quite well, one in particular, (still a very good friend) Pete Baldrey effectively changed my life, I suppose. I mentioned that I would like to 'have a go' at photography and so he loaned me his Canon 350D and off I went!

My first 'photoshoot' with a wonderful girl, Kiera Gould (Masquerade shoot, note the pictures!), was amazing. We drove to Pete's studio and he showed me how to work the lighting and then told me to give him a shout if I needed anything. I was so excited! We were shooting late into the evening, throwing more and more ideas and potential images around. It is still to this day one of my favourite shoots just for the sheer amount of fulfillment it left me with.

After that shoot I was sincerely hooked and I am still bouncing around with excitement before every shoot to this day and I can be buzzing for days and days afterwards.

So there it is. That is how it began...