Gabriella Howson: That Leggy Bird

My first subject since the upgrade to my beloved 7D, Gabby, was back again. This time for a studio shoot.

She got to Farnborough at 11am and we had our first cup of tea, unzipped the suitcase of womanly wonder and caught up a bit. She told me about all the bits and bobs that she had brought to wear including all the new holiday clothes, her 'Sienna Miller' dress and also, my favourite: ‘The Disappointment Hat’.

I have to explain the disappointment hat now that I have mentioned it’s name so that you know why it is disappointing: Gabby and Dom (brother) went to London Fashion week one year and Gabby found this really neat hat and belt, which she was dead chuffed with… at first… but then (the cheeky git) Dom ends up finding various amazing pieces including a really nice jacket, and I think a suit? and some other bits, leaving Gabby feeling a little disappointed with her items (or lack thereof) come home-time. Hence this becoming ‘The Disappointment Hat’.

Well, OK fine, I guess you had to be there.

So moving on (tough crowd…) O_O

We started out ‘Simples’ as is the norm. A bit of warming up. Howson got her green cardigan on and we did a couple of headshots. Literally a couple. Then we ended up chatting for about 2-3 hours drinking approximately… 120 cups of tea? Approximately.

Then we decided to change outfit. The cardigan was nice and all, but a bit boring, which Gabby is not.

Light green. Bracelet, top and necklace. Holiday wear to be precise:

What a face! So beautiful!

(I really am quite lucky in that I have so many beautiful friends really.
It sure helps with a profession like photography!)

Lovely. And looking a bit like Lena Headey again in that last one!

Our 121st cup of tea:

We went for an elegant black outfit, again on black and Gabby was looking amazing as per. She scrubs up lovely for a posh bird (as Bill Bailey would say).

OK, then we had the snazzy looking cardigan. Wicked colours for a good start on the white:

In which Gabby started pulling her Lena Headey face again.

Seriously, do you not think so!? Sometimes, she really does look like her. Or Lena Headey looks like Gabby. More than likely. I knew Gabby before I saw Lena.

I'll just have to dress her up as Cersei Lannister and then you'll see. Oh yes. You'll see...

OK. NEXT! Look at this dress:

I ♥ this dress SO much.

It's all officey, heavy material and grey (though I like grey) but then the cut is just fantastic. WANT!

And Gabby in this dress is just… well…

Thanks Wayne. That's exactly what I was getting at.

Party on.

So, While we're on dresses, we got through a couple of those too.

There was the colourful, patterned one with the hat:

There was the 'very expensive oneo (don't touch it, don't touch it, don't touch it...)

Cute as hell.

Then we had the extremely colourful holiday dress. Which I also love:

She looks so catalogue in that one. :D

Backlit, for a lovely headshot. Mwah.

Close up.

And then more of an artistic Beauty shot. :)

Finally, as is seemingly becoming tradition on my shoots (I swear that this is not mandatory!), we had a little bit of partial nudity...

And the last in a 300 style colouring... for no particular reason...

<_<

>_>

Well folks, that's a wrap for that shoot though keep your eyes open as one, you might fall down the stairs otherwise and two, our stunning, 6ft tall, leggy IT/LARP geek goddess may well be coming back to see yours truly in January/February for another round.

*ding ding*

Wicked.

Gabriella Howson: 'Derelicte Chic'

So, Sunday 3rd July, I have a plan for my first photoshoot with the new camera but "oh no!" The model can't make it!


I posted on Facebook asking if anyone was around and rather unexpectedly, a wonderful young woman by the name of Gabriella Howson mentioned that she was available if I was interested.


Now, I think it's important to note at this point, I have always thought that Gabby was one of the most beautiful women I knew. Especially for a fellow geek. :D So of course I went back and said I would love to shoot her. And the show went on!


In the morning, I was modelling for Wayne KC (Noir Photography) and Rachel Nicholson (make-up artist) for a bit of portfolio-building work. However it was the afternoon I was excited about!


At 2pm Gabby (and her brother, Dom) met Rachel, Wayne and I in a nearby pub where we chatted about 'the plan' as if there was one! :D


We headed to a derelict looking area in Basingstoke and Rachel got started on the make-up whilst we set up and chatted about the fact we forgot to get any lunch, make-up on men, and how Gabby actually looked remarkably like actress, Lena Headey.

Spot the difference!

Back to the shoot. Now, Rachel, luckily not too exhausted (and starved) by this point did a lovely job of the make-up, as you can see here:

 

...and I finally got shooting. With my new camera. Squee!

The rather leggy 6ft Gabby, wasn't technically a model but god-damn... she could have fooled me. What a face!

We got a few images that I'm really chuffed with and overall, I'd say the model, the makeup, the ♥CAMERA♥ and overall the whole day was a huge hit.

Gabby took to modelling like a duck to water. Didn't feel the slightest bit awkward (I don't think... ) and just went with it. And it showed!

Even Wayne got into the spirit and after complaining about not having any makeup on all day (oh yes you did), Rachel gave in and gave him a seeing to with her makeup brushes! Ha ha. :D

As for Dom... well... see for yourself...

... oh dear.