Wayne KC: Androgynous

I had an idea for a striking set of portrait photos of Wayne KC of NOIR Photography so we discussed it and met up one evening to give it a go.

Now I may have suggested to Wayne that these were only ‘portrait shots’… I didn’t mention that he’d be wearing dramatic make-up, gaffa tape, a leather collar and a long black skirt but sometimes, it’s better to keep these things to yourself rather than scare off your subject…

So I turned up with all my gear and set it all up. We used Wayne's background for ease as it was readily available and I sat him down and got started with his eye make-up. A nice set of smoky-black eyes, mascara, black eyeshadow, blackened eyebrows… you get the picture (you really will in a minute).

Next, I cut said gaffa into thin strips and positioned them around the lower eye in what I can only think to describe as a Clockwork Orange, owl-like manner.

He put the skirt on rather like a poncho and I put the leather collar (which is actually a leather cuff) around his neck and gaffa’d it to stay in place. It was at this point I realised that Wayne trusts me too much.

We took the first set of images from varying heights and angles. This straight on shot being my favourite of these:

This effect was achieved with the colour balance too on all the blacks only, giving it a sort of teal green radiance.

Next, we took off the skirt-poncho and leather cuff and gave Waynie some lover-ly black lips to balance out the darks and lights a little. I got him to take his shirt off as is customary in my shoots (I really do promise that it’s not) and got him sticking his elbows forward to bring out those gorgeous collar-bones and really step up the androgynous-ness… ness…

This time, the effect was achieved using a cyan 'variation' but this time, the whole image for a more alien look. Ooh.

Funny story: Wayne once dressed up as a girl on a night out and very nearly got hit on by a guy he knew. They were mortified.

That being said… he does look surprisingly good as a girl. Not only could he pull it off but he could pull it off better than a lot of actual girls…

A bit of an Andrej Pelic.

But he’s a boy! But he IS a boy! But he’s… a… boy… !?

Anyway, my thanks to Wayne for letting me attack him with black leather and gaffa tape. Especially as I’m a girl (otherwise I can’t see how it would have been a problem…)

Check out Wayne’s work here!:

Wayne’s Website

Wayne’s Facebook Page

Wayne’s Blog

Wayne’s Twitter

Pure Curvation Shoot II: Yvonne Gumbere

On the 1st April, I went back for the 2nd Pure Curvation shoot of the year.


Today I was shooting Yvonne Gumbere, a reasonably new recruit at Pure Curvation. I picked Yvonne and Charmaine Charuma up from their homes and made my way to Pete Baldrey's for the shoot.


Now Yvonne is quite something. She was obviously a talented model from the first time that Pete worked with her a short while back and she didn't fall short on our shoot either.


Just a portfolio update but I have to say, the girl is fantastic.

Beautiful eyes, stunning figure and legs up to here...

She's just got it.

We just did the two outfits, the above, which you've seen, and then, Yvonne had this gorgeous dress.

 Towards the end of our reasonably short session, Yvonne also broke out the moves!

This left one being my favourite.

The photoshopping effect on the skin (left image) is pretty neat, I've found. It is done using a black and white adjustment layer and then a duplicate of the original layer on the top using the overlay blending technique. I find personally that it's a great effect on black skin (as it gives it a shiny, semi-metallic feel... on white skin, it just looks crap XD ) and on men (mainly when they have stubble) as it gives a kind of dirty, rough feel to their images.

So they were my picks from the shoot.

I would most definitely recommend Yvonne as a model. We had a very short time together and there were loads of fantastic choices from this shoot. She's very open, excitable, determined and also very talented (which helps). If you're looking for someone to liven up your image, Yvonne is your girl.

Yvonne can be booked at Pure Curvation. Just email bookings@purecurvation.com to enquire!

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!

Callum Hawthorne: My Model Brother

Callum "Pretty-Boy" Hawthorne (or "Biebs" as Martin and I have taken to calling him since his Justin Bieberesque haircut) is my younger brother.


A 13-year-old football and althetic boy-prodigy, Callum is not very much like me.
(I wheeze a lot when moving around)


Our Mum and I have suggested modelling to him a couple of times and he's not been particularly interested, though last time, he did say that he'd give it a try. We think it may be because he's now got a lovely girlfriend (Amber) who is also in support of the idea and she's gorgeous so her opinion carries a certain extra sway.


So Saturday 21st January, I picked Callum up from Mum's and we headed over to Basingstoke.


Now then, I was a little concerned initially that he would feel too awkward in front of the camera and either wouldn't relax or wouldn't be able to keep a straight face. I have to say actually, he surprised me. He was very good at taking direction and, even though it was coming from his sister, of all people, he managed to take in everything I said. Quite a feat for a footballer as I understand that they are generally not accustomed to having to process their own thoughts.

We started off easy with a headshot, so here he is:

Unfortunately, yes, he is that pretty. I haven’t edited out a truckload of spots or had to ‘shop out a huge monobrow. He genuinely looks this good all the time.

Git.

Now then, I don’t know about you but I struggle with the fact that he’s only 13 (14 next month). I see some of these and he looks about 17 to me. Scary stuff.

I think this would be a good opportunity for me to add some of his baby photos in a big-sister-like, humiliating way but alas, I haven’t any handy. Maybe later.

2 bashes of cyan tint added here with Photoshop “Variations” for the interested.

I think it looks more like a ‘fashion’ image that way.
.

He’s only 13 and, as I said, he’s a football genius. Well… genius probably isn’t the term. Football… erm… talented person…. Something something. He’s also, pretty darn clever (…sometimes. He is also clearly blonde). He’s doing very well at school. He has a really pretty girlfriend (who, might I add, could also easily be a teen model). He’s very tall (important to some). He’s got a good mind-set for his future. He’s into… not excruciatingly terrible music… not great either but I’m sitting here thinking, I can’t think of any reason that this boy is not going to succeed in life. He’s got high hopes, but all the means to achieve his goals (and not just the football ones!). He works for what he wants. He’s 13 and he chooses his diet to suit his lifestyle, he exercises and works hard to be (even) better at his sport, he looks at what he needs to do now in order to be where he wants to be in 3/5 years’ time.

Anyway, this next shot is my favourite (I think). We did some jumping! Mostly him but I won’t lie, I was excited. And even though he felt a bit stupid, and doesn’t really like these photos… I had to put one of these up ‘cause they’re a big hit with the people that have seen them already AND I just love it, quite frankly:

Wahey!

I’m jumping again. o_o

Next we went outside. Funny really as someone was parked in my ‘usual spot’ (usual = used once before) and so I had to make Callum stand in some bushes to take these photos. Quite a funny sight for the neighbours, I’m sure…

My brother doesn’t like this one either but I have to put it up to prove that I once made him laugh.

(He really doesn’t find me funny. Can’t think why. Jealousy? It certainly can’t be because I’m not… )

Also, he has a sickeningly handsome smile too.

And then to finish off, we went indoors and sat on the couch where he mostly watched football over my shoulder. Ha ha.

These were nice though, I thought.

Anyway. That’s my brother. We’ve sat and had a chat about his options and what sort of thing he’d be up for doing and he’s decided he’s going to go for it.

Plus, his Mum says he’s handsome so it must be true. XD

Keep your eyes out for Callum hopefully coming soon to an advert/poster/catalogue, etc. near you. I suppose one of us has to make it big somewhere!

Then in due time, there’s also my other brother, Matthew… but believe me, you’re just not ready for him. O_o;

Marlyn Woodend: The Natural

I worked with Marlyn Woodend a while back (you may remember from the 'Pure Curvation' day) and we decided to work together again shortly after.

Marlyn is an amazing model. She's fairly new to it all still but she's already done so very much. She's been shooting all over and been catwalking on some amazing fashion shows.

The girl is a natural. And she's incredibly determined. I'll be surprised if she's not published in some high class fashion magazines before long.

So here was our shoot from Saturday 8th October:

Started off with this beautifully fitted jumper dress and some soft and subtle light.

This next picture, I have to admit, I love. One of my favourites from this shoot. Using just one raised softbox:

The same lighting again. We both liked this one.

This one shows off Marlyn's height. She's a bit tall (5'9). :D  

Bit of a leggy beast.

 Always important to a model's portfolio, showing off your Docs. ;D

A nice innocent image of Marlyn in pigtails. Aww. Her Nan'd love it.

Because you can never have too many ribbons?:

I was fed up of her staring ;)

Love this outfit. Strong fashion image (as if she didn't have enough of those):

At this particular moment in time, this is my favourite image from the shoot.
'The One'

This one was done on the white balance setting for working under a Tungsten, believe it or not. I love the effect this has.

(I wouldn't even know what I could do with my white balance if it wasn't for a certain

Simon Amphlett

A good friend of mine who is rather partial to a bit of the ol' motor photography.)

And then of course, we got this sexy little image of Marlyn's inner bad girl ;)

Love it.

 Marlyn has recently signed up with Pure Curvation Model Management and I would definitely recommend her. She really is fantastic and you'd get incredible shots from this girl.

She's a fun, friendly and extremely talented young lady.

Keep your eyes peeled for more.

And you'd best 'like' her new Facebook page or there'll be trouble!

Marlyn on Facebook