Anya Adorable: The Alternative Rocker

I met Anya on the ever-popular model networking site, Model Mayhem.


I was browsing one evening through models in the area and I came across Anya's portfolio which was completely void of professional modelling shots due to her being so new to the wonderfully painful world of modelling. The portfolio instead contained several snapshots of Anya with different hair. Despite that, I could not believe that she hadn't been snapped up yet with this face:

Still being at the (not so) tender age of 16, I was still keen to work with Anya and get her 'up and running' with some portfolio shots that really show off this face. I was also concerned that with some of the 'types' on Model Mayhem that tend to pray on newbies, there was a large chance that Anya was going to get approached by a GWC (common in modelling world, 'Guy With Camera') and end up with some terribly low quality photos in her portfolio.


Well, I didn't want some GWC taking that opportunity away from me. XD


So we set a date for Sunday 11th March and I headed to her place (as it's only 'round the corner) which apparently contained a very big dog, though I didn't see it so for all I know, it was a very loud recording of a big dog, and met with her mum, Julie, to discuss what we were going to be doing that day.


We went to three locations, starting with the abbey ruins in Basingstoke:

Started out with a simple headshot...

I was trying a bit of heavy sun in the image above but not sure if I like it...

Had to give it a go as I'm trying to experiment a bit more with different lighting.

(As you can see on my targets and aims page here if you're interested)

I think that these next two are my favourites though:

I love Anya's expression in this ^

 












Next, we headed over to KFC, had some lunch, and then we headed off to the most exciting location of the three. Raven's Nightclub.


And by jove, I was excited.


It looked like something out of Supernatural:

I realised that, due to my love of run-down buildings and reckless location choice, I was going to make Anya and I the first 5 minutes of a Supernatural episode. Sam and Dean were going to come and investigate our disappearance/death very soon. (All the way from the US. Yes, I know. Fine it wouldn't happen. Whatever. Fact is, it was creepy as hell).

Seriously, look at this place.

I was literally thinking, 'hey, screw Anya, (sorry Anya), this place is amazing. I might just stay here all day!'


I'm definitely coming back here with Amphlett, anyway.


So, as Anya was getting increasingly concerned about my mental state, I thought I had better get her in some of the photos. :)


I didn't take her inside a lot of the building because it was very unsafe and the roof had caved in, in some parts.


... but we did go in where the roof had already caved in or been burned away.


I'll stay brief but feel free to skip this paragraph if you're easily bored:
The history of the building is ongoing. It was built in the 16th century and was a coach house, notorious for highwaymen and smugglers. That was when it was 'The Seven Thorns'. Later, it changed hands and was renamed 'The Spaniard', again, a good place to get your hands on some dodgy stolen gear. Even later on, it became Raven's Nightclub (still seen painted on the North wall of the building) but unfortunately for the owners, was set on fire in 1980 and was too costly to rennovate. They have since applied for planning permission to turn it into flats, etc but have had their applications repeatedly rejected and so now it stands alone and abandoned on the A3 near Hindhead, ready for my inevitable return...


So back to Anya.

This was inside the southmost part of the building where the roof had already caved in. Thus, no danger of losing my model to brick cake and having to go and explain to her mum why I returned without her.

This was my favourite image from this site, I think:

The roof has caved in here (note in the background) and the flare from the sun was fantastic (I think, anyroad). That's meeting point 4 a little better, I think.

So that was location two.


And for set 3, we paid a visit to the ever popular haunt, Waverley Abbey, in Farnham.

This was my favourite from the set. ^

Oddly, when we first got there, there were a few people about, but this particular bit of the abbey was empty. Normally this is the part of the ruins you struggle to occupy alone.
  

^ More headshots >

As it got dark, we also got this little gem of a picture. Anya lit up with Amphlett's trusty flashgun and the Abbey looking nice and eerie.:

Another favourite from the ol' abbey:

And there we have it. That was my first shoot with Anya Adorable!

A bit of a chance to develop my location work as I find it a bit hit-and-miss with regards to whether or not I like the results.

... and a bit of a chance for Anya to get herself started with her modelling career. I am pleased to say she is a complete natural, takes direction very well and, as I have said, has a great face.

I happen to know she has a lot of interest from other photographers already so keep your eyes out for more from her. We're also going to be doing some studio work very soon.

Can't wait to see more from Anya!

Matthew Stainer: Behind The Scenes

Last week, on Saturday 25th February, I was working 'behind the scenes' on a photoshoot for Matthew Stainer of Matthew Stainer Photography.

He was shooting the fabulous Ceri Williams in a fantastic abandoned, derelict, run down limeworks (good for Urbex-ers!!!) near Hindhead.

This is Matthew:

He doesn't like having his photo taken but apart from that Nikon stuck to his face, I reckon he's not too hard on the eyes.


I have known Matthew for a very long time, we spoke about shooting when I first ever started modelling at 18 and have kept in touch ever since. Our first shoot was in November 2008 and we went on to shoot a further two times, the latest being incredibly recent (August 2011) as we had meant to do it back in my modelling days but between us had never found the time.

Shoot One (Nov 2008) ^

^ Shoot Two (Nov 2009)

Shoot Three(Aug 2011) ^

Since getting into photography myself in 2009, Matthew has always remained a great contact and friend and we occasionally exchange comments, feedback and emails as we build our portfolio work.

Recently, as our lovely Ceri has been venturing out into the wonderful (deadly) world of modelling, and Rachel Nicholson of course is building her makeup portfolio between her highly-demanding (yet awesome) job, I suggested to the three of them that they might like to work together. Matthew had asked a while back if he arranged a shoot and ever needed an extra hand that perhaps if I was free I could come and assist for the day, to which I confirmed that this of course would be fine if I was free. So, that's how I wormed my way into attending this one, basically. :)

I came along on the day as taxi, wardrobe stylist, behind the scenes photographer and extra pair of hands and the four of us met at the Bluebell pub in Cocking.

*snigger* - Childish, I know.

The car journey there was hysterical. The more that was said, the more we were streaming with tears of laughter. At one point, I thought my stomach was going to just leave me for someone else and my eyes were so full of tears, I couldn't see the road. When we arrived at the pub, our eyes were so red, my makeup was streaming, and I think I saw 'what the hell have I let myself in for' cross Matthew's face. We didn't behave much better from then, I have to say.

We all piled into Matthew's car and headed up the road to the Limeworks. It was AWESOME.

Matthew and I walked around and checked out the location in more detail...

 ...and Rach got started on Ceri's makeup for the 'truck shots'.

After the makeup was finished, I kindly made the observation that Ceri looked freaking awesome... albeit like David Bowie's long lost twin sister... XD

Separated at birth?

You know I'm right.

So we got Ceri into outfit number one:

(I don't know what she's doing with her face here.)

Except for the shoes as, as Rachel put it, watching Ceri walk in these shoes was like watching Bambi learn to walk. (That also set us off again. So many tears).

I started off taking pictures of Matthew at work...

... but then Rach started kindly ruining my shots for me... :



So shortly after, I began helping a little with the lighting:

Whilst Rachel developed a mad obsession with this dark creepy room that she wanted to investigate:

She peeped her head in with my little LED torch but got all freaked out by the strange shadowy shapes in there and dark corners so she ran back and got the little digital camera instead.

She popped her arm in, took a photo and had a look, relieved to see that it was just a room with some old shelves in.

Though in post-production, I took it over to black and white and upped the contrast and I began to notice something over in the right hand corner. I went over it a little with the sharpen tool and... well I don't know about you guys but...

... anyway, Matthew got some really awesome shots of Ceri over by the truck and then we got started on set two.

Rachel started painting up Ceri like a panda to get a Taylor Momsen sort of look going on, but unfortunately, due to the freezing cold weather, Ceri's eyes were streaming constantly...

.. so Rach did something a bit more simple around the eyes, and it looked ace.

(... especially when Ceri did her 'Eye of Shoggoth' impression.)



We headed over to this old office building and got set up:

... where we were lucky enough to discover a poor dead badger who had probably crawled in out of the cold to die. :'(

Despite the deceased company, Ceri cracked on and gave a cracking performance pulling off such stunners as this:

Image by Matthew Stainer

And then we took it back outside for the end of the shoot.

Ceri makes such a hot metaller.

And there're our behind the scenes images (and a couple of Matthew's).

See Matthew's blog here for final images such as these: