My Favourite Photographers 01: Lara Jade

So I have a few favourite photographers, naturally, and so have decided that I am going to share these with you in the hope that you take from it perhaps what sort of standard of images and ideas I hope to one day achieve rather than disowning me after seeing how epic I could never become for any want of trying...

(I lay in corners sobbing to myself regularly after checking up on what these guys have been working on lately).

I've chosen three favourites to show you for now, each already pretty well-known in their own right. In these posts you will find some of my favourite images from each and, as always, a fair few words.

I'm starting with a very talented young(er than me and it kills me) lady by the name of Lara Jade.

Lara Jade
Lara Jade is particularly influential. I'll tell you why in a moment...

The image that 'introduced' me to Lara Jade, was this one:

Many people have since tried to 'rip it off' but I remember this one as 'the girl in a birdcage' as it is known, I believe. Also a favourite of fellow photographer, Matthew Stainer.

Lara Jade was interested in photography as of the age of about 15 and started her photography company in West Midlands, England when she was just 17 working to provide images of portraits and for book publishers, etc. but moved to London to expand her knowledge. experience and opportunities I know, I know, it makes it sound so easy, it makes me sick. XD

(One of my absolutely favourite images ever and if you like this, you will love the next photographer...)

She too has a blog which, though incredibly sparse, is infinitely better than this one. I mean really. Why are you still here? Honestly. I mean, I'm so grateful but, you just need to stop wasting your time. Nothing to see here folks, show's over...

This is where you should be:

Lara Jade's Blog

If you don't read it... despite having clearly carried on reading my blog... you'll read from about the beginning of 2010 where Lara Jade decides she's starting a fresh and working on her personal work a little more, plus arranging a few trips to New York to work on some exciting projects. At this point she doesn't realise how much of a journey it will take her on I think as she clearly falls in love with it enough to move out there in 2011!

(Another massive favourite. I ADORE this use of lighting).

She talks of the importance of social media to an artist and makes some valued points on quite how networking is one of the best mediums to get people eye-balling your work. Which is completely and utterly true.

And she is also known from the project in which she went 'head-to-head' with another young and rising photography name, Canadian 'Joey L' in a Photographer 'Shoot-Off' which, frankly, went a bit viral and resulted in an educational DVD!

Lara Jade vs Joey L

The two of them go through the different ways in which they both operate and put together their images under the pretence of travelling the world with several challenges to one-up each other on.

Since then, she has pretty much become world famous as a fashion and beauty photographer and now lives over in New York as of 2011 travelling all over the world working for clients such as Elle, Goldsmiths and Harper Collins and teaching photography workshops for the undeserving lesser humans, such as myself...

N.B. Would accept very expensive Lara Jade photography workshop as future birthday gift. Just sayin'.

Basically, she fah-king amazing.

AND, to boot, she looks like this:

Some people just don't even give the rest of us a chance, do they?

www.larajade.co.uk

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.