Author Archives: Paul

Amber Foxx – the tractor files

Posted by Paul

After discovering that Pocket Wizards made location shooting so much fun, it seemed only fair to subject Amber to even more location work!
In order to minimise the discomfort I chose the windiest day of the year, on the premise that we would be inside for the shoot….totally forgetting the fact that most barns are not that windproof, doors have a habit of being blown open and that using a 5ft umbrella on your main light source also makes an impressive kite…
However the images turned out nice, the umbrella…well that is no longer as round as it once was….but seeing as it only cost £7 I am not too upset at that.

Amber Foxx – the Birmingham Files……

Posted by Paul

After a successful shoot at the Curzon St car park earlier in the year, I did a follow up shoot with Amber around the Custard Factory in Digbeth and then we ventured into the city centre.
The Custard Factory is as its name suggests an old custard factory (I believe Birds?) that has been reinvented as a creative and arts centre. It is home to a diverse range of creatives from Graffiti to Wedding Dress designers to vintage and retro shops. It is well worth a look round and often has exhibitions for you to see.
We used one of the empty gallery areas for some shoots and it was a chance for me to try my new pocket wizards out.

As we had spoken to the reception staff there we were fortunate enough to be given free rein to shoot where we liked as long as we didnt disrupt or get in anyones way.

We also met the owners of Graffiti4Hire who graciously gave us permission to take some shots inside their design space, these guys are very creative and if you need some work done then please give them a look

Location and Lighting

Posted by Paul

Recently I have ventured out of the studio and the plain white background that usually features in every studio shoot. There is a whole world out there that needs exploring and using. However lighting it is a whole different game. In a studio you have pretty much total control over every aspect of lighting, where it comes from, how much, what shape everything is within your control. Then you get on location… it’s windy, the sun moves, it changes colour, you get clouds when you don’t want them and none when you do!
One option is to invest in a set of pocketwizard flex’s these are expensive but such a joy to use. Unlike cheaper radio triggers in that they work in full ttl mode. This means that you can let the camera set the power outputs for you – each flash thinks it is sitting on your camera. Now you may think this limits your creativity but there you are wrong, for a few pounds more they sell the AC-3 which is a zone controller. This clever little device gives you total control over the power of the zones you have set up. Want that flash a bit brighter, a bit less or even off? all easily controlled on top of your camera – none of this trekking to each light, adjusting it, checking it, re-adjusting it. Worth every penny for its ease of use

Clothes Show Live 2011

Posted by Paul

Clothes Show Live 2011 looks to continue building on the success of previous events. This year sees it partnering with the Dance Show and between them will have something to offer every Fashionista out there whether they are 6 or 60 plus!
The official website is a buzz with events and information and is well worth checking back on a regular basis as they keep adding more and more content. The recent shock departure of ‘The Risk’ from the X-factor has been to the Clothes Shows advantage and they will be playing on the Sunday.
When you are walking round it is worth keeping an eye on the crowd as quite often you can spot celebrities and stars wandering around meeting fans and taking in the unique atmosphere.
One of the most exciting things is the main stage catwalk show, here your senses are assaulted by the amazing clothes, the dance routines and accompanying music. How they manage to change clothes so quickly, dance and make it all look effortless is beyond me! I’ve seen a lot of shows and these have yet to be beaten – each year seems to better than the one before.

Style Birmingham 2011

Posted by Paul

This year I was only able to attend on the Friday due to having a weekend planned in Dartmoor. However I was fortunate to be able to catch the two main Catwalk shows, Redefinition which was held in the Bull Ring and the Town Hall show

These spectacular shows featured current designs available from the many retailers in the Bull Ring and around Birmingham City Centre. Allowing the audience to simply walk for 5 minutes or less to purchase the items they had just seen on the catwalk

What do I look for in a Model and what to avoid

Posted by Paul

Whilst everyone loves to work with perfect and agency models realistically this is not always possible or cost effective. Some of the best models I have worked with have not been ‘agency standard’ and this in now way means that they are not excellent models. Rather the industry has decided that because they are one or two inches too short for catwalk, or perhaps too curvy for fashion, or not mainstream enough.
Should we therefore overlook these models? I think not, society is full of individuals and it is these that we are trying to connect with via our pictures so lets embrace variety and take advantage of it!
For me it is more important that a model is enthusiastic and eager to work than how experienced or agency standard they are. At the moment for example I am planning some faery tale based images and the model I have in mind for some of these shots, is not ‘agency standard’ in that she is of average height – however she more than makes up for this in her modelling skills and all my images with her have been amazing. Would I rather use an ‘agency standard’ model for these shots – definitely not! The model has to compliment the image and vice versa.
References from previous clients are a good source of information but it is important to make sure that they are accurate and first hand. Too often we hear of people bad-mouthing others in the industry in order to get ahead. Model X will tell Photographer A that Photographer B said this that or the other… and quite often it is to build up a relationship with the photographer. Photographers will also tell models about other models they know or have heard about.
AN important thing to remember is that when you are being told stories about other people is that they are also probably telling the same stories to someone else but just changing the name – and it could be yours!
For me then I choose to work with models who avoid the gossip and simply take part in a shoot. A professional model is one that you will work with again and again.