Of Stripes and Bars

Posted by Paul

I would love to say that the day started off with gorgeous sunshine and a blue sky littered with fluffy white clouds. However this is England and it rained, not just rain but that heavy driving rain that starts off by soaking you and then sucks the life from your very veins…..vampire rain, yes it is vampire rain.
My model for the day was the delightful Charli Lambert who is an absolute treasure to work with and a natural fashion model, requiring very little direction and is one of the politest people I have ever had the good fortune to work with.
The shoot was styled by, and make up provided by Leanne Hume of leanneelisabethstudios.

Shot outside the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum

shot in Priory Place, Coventry city centre

again shot in Priory Place

Coventry (old) Cathedral

So youve seen the stripes, why the reference to Bars……nope nothing to do with windows, merely the location we chose for applying make up was a bar in Coventry 🙂

Through The Wardrobe

Posted by Paul

lies a land of ice and show, with ice queens and characters from faery stories…it’s real you know. You just have to believe..You know you want to believe ..
But without imagination – what do we have left??
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My model for the day was the lovely Suzie Parsons and it is very hard to believe this was pretty much her first shoot. It is also a testament to both her and mines sanity that we both drove along icy country lanes and almost got stuck in a car park that was more akin to an ice rink in order to get these images. However we both agreed the risk was more than worth it!

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Clothes Show Live – The event

Posted by Paul

This years Clothes Show Live ran from the 3rd to the 7th December and included the Dance Show 2011. Fashion and Dance have always seemed to be common partners through the ages and this years show showed that it was still true today.
The show hosted a number of celebrities ranging from Holly Oaks to Towie (The Only Way Is Essex) and designs from most of the major high street brands. Remember this is a show for the people rather than the High Couture of say London Fashion Week. That’s not to say the quality of items was in any way less, all the big names were represented and dotted around the stalls there was some amazingly talented designers. Amongst the College and University stands there was a small offering from recent graduates, which included one that particularly caught my eye and that was gunsmoke and lavender which I can easily see becoming a brand to be reckoned with.

The mainstage show, sponsored by Suzuki, is one of the largest catwalk shows I have ever witnessed, I am reluctant to call it a show as it is really a production, with different sets, themes and dance to illustrate the clothing being presented.
Kimberley Wyatt, who most will recognise from the Pussy Cat Dolls appeared with her new band ‘Her Majesty and the Wolves’ and I have to admit put on a great show and I did like her music. She also appeared very sweet at the earlier press call.

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

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.

things that make you go hmmm…

Posted by Paul

Semi-professional photographer based in Coventry. Use local studios for my studio based work – mainly B72 Imagings (great little studio owned by an awesome photographer). Have shot a number of bands over the years (some famous, some not so famous) each and everyone has been different and good fun. Great love of fashion shows, have shot for Clothes Show Live on a number of occasions (a good few consecutive years now), Style in the City Birmingham, Style Birmingham etc as well as Catwalk shows for a number of designers. Have worked with a number of models, the vast majority of which I would recommend (think there is only one that I wouldn’t give a reference for and she is not present on this site!). Try to ensure that all my shoots are fun – what’s the point if you don’t enjoy it?

Equipment wise, I shoot with Canon (5Dii and IDiiN) and have the usual L series lens to ensure best image quality.

Registered with the British Press Photographers Association and happily abide by the code of conduct they require. The BPPA are a professional body and membership is not automatic upon payment of a fee unlike certain other Associations.

Insurance is provided by Morgan Richardson ensuring that I am fully covering for third parties, professional and personal indemnity.