American Debutantes

The other half of my final project for second year.

After meeting Freddie Helwig at the beginning of term, I decided to base one of my projects on Teen Vogue. The idea is basically rich, American teenage girls in England, the Nouveau Riche of society. I shot around sandbanks as it's a very posh area, and I was really pleased with all the extras I managed to get (boats, Chihuahuas and a mercedees!) Which all added to the lifestyle these girls lead. I was very pleased with the casting, and Nicole and Sophie were fantastic models. Dionne was wonderful with the make-up too!

These projects have taught me how important it is to have a strong team of people around you, that you can rely on, if one thing doesn't go according to plan, then everything will fall apart. I can't believe how much I've managed to get done in the past few months, it's been manic, but I'm already starting to miss being so busy!

I have hundreds of images to go through at the moment, I did a shoot photographing Zoe's final collection (seven kids in the studio at once, it was crazy!)

Rosie, Max and Oscar visited me last weekend, and I have some lovely images of them in the studio (struggling to choose which ones I like best!)

Time for Tea?

Part of my final project for this year.

Children's fashion editorial, intended for 'Junior' magazine & based on the story of 'The Tiger Who Came to Tea' - basically animals invading a children's tea party! Pretty much the most fun I've had on a shoot, with Alpacas chasing Anna, lambs eating the reflectors (and designer children's dresses!)

Styling was done by Zoe Robinson, who I've worked with quite a lot now (and seems to understand whatever I say even if it doesn't make sense!) She founds some more boutique children's brands, which worked so well.

Had an exhibition of my work at The Winchester this month, which I was really proud of, and I'm generally feeling full of ideas for summer projects (but getting pretty scared for 3rd year!)

Currently listening to: Kyte's new album

The Sound of Beating Wings...

Old picture, still quite like it!

These Tales of Our Stay...

Over the easter holidays I went to visit this guy over in the Isle of Wight (sorry for the picture Mike, it had to be done!)

Anyway, we found this cool abandoned house (thats probably going to fall into the sea soon) and decided to explore a little bit. Though I was wearing silly shoes so decided to not go too far! I don't know what it is, but there's something I love about old, falling apart, abandoned places... just the feeling of faded memories (or something like that anyway)

All in all a nice few days :)

Currently listening to... Laura Marling

Currently reading ... 'Franny and Zooey' By J.D Sallinger

It's a really cool club...

I set up a studio club once a week for everyone to be geeky and practice using all the lighting and equipment. The first few weeks were a lot of fun, and to be honest, we were just messing around a little! Though this week Anna found us a model, and we got a make up artist too. We also got some fashion students involved, who has some amazing outfits. I'm really pleased that we got it to all come together, and it was great to actually take some proper pictures!

Currently listening to: A little bit of Death Cab for Cutie

Currently reading: Many photography books (silly essay...)

Bad Kids...

I've always been really interested in youth culture, particularly when it comes to fashion. This series of images were a part of my CACP II submission. I cast kids from a local youth centre, styling them with looks inspired by the mods and the skinheads. They were such fantastic models, with so much attitude. I was interested in the small details of their posture and the way they held themselves in front of the camera. I wanted to capture the idea of kids at an age where they discover fashion, and use it as a rebellion. Aesthetically speaking, I would have liked a different background (though it was pointed out in the critique that the colourful background was quite childlike and contrasted with the more adult styling. I don't reckon even I analyze my work that much, but anyway!) I just love how you can really see their personalities, such great kids to work with!

Currently listening to: She & Him - Volume I

Currently reading: An awful lot of photography books.

The picture that started it all...

It must have been about two years ago that I took this, when I was first getting into photography.

It was the first picture I took that I actually felt proud of. This is little Oscar, my mum's godson, at his christening. I think if it hadn't been for this image, I would have never ended up working with kids... and I wouldn't be enjoying my course half as much! My room is now covered in Vogue Bambini, Milk magazine & various parenting magazines (purely for the photography, though I am becoming some kind of super-mum along the way!)

(Note: When I'm older I'd like about five of these, one of them is most likely going to be called Oscar. Christ help whoever marries me haha!)

How I spent my Christmas holidays...

I'm pretty bad at keeping this up to date really, I am going to try harder!

I've been a busy bee as usual. I'm really enjoying being back in Bournemouth, and feeling full of inspiration. This is a totally new year :)

These lads were kind enough to brave the snow and minus temperatures for a shoot at New Parks in Leicester. It was a pretty fun shoot, and they were great models. I'm carrying on working with children and young people's fashion, and I've found I really enjoy working with a variety of age groups. I've found my little niche in the photography world, and I'm sticking to it!

I have more images from a shoot at a local youth club, which I'll upload at some point too

(Currently listening to: A lot of The Smiths actually, sorry Robert)

(Currently reading: Susan Sontag 'On Photography', and JD Salinger's 'Nine Stories')

This Business of Art...

I've started collaborating a lot more with fashion students this year. It makes such a difference, as I don't have to worry so much about the styling side of things, and they have been lovely people to work with. It means I get to concentrate on taking the pictures and essentially get to stick to what I'm good at (I hope!)

I've been working a lot on my website, so that should be finished sometime next week. And I'm making business cards.

Generally feeling quite professional right now...

(Currently listening to City & Colour

and making a mixtape for Joe ♥)

Wild Things

I haven't updated this for a while (mostly due to the fact Mike helped me set this up, and I forgot how it all worked over the summer!) I have actually been incredibly busy since coming back to Bournemouth, though I'm enjoying every minute.

Over the summer, I became really interested in children's fashion and portraiture, and I really feel I've found my little niche in the photography world. It's certainly the path I would like to follow, and I just enjoy it so much. I think that for the first time, I'm actually creating the images I see in my head (as odd as that may sound!)

For this project, our brief was 'Narrative' and I decided to create a fashion story based on the much-loved classic book 'Where The Wild Things Are'. Rather than taking it too literally, I decided to work with the concept of children loosing themselves in their own little world, and escaping their environments. (I could write a ridiculous amount about this project, but I think that describes the basic idea behind it all!)

All in all, I think it's been my favorite project.

(Currently listening to: AFI's new album. Currently reading: 'The Lovely Bones' by Alice Sebold)

Matthew.

I wish every picture I took was like this. It's definitely one of my best images, everything just seems to work. I always find I take far better pictures when I don't plan anything. It's part of a series of location portraits for one of my first university projects, and was taken using a Hasselblad (I still really enjoy using film).  Matt is my younger brother, and kindly stood in the pouring rain, in the middle of winter until I got the picture I wanted.

The Location is a church in Leicester, which reminded me of a gospel church from the deep south of America. Its actually a Mormon church, I went in asking permission to shoot outside, they were actually really nice, though I did get stuck talking to them for ages (This was on Christmas Day!)