In my mind there's two types of beauty photographs. The first type is ubiquitous - when they're well done and perfectly retouched they look great - but you struggle to remember them. They all look the same, all blend into each other. Ultimately, they're the same shot taken over and over. The second type are basically any beauty shot you can actually remember. Beauty doesn't mean you can't have emotion and impact.
Read MoreMale Underwear Shoot
A few weeks ago I had probably the busiest period of photography since I picked up a camera. Rattling up and down the M6 between London and Manchester I think I shot somewhere in the region of a dozen commercial shoots in just over a fortnight. This is the job that started the first week - working in Manchester with a great team for a proudly British brand, British Boxers (you can read their story here). A beautiful lifestyle shoot showing their new range of male stretch trunks and Double Dapper nightwear on the envy-inducing physique of Boss Model's Gavin Fawcett. Art direction came from the charming Josh Taylor, the lovely Hester Brodie made sure the garments looked perfect and grooming was expertly taken care of by Ms Paula Maxwell.
Read MoreThe United States of Manchester - Fashion Editorial
Once in a blue moon I get to post my photography before anybody else. There's lots of reasons why this never usually happens. For commercial work it goes without saying that you wait for the images to be released, but for personal work it just slips out there. During the shoot the team will Instagram behind-the-scenes shots, previews or 'sneak peeks' get trailered onto Twitter and blogs, models want to use the images in their books for a 'last minute casting' and before you know it the shoot is old news, fragmented parts of the whole drifting around cyberspace in a digital fashion jigsaw.
Read MoreBridal Editorial in Manchester
I just don't get enough time to do proper full blown bells-and-whistles tests. The exciting ones - full team of people, cool location & great styling. It's a good thing. As much as testing should always remain something every photographer should be doing, if it's the only thing you're doing you start to worry. Come to think of it, there's generally a lot of worry involved in being a freelancer.
Read MoreA Guide to Social Media Credits for Photographs
It's 22ΛC outside. Sticky city hot. But no sun because this is, after all, Manchester. I have a coffee (always), a new table to work at and 30 minutes downtime to put some thoughts down.
As my blog posts often do, this relates to test shoots and is less relevant for commercial work. It's about the currency of credit rather than that of Her Majesty.
Basically, we all test for three main reasons. Creative itches, speculative pitches and maintaining social visibility. The first is easily satisfied. The latter is easily frustrated. So here's a handy cut-out-and-keep* guide to how to do the small things that keep everybody happy and feeling warm inside. Because believe me - nothing creates quietly festering resentment in somebody like giving a day to creating something beautiful and then being socially erased from the end result. Rarely will the person actually say anything incase they come across as a diva. They'll just remember it next time you ask themβ¦
Read MoreEditorial Fashion Photography - Manchester
Recently I've been more and more seduced by everything late 70s/early 80s. Beautiful warm colours, soft edges...I don't know, blame Instagram.
Read MoreBoda Skins
This month I was delighted to work again with luxury leather label Boda Skins and see how much the brand had grown and matured over a short space of time. Their classic takes on a wardrobe staple are designed in Manchester and traditionally crafted in the hills of Turkey , so it was fitting that we shot the campaign images under Manchester's characteristically grey light...
Read MoreModel Agency Tests
There's two types of tests. The one where a model turns up hoping to hell that the photographer/MUA/stylist has some clue and doesn't completely waste their day (or days) with some half-baked 'concept' shoot, and the ones where they turn up with cash in their hands in return for some images that will freshen up their agency page. I haven't had time for the former this year - but love doing the latter.
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