Tuition

Morgan & Ellis Creative Experience Day: "How can a woman be expected to be happy with a man who insists on treating her as if she were a perfectly normal human being." Oscar Wilde*

ERWhittington 5 Comments

I was asked to model for a Morgan and Ellis Creative Experience Day back in July, which meant I was the model (alongside the lovely Salleh Sparrow) for Scott Morgan and Ellie Ellis‘ tuition day at a beautiful manor in Bristol. I had often seen images from these two, and though their styles are distinctive, they are both beautiful, creative and interesting, so I was very much looking forward to meeting them. It was a really good day, with some stunning shots taken by the group attending. Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves and come away really inspired, so as a quick plug, here’s a link to find out more if you’re a photographer who might be interested in going along to such a day: http://www.morganandellis.co.uk/experience/.

I’ve kindly been sent some images to show off here. There’s going to be a mixed bag below (and yes, I’m posting a LOT), jumping around between different locations and back again, as I’ll list them by photographers rather than set (I’m sorry, it’s just quicker for me!). The lovely ethereal white floaty thing I’m wearing in some was provided for me, designed by Sian Whitefoot. The make up was by Gemma Louise Williams. Big thanks to everyone involved!

Enjoy!

By Scott Morgan:

By Denny Wong:

(Thanks Scott… 😉 )

By Emma-Jane Lewis:

* The above image was posted on facebook with the Oscar Wilde quote I stole for this blog post title. In case you were wondering… 🙂

By Viktoria Kuti:

By Clayton Jane:

By Stephen Maitland:

By Zoltan Sandor Nagi:

Tuition with Stefano Brunesci

ERWhittington 8 Comments

I was asked by Stefano Brunesci to model for another tuition session back in March. The attending photographer was Chris Sinn, who wanted to learn a thing or two about Stefano’s methods and style (he wrote on his blog afterwards, as part of a lovely write up of the day: ‘there is just something about his lighting and style that makes me drop my bacon sandwich and inspires me to do better’!)

Stefano is a great teacher, not least because he is completely and utterly honest about what he does and how he does it, from lighting (he does achieve a lot in such a compact home studio!) to interaction with the subject. From a model’s point of view, I can say that Stefano is really, really great at encouragement – VERY vocal while shooting, which helps a lot and also goes a long way towards setting the particular mood that he tends to go for. His shooting tends to be quite fast-paced, so there is less ‘Pose. Click. Pose. Click’ (though there’s nothing wrong with that, and in general I can often be quite a ‘deliberate’ poser) and more ‘let’s just go a bit crazy in front of the camera without stopping’, which results more in the kind of energy of image you’ll see below.

First, I’ll show some shots by Chris, who I thought did very well and is a great photographer himself.





Here’s one Stefano took as a demo shot during the tuition, to show one of the lighting set ups:


And after Chris had gone, Stefano and I did a quick mini-shoot ourselves for fun. I do mean quick – these were taken in ten minutes:







(Embarrassing outtake….)

… Any favourites?

Cascading Light

ERWhittington 4 Comments

A tiny update, rushed before I go away on my date with Belgium tomorrow; don’t mind if I do indulge in a few chocolates while I’m there..! So looking forward to this first visit (I don’t think driving through on the way to Germany as a child counts).

These were all taken at a workshop run by Trevor and Faye Yerbury (well, except the bicycle one, but it seems fitting)…. soooo lovely, I reckon.

and by Ian:

Portraiture workshop

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I meant to post these two shots a while ago after discovering them on Redbubble and contacting the photographer. It’s amazing what you find sometimes; there is so much out there I haven’t seen and I’m sure there are lots of photographic gems floating around in the cybersphere! These were taken by John Buchanan during a portraiture workshop in Lacock I modelled at a while ago, run by Dominic Falcone.

I like modelling for group workshops; you meet so many enthusiastic, budding photographers buzzing to learn and it can be a lot of fun (and requires quite different skills from one-to-one shoots). I’ve got a couple of good ones coming up in the next few months, and have built up a rather wonderful wardrobe for boudoir, bridal… and bridal boudoir… shoots, etc. On that note, I’ve spent a frankly embarrassing amount of time recently updating my lingerie collection with some beautiful new additions: vintage-retro pieces, French silk, black lace, elbow-length gloves, a sheer babydoll dress… and lots more. I only learnt to use ebay a few months ago (honestly!), so I suppose I had some catching up to do. I currently have my eye on a beautiful, frivolous and dramatic ball dress, as well as some intriguing and beautiful world costumery, but really should stop while I’m ahead… or should I? 

Clue: I probably won’t. Especially as I’ve recently been adding to my ‘bucket list’ (now carried around with me digitally on my phone, for when inspiration strikes – or needs to strike!) of ideas and themes I think would work really well and haven’t done before. Ah, it’s all just an excuse to dress up!

A Vintage Bridal Series

ERWhittington 7 Comments

My 1970s Victorian-style wedding dress has had quite a few airings over the last few weeks! I often model for BIPP and SWPP’s fashion, bridal and portrait workshops, and thought I’d throw this dress into the mix one day rather than wearing one of my modern wedding dresses, just to get a different style for the photographers attending (it’s also nice and warm to wear, due to the material and sleeves, which is always a bonus!). For that particular BIPP workshop, the excellent wedding photographer Kevin Wilson was teaching. He was enamoured by the dress and asked me to model in it for a series of G F Smith ‘Inspire’ events around the country. He also asked me for another model who could do the fashion workshops (led by Mark Lawrence) simultaneously during these days, so I recommended my friend Ivory Flame for the job, knowing she would do it well and repaying some of the jobs she’s gotten me by way of recommendation in the past.

I’ve now worked with Kevin four times, in Aylesbury, Birmingham, Duxford and Maidstone, with the final event in Leeds next week (I’m shooting with Mark for that one though; Holly and I are swapping roles for a final twist!).

Here are some of the images he’s taken of me over these events. I made sure to vary my hair very slightly for each event. I think his use of tones and compositions are absolutely beautiful, helped here by some rather stunning locations (Holly and I were surprised on one particular day to find we’d be modelling in front of war-time aircraft. I’m particularly wistful in these; the narrative being that my husband is lost to war. It was easy to get in the mood; the Air Museum in Duxford has a sound system playing sirens and bombs.. a very surreal and eerie place in which to work!). Click to enlarge as always…

Birmingham:

Duxford Air Museum:

Maidstone:

I was also sent a few from some of the photographers attending. By Joe Gilbert:

And by Steve James:

The Boudoir Academy

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I modelled again for the Yerbury duo earlier this month, for a a Boudoir Academy seminar. It was a fantastic day and a pleasure to see them inspire budding photographers.

In between teaching and giving guidance to the delegates, Faye managed to capture these shots. I think my favourite set is the one where I’m lying down on the purple throw with the gold cushions – the colours are so vibrant against my pale babydoll.


Trevor also managed to take a shot of me at the end of the workshop (until then he had been working mainly with the brilliant Anita de Bauch), when I was dressed as a bride. An ethereal high-key image:

Modelling for Workshops

ERWhittington 3 Comments

I’ve noticed that some photographers think models might not be too interested in seeing their shots of you, as you have (as a photographer said to me yesterday) ‘billions’ of photos of yourself already. Well, I don’t think I quite have a billion(!) but it’s true I’ve seen renditions of my own mug a few more times than the average person. However, I’m always interested in seeing how things turn out – different effects and styles mean there are a corresponding billion ways my mug can manifest itself as a photographic image, and I genuinely love seeing the fruits of mine and a photographer’s labour!

SO, I am always particularly chuffed when budding photographers attending workshops I model for then add me on facebook, tagging me in shots they’ve taken, or email me to show me their results!

Here are two more from the Yerbury boudoir workshop I modelled for recently. I thought the glowy light in these was fantastic when I saw them! By Donovan & Donovan Photography:

I’ve also modelled many times for the British Institute of Professional Photography, for their fashion, portrait and bridal workshops (I’ll be modelling on 16th March for another bridal workshop). This is by Rob Grimes, for a workshop led by the lovely Kelly Hearn. Photographing through a veil can be difficult, focus-wise, but makes for a really nice effect: