Vamping it up

I was fortunate to be invited to work with up & coming Model / MUA, Teri, recently when she suggested that we turn one of her friends into a vampire!

Now, those of you who know me well will realise that those rumours you hear of my being able to metamorphose –at will - into a bat or wolf are simply not true; and, having explained to Teri that there was no way a bite from me was going to send her friend out in search of fresh blood, she decided to opt for a make-up induced reinvention of her friend – rather than the more permanent, vampiric sort.

Terri’s friend and Model, Cara, agreed to take part in the shoot – though she did ask to bring a couple of crosses, a sharpened stake and a mallet along with her (models can be a strange breed – they usually bring water and a fruit salad?) – and Teri duly set about remodelling her cheek-bones, eyes and lips to effect the ghoulish look she was after. I thought the results were quite stunning.

The entire exercise was set up so that Teri could add a few prints to a portfolio that is to be presented to her college tutors as part of her attempt to secure a place in the next stage of her education; leading, eventually, to what she hopes will be a career in theatrical make-up artistry. By the looks of this transformation, she shouldn’t have much trouble convincing the academia. Of course, if they don’t agree with her, she can always send Cara along to bite them. Mwahaaaaaahaaaa.

Countess Cara :-)

Prom Night

I'm not sure I like all this '51st State' shananigans we're importing from over the pond: MacDonalds is bad enough, but now our traditional qualifying dances (well that's what they were when I was a boy) have been usurped by 'Prom Nights'; complete with dress and floral wrist corsage.

Well, OK, I admit, I do love it really (though i'd like my reluctance noted for posterity); the gowns are simply spectacular and, in full dressage, the girls who wear these gorgeous creations assume all the singular aspect of walking works of art.

So, it should come as no surprise that I jumped at the chance to shoot a little prom Dress series for a local Dress Shop.

The lighting was pretty simple: two softboxes at 45 degrees camera left (f/8) and right (f/5) and a hair light, camera right (f/8), behind the girls.

The backdrop was purchased for an earlier shoot at a charity event. It doesn't look like much when it's hanging, but with light on it, it magically changes. I added a couple of curtains and tie-backs and the little stand with flowers for what, I hope, is a nice effect - considering the constraints of the studio.

The models - Caitlin, Metja, Sam, Charlie and Nicola were all courtesy of www.firststepmodels.co.uk Make-up by Nicola. Hair by Allyson.