'modus operandi.....'

modus operandi = a particular method of doing something or in these difficult times it is a new way to find how to do things. No longer do we have the social gatherings and meetings of friends and family - instead we have to resort to Zoom, FaceTime etc. In this way we can all stay connected and that is important for our health and well being.

Being a photographer is being a creative and as such and as so many other creatives we can find it frustrating if we cannot fulfil our creative needs. So in these Lockdown times we can find it hard to keep our creativity stimulated. We have still life, the garden, self-portraits or when we are on our allocated exercise, and in these we can find some outlet.

I, however, having been trying something new, and being having a go at virtual shoots using FaceTime Live. The quality may not be as good as you would get with a DSLR but there is a sort of rawness to them.

I have found that doing these keeps my creativity satiated and the images can act as a reference point for future shoots. Working with a model I have worked with for years helps as there is already that rapport and an understanding of how we work. Together you can be creative and create some amazing images.

Starting indoors we made use of natural light and converting them to mono created some stunning images with a raw beauty to them.

model: Laura Caitlin

model: Laura Cailtin

The next time we moved into the garden. Slightly more tricky as I am directing the model, the person holding the phone and checking out the location all from my computer. The light was tricky as well, but working together it can be done and again using a new modus operandi we created images with that sublime realness and rawness.

model: Laura Caitlin

model: Laura Caitlin

It is about finding a new modus operandi - a new way of doing things and for the time being the only way.

Things will change, we know that - the when we don’t know and even then there may be a new normality.

In the meantime………..

Normal times: strange times.......

Life is not normal at the moment and it can be hard to stay positive and motivated. We all deal with these things in our own way, but it can be important to keep a positive mindset. Negative thoughts and anxiousness can mean our brains narrow our view of the world and as such it can be hard to see better things. Positive views, thoughts and emotions can help the brain consider more possibilities and can increase mental productivity. So with all that is going on at the moment the one thing we do know is it will not be forever. And based on that, even though I miss shooting I can still plan my shoots for the future when all this comes to an end.

As a creative I often find I have too much going on in my head at any one time, so this is a great opportunity for me to get the thoughts and ideas down on paper. I can plan shoot ideas, design sets and work out styles. I can search and source potential models. I can search and source potential new clients. And I can practice. I am lucky to have my own studio so I can do self portraits, and work out new lighting set ups. However, self portraits are not easy. The tech side is OK - it is being a model that causes me a problem. My resting face looks like I am sucking a bumble bee, so I resort to a smily face - not easy when you ar the only one in the room and you have to laugh at your own jokes! Still needs must and it is a good way to test new lighting set ups.

I am also revisiting some old images and trying new edits on them and I am going through and rereading some of my many photography books to get ideas and inspiration.

So life is not perfect at the moment, I do have down days when I am anxious, but I take myself off for a walk, a bike ride or do some relaxation in the form of Pilates.

Soon this will all be a thing of the past and it will come to an end and when it does I shall be ready to hit the ground running, be well prepared and motivated and get back to shooting.

Stay safe. Stay sane.

Working on a collaborative Boho themed jewellery shoot....

This week I was lucky to work on a collaborative Boho themed Jewellery shoot working with some amazing people. What is a collaborative shoot you ask? Well this is where we all work together to produce content for our own portfolios and we all give up our tine for that shoot. As the photographer for that shoot it is my responsibility to get the shots required to satisfy all concerned and after the shoot I edit the images and each participant will receive a selection of the shots for their portfolios.

So who were the people on the day? Well most important was the jewellery designer who brought the most gorgeous ethnic jewellery and accessories for us to use.

https://foragedesign.com This is what they say on their website about their products…

“Unique, hand-crafted jewellery and accessories aren’t just gifts for you, they have stories that go much further than that. When you choose to shop ethically at Forage, you empower the artisans who make them.

Join us in the fight against fast fashion. It exploits workers in the supply chain and causes damaging carbon emissions. Instead, we source our own materials and ask our makers to set the price we pay, meaning our business operates in a way that works for everyone. “

We also had a Make Up Artist who did the looks for the models https://www.chrissiebricknell.com and working together we came up with the styling as well.

And of course the shoot would not have worked without our two lovely models. Having two models means we can mix up the looks and also it does not become too onerous a day for one model so the work load is shared. I chose two models with much different looks but each had that underlying boho style we were after. Louisa https://www.instagram.com/louisawxoxo/ was our blonde model so for her we chose a more natural fresh faced make up look with her hair done in beach waves and plaits. Hannah https://www.instagram.com/hannah_rbf/ was our darker haired model and she had more smudgy darker make up and we dressed her hair in a variety of headscarves all in keeping with the Boho/Festival vibe.

It was a long day and refreshments were on hand for everyone to ‘graze’ throughout the day.

Collaborations are a great way to increase content for portfolios and a great way to network with others. All gain from it and we all had fun on the day.

What is the secret of Success?

Success is the achievement of desired visions and planned goals. It can bring peace of mind and a sense of well-being and it can be a driving force to propel us onwards to achieve more goals. So in that way it becomes self perpetuating. To be successful is about getting rid of negativity and focusing on the positive and working persistently towards your goals. For me success comes in how I accomplish my goals, but those goals need to be realistic and have a suitable timeframe. By having positive and likeminded people around me and whom I work with can make my goals achievable.

I have been very fortunate in the last few weeks to work with such people, those who have the same vision as me and those who strive to be the best they can. Last weekend saw me in a very cold part of the Kingston Lacy Estate, Wimborne doing a Runaway Bride shoot. The idea came to me in a light bulb moment but I think was instigated by the purchase of a very voluminous wedding dress which was cheap as chips on the Facebook market place. I knew who was going to be the model as I have worked with her for many years and she is one of the most dedicated and hard working people I have had the pleasure of working with. With her Mum on board we set about planning, from the location, the time of year, and the way the shoot was going to work. Laura (the model, yes we have the same name!) had the dress for several months so that she could ensure her modesty remained intact as she would be running in the dress, and due to the weight of the dress she had to be at ease with it. I did a long range weather forecast and we chose last weekend as it had the most favourable, if very cold, conditions. So armed with the model, the outfit, her mum to assist with the outfit, my long suffering husband to watch for traffic we convened at the location and with Laura wrapped in a duvet to keep warm between takes we set to work. The mood board was already in place so everyone knew what they were doing and 2 hours later we had nailed it. For me this is success, working with positive people, working as a team, bringing it all together and getting those shots.

For me also my success is measured by how appreciated my images are. I have been lucky so far this year to have had 2 magazine publications and a third due out soon. This for me does make all the hard work worth it and spurs me on to the next thing.

With January moving into February and further into March, I have more projects planned and I am super excited to get started with those.

In between all of that I do have some health issues to deal with and more surgery, but this is a hiccup and will not drag me down.

“The Key to Success is to Focus on Goals, not Obstacles”

2020 time for rebranding......

2020 and I thought it about time to step things up a gear and rebrand myself. Why you may ask…….mainly because I want my business and my brand to be identifiable as me. After all I am the business so why should my name not be on it. I am proud of what I do and what I have accomplished over the years and now moving forwards it is time to shine and become brilliant.

It has taken me a while but I think I have now found my creative voice, and as such I think the time is right to inject some personality into all I do. Many people have commented that they can easily recognise my style so if that is the case then perhaps I now need to use my name as my brand.

Moving forwards into 2020 and taking my business forwards, I have quite a few projects in the pipeline, some working with new people and some working with those that I have worked with before. Working with familiar faces allows you to develop and grow as you are at ease with each other, you know how each other works and so the whole creative process becomes like a well oiled machine. Once the planning of the shoot is done and we all know my visual intent, the actual shoot becomes much easier and images are made and created.

Don’t get me wrong, I love working with new people, building a rapport and bouncing ideas of each other. Often when you are working with new people they bring ideas of their own and things can move into a slightly different direction. But then this how we keep everything fresh, new and vibrant.

I value the opportunity to work with new people and develop a working relationship with them and I hope that in 2020 I meet lots of new people and work with lots of new businesses and associates. As a photographer when working with businesses I can be the means to bring their products to life and get it out to a wider audience. I can work with their vision for their products but also input some of my own creativity. It is by working together as a team that each business can remain individual and unique and not become a generic off the shelf product. Businesses, like me can take a while to develop their business face and so as a photographer I need to embrace their vision and help them find their way forward in promoting their business.

But it is sometimes about the individual and they have just as much of a vision as businesses. On a makeover shoot, I am embracing the person, capturing their personality and through the means and the power of photography allowing them to shine. It can be a daunting prospect for some having their photograph taken but talking with them and understanding what it is they want from the shoot and the experience can help me produce the best images of them that I can.

The same applies to models and their portfolios. Their portfolio is their shop window and like all shop windows it needs to be the best it can be. Through working together and understanding how they want to be seen and in which direction they want their modelling career to go allows me as the photographer to produce the best images of them that I can. They are the product and it is their images that will allow them to promote themselves.

So another year and a new decade. Working hard in my business and forging ahead with new clients, new businesses and new photographic opportunities, in another 10 years I will look back on this new decade and say “well that was a blast and a job well done; bring on the next decade”………..