Test: Jordan Ebbitt

Model: Jordan Ebbitt (D1 models)
Make-up: Grace Gray
Styling: Tommy Pang

80's flashback...

A couple of random shots from a workshop I attended last year. The workshop was originally inspired by the work of Helmut Newton, however to me this is more of an 80's flashback and makes me think of Madonna circa Vogue and Robert Palmer's Simply Irresistible. 

xx 

Testing testing: Rezeda

I love shooting back in Russia in my home town. It generally means I'm relaxed with plenty of time and nowhere to rush. This time I wanted to do something very informal. In fact I didnt even know I wanted to shoot... until I was trawling randomly through instagram and came across Rezeda's profile (@rezzzy). She is not a model and has no modelling experience whatsoever but loves a good selfie and has a fun personality (see how much you can learn by insta-stalking someone :)) So I got in touch, ordered two random dresses on ASOS and booked a studio - all very last minute. I shot this using only natural light. Boom! 

p.s. Guess what?! Im off to Australia this weekend! Cannot wait for some sunshine! 

xx

Back to black...

Model: Grace Gray
Make-up/hair: Grace Gray

Continuing on the topic of my ever-growing love for redheads, here are some shots from an old shoot with the lovely Grace Gray.

Photoshoot: Zen

An old shoot that I did at Studio 25 as part of their fashion workshops last year and I finally got around to editing it! I am having a "moment" for oriental looking models! They just look so exotic and they have such beautiful skin!

In this shoot: Candice Lam wearing a beautiful piece from a London based designer Sorapol

Photoshoot: Neon Nights

My first ever nude shoot... and I must say: I AM a fashion gal after all! I do miss the clothes! In any case it is always great to try new things and experiment and for this shoot I really wanted to create something dark and sensual. I deliberately did not want her looking at the camera so that I could create an almost voyeuristic feel to this shoot.

My photoshop is 'having a moment' ... so these shots are unfortunately unretouched. But then again I wanted them to look real and I almost think if the model is kind enough to let me shoot her nude then I do not want to photoshop and liquify things out. For me part of the nude photography experience is appreciating the raw beauty of the body as opposed its computerised filter down version. Hope you like! xx

Photoshoot: Sogni d'oro

Photography/styling: State of Sunday
Make-up: Maria Papadopoulou 
Model: Chiara Favaretti

For this shoot I really wanted to recreate that Italian/baroque theme that dominated Dolce & Gabbana's AW12 collection and was so brilliantly showcased by Paolo Roversi in Italian Vogue. The name - Sogni D'Oro generally means "sweet dreams" but in this case I wanted to use the literal translation - "Golden Dreams"

Shorts, sequinned collar, earrings, shoes- River Island
Dress: Karen Millen
Tulle skirt (worn throughout), headband, veil - stylist's own

Photoshoot - Angles

Model: Emilia Sam

Test shoot with Vika

Every time I go home (to Russia) for a visit I try to squeeze in a test. These are a couple of shots from my test shoot with Vika @Larisa Models. The shoot was a bit impromptu (this Vika's first ever shoot) and I just had to use some of my own clothes and whatever else random I had to hand. It was really informal and I didnt really have a concept as such - I just knew I wanted to get a couple of black and white shots to kick start Vika's portfolio.