Elegant Glamour Shoot in Apeldoorn, NL

Hi guys, again my apologies for not being so attentive to my blogs. Lots to catch up on! Been travelling too much and working too hard, and besides there's always the time it takes to wait for retouched images from photographers...

Being a frequent traveller to Amsterdam, I have been networking with Dutch photographers on Model Mayhem. Well I've also had one British, an American and a German so I suppose not all completely "Dutch" but one of the native Dutch togs I had the honour to work with was Bart Wilmink from Apeldoorn. After corresponding, we booked a day at his house for 29 May 2010. He was interested in recreating works of artistic photographers like Peter Kemp (emphasis on rich colours with an impressionist painting flair) and John Peri (monochromatic, classy yet sensual nude and lingerie) which was also new to me so it was a pleasant change to do something different. Besides, I'm keen to move into the more "elegant" side of glamour modelling. The "lads mag" culture never really appealed to me.

Bart was kind enough to pick me up from our place in Amsterdam even though it was more than an hour each way to Apeldoorn. Apparently, it's even quicker than taking the train. When we finally got to his place, a rather quiet suburb, we discussed outfits which he has a room full of. I much prefer borrowing outfits for a change as I have never been seen in them and wont in the future. How many annoying photographers have I come across asking me to wear "that outfit you wore in that pic on your portfolio" especially for a TFP shoot!

The setting was already in place at the studio. Table, some ornaments and antique suitcase as a prop with a black background for the Peter Kemp scenario. I chose a gorgeous red basque and knickers set followed by a sexy cherry-red negligee partially unbuttoned in the front. With the negligee, we also shot in the bedroom which was adorned with a beautiful bed spread that looked as if even Queen Beatrix could sleep in it! Then back to the studio, I changed into another basque set but in light turquoise to contrast with the dark background. Then it was nude shoots with me carrying a tray of wineglasses or carrying the suitcase.

After a lunch break, we went back to the Queen Beatrix bedspread and shot with me clad in a black see-thru top and necklace then went downstairs to the lounge shooting by the french window. Then for the rest of the afternoon it was pretty much nude but in various settings with me donning heels and a different piece of jewelry such as pearls and necklaces to add enhance opulence and the classy mood of John Peri's works. Posh glamour so to speak...

Bart was very easy to work with and very relaxing with a great sense of humour. He was well prepared and organised about the shoot and I took his rather direct advice to heart: "CLOSE YOUR MOUTH! You want to look pretty, not cheap!" Well that's years of glamour modelling in England for you haha.

I was quite pleased with the outcome particularly with the nude ones though not too certain about the clothed ones he had edited for himself. Of course, photographers and models usually have differing things in mind for their own porfolios. I had a look at the unedited images and did find quite a few I liked and will be choosing some for him to retouch for me. Look forward to that and will post them up on my sites soon! And thanks Bart, for the day. I would very much like to work again with you soon :)

Chinatown and Soho shoot with Phil Moran

I've always wanted to do a shoot in London's China Town. The ethnic shops and Chinese signs amid the Western urban setting truly appealed to me as a background for some bright coloured and sexy but elegant party dresses. Of course being Asian also helps things blend in!

I was looking for a good photographer to make this happen though. Too many I know are great for rural outdoors photography but an urban setting especially in London is a different ballgame. Enter Phil Moran. He found me on Model Mayhem and I noticed a lot of his work is centered on "urban" fashion which I found very catching. We corresponded for a while, and he seemed a friendly and easy-going person and also really sweet by always complimenting my work. After waiting for the warmer weather to arrive and a good weekend we could both agree on, we decided to aim for Sunday 16 May 2010.

Up and early, we met up at Leicester Square tube station at 9am before the crowds kicked in for their dimsum lunch. First stop was Chinatown. Needing to change to my dress, we found a discreet alleyway with all the rubbish dumpsters. I got into this beautiful sexy black/white polka dotted halterneck dress with a pink middle designed and custom-made by my Dutch-Afghani friend, Farzana Warasta. Phil had the ingenious idea to snap a few images against the brickwall of the alleyway buildings which looked really effective. Then I teetered in my heels to the middle of Chinatown. There were quite a few people on the street already, mainly shopkeepers getting ready to open their shops, and a handful of pedestrians who came to stop and admire with curiousity while we practically monopolised a section of the main street. Not a problem for me. I'm able to switch off and do my business. Hey, it's not like I'm wearing something skimpy like a bikini , let alone being nude!!

We then decided to have a coffee break at a nearby Nero's to look through the images so far in the viewfinder. I loved them! Very pleased with the results... I love it when togs make me appear tall and leggy in pictures. He sure knows what he's doing! It was now off to the loo and change into another one of Farzana's hot number, a hot and cute strapless red mini-dress! This time, we walked over to Soho, known as London's seedy red-light district. How awesome is that, wearing a red dress in a red-light district! We found a small alleyway where there were signs saying "Sex Shops" and deliberately got me posing in front of that but with me looking completely oblivious to it.

Finally we found a place with a green shutter and thought it would be a nice texture for a background especially as it contrasts well with the red dress. After a few good snaps, we didn't realise that we were taking pictures in front of a school. It turned out to be Sunday School, and we got told off by the headmaster who said "it wasn't appropriate because there are children" despite me being fully clothed though my skirt may be a tad short...!! Nevertheless we managed to nail a few good images at the scene so we just left. As it was getting colder and starting to rain, we decided to call it a day.

I was very pleased with the outcome of the shoot, and the day turned out to be so much fun! Phil was just as I expected from his correspondences. Friendly, easy-going, polite and professional. We agreed to shoot again another time and I very much look forward to that. Thank you Phil!