My First Shoot in Ireland: Hector Heathwood

Chained Up

I am most certainly enjoying all this jet-setting around Europe as a model!  A week after my trip to Sweden I took off for a 4-day break to Ireland where I happened to shoot with two wonderful photographers kindly introduced to me by an Irish model and photographer friend in England called Clover.  One of them was Hector Heathwood whom I contacted after having looked at his impressive portfolio.  After a short email to him, he replied promptly which was unexpected but even more unexpected was that he was keen to work with me as well!  He seemed a very pleasant gentleman with a great sense of humour, and I’m proud to announce that I’ve scored some brownie points with him as he praised my spelling and grammar on the first e-mail I had sent him.  Well you know what they say about first impressions!

I couldn’t wait to work with Hector.  The photoshoot was scheduled for 10 September 2012.  Much of his work is focused on burlesque which I figured would add some interesting vavavoom to my portfolio.  That said, he also does quite a few figure nudes focusing on effective lighting techniques to create state of the art images.  I also noticed some fetish-style work such as use of fishnet hosiery, spiky heels and chains which he captures so creatively.  Then I found out later that he is a lecturer at a local college in Dublin teaching photography.  Now that figures!

White Night

Hector’s studio was located at the college where he works.  A short 10 minutes walk from the hotel, he greeted me and he was just as I expected.  Laid back and friendly yet methodical and professional.  After a chatting a bit over a cup of coffee and biscuits, we got cracking.  We started with nudes.   And now, that’s a smart idea!  One would think to start with clothed or lingerie to “warm up”, then as we get comfortable gradually go topless until completely nude.   However, clothes, especially tight-fitting lingerie like bras, basques and of course corsets leave marks on the skin!  And it takes hours for them to fade.  As I’m already comfortable with nudity from the start, I was happy to start with that. 

We captured some beautiful low-key nude images.  First Hector used one strong light on one side and gold reflectors on the other to create some warmth as I posed.   We then experimented with a white chiffon material wrapped around my body which complimented well with my tan.  And then I was adorned in a gorgeous bright jade green one lying down on the floor, followed by a vibrant violet one with which we focused on my back.   Then back to no material, I was made to lie down on the ground which was merely covered with a sheet.  Although I had to keep getting up and down as I was freezing each time I touched the ground, it was all well worth it!  Hector managed to create an illusion of extending my legs through shooting from clever angles.  I also loved how the low-key lighting emphasized the silouette of my curves as well as muscle definition.  Those sessions in the gym have certainly helped!

I soon got accustomed to lying down on the cold floor.  But now it was time for me to lay some chains on my naked body!  I was to wear nothing but a pair of very high PVC platform boots and very high PVC gloves which practically reached my armpits, whilst gripping and wrapping the chain around me.  Normally, Hector “warms” the chain up on the radiator but had apparently forgotten or overestimated the day’s temperature but oh well, it was still fun!  It is the end effect which counts and it certainly turned out well with the low key lighting.

Bending Back

The final set was a more lively one.  At the beginning of the shoot, we rummaged through the dressing room finding what sort of outfits would be interesting and “burlequey.”  I liked the red military peaked cap with the matching cute black Napoleonic bolero.  Hector suggested that the outfit went well with a pair of red velvet waist-high knickers for a quaint 1950s effect.  And he was right!  So here I was back to smiling again in front of the cameras with higher keyed lighting.  This time, though, it was not for the cheesy glamour model look but for a more refined pin-up girl appearance.  And I really loved the results!  Perhaps this is something I might like to explore along with my numerous basques, suspenders & stockings and corsets I own which are sitting in my drawers waiting to be worn.

We decided to call it the evening, as I had to meet friends for dinner.  It was such a fun shoot, and we didn’t realize time had gone by so quickly.  I know I will be back in Dublin soon and when I do, I will definitely look Hector up.  And for those happening to be there for the odd few days or so, I would recommend working with him.  Whilst friendly yet professional and with sound knowledge with lighting, he also produced the images within a few days which I was very pleased about.  The clothed and implied photos are available on Facebook. 

Thank you so much, Hector, for your time and the beautiful images we produced.  I look forward to working with you again soon!

Hello There!

To find out more about Hector Heathwood and his awesome work, check out his website: www.hectorheathwood.com

Sweden Tour Trilogy – The Ultimate Diva

Runaway bride

Last instalment of my Sweden Tour blog!  By now, you will have seen the many gorgeous work of Tokyo photographer Dmitri Reyer.  First outdoors nude with breathtaking landscape then indoors for the more gloomy moody erotica and fetish stuff.  It certainly goes without saying about working with someone just as lively, positive, versatile and open-minded as me:  we collaborate as a team and have so much fun shooting together which reflects on the photographs.  Whilst Dmitri took every opportunity to snap randomly at home with family and in town and was one of the few official photographers at Pole Art 2012, I was most honoured to be his model throughout the trip! 

Our third and last photoshoot during the Tour was another wonderful experience.  Or should I say quite a Diva experience?  This time, we had a make-up artist and hairstylist! Katherina Nikolitsti Andersson is a friend of Dmitri out here in Sweden.  Not only is she very skilled at her stuff but she’s also a sweet and lovely person.  We shot at her place, a beautiful home in Rotebro near Stockholm with plenty of space and natural light from all the huge windows.   And what a perfect venue! Normally, I do my own make-up and hair as I trained in them many years ago, but I realise now what a rut I’ve been in with the same old style.  One gets too comfortable!  It was refreshing to have a change:  Smoky silver/grey eyes with big thick lashes, pale lipstick and voluminous hair.  Simple but stunning with this retro-60s finish, the era I adore so much.

Debutante

One of my now-favorite portrait images was taken then.  Both Katherina and her father design also jewelry, and it was such an honour to be able to don them on.   I wore a beautiful silver necklace and matching dangly earrings. Dmitri took some headshots which turned out oh so “wow” which got over 30 likes on FB alone!  Makes me realise I should use skilled make-up artists and hairstylists more often.  It looks more polished as well as professional.  So if anyone out there can recommend one in Amsterdam, do give me a holler!

Then of course we also shot some nude images.  How can we omit that? A perfectionist at lighting, Dmitri expertly shot quite some classy nude shots by the huge window.   In one of them, I was posing inside one the four panes, and it looked as if I was a miniature doll trying to escape, reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland.  We also shot some beautiful nude images in front of the fireplace from an angle which made my legs look as if they’d grown a foot longer.  Then there is that impromptu bodyscape one, as he told me to stop and pose because the light from the window was at the right place when I was sitting under the dining room table during my silly moments. 

Fireplace

Lastly we worked on a bridal theme.  We also wanted to showcase Katherina’s jewelry so I was lying down on the sofa loosely draped in a white lace material which was apparently a sample from her bridal gown and adorned with some of the beaded necklaces which Katherina had created.   I’ve yet to see the results of that one!  We of course captured some bridal headshots of me looking so young and innocent (!) and look forward to seeing the results of that too.  Then Katherina had to nip out for a while to pick up her daughter from childcare so Dmitri and I got up to some mischief by sneaking in some shots of me making silly faces and doing some naughty “legs exposed” poses in my bridal outfit.  Well we must say one of them turned out unexpectedly “OMG that’s so beautiful” and even classy enough for the fashion pages in Vogue. Amazing what a bit of unplanning can do!

There is another thing that made the day’s shoot so much fun.  Katherina was being model too!  As rather new to it herself as her mainstay is make-up and hair, it was so lovely to see someone blossom and radiate in front of the camera.  I too had so much fun observing as third-party and even playing Dmitri’s assistant as I held the reflectors and learnt quite a bit about lighting.  Katherina was posing for a pin-up look and with her beautiful smile and lively personality, I think she pulled it off quite well.  So keep smiling, girl!

So that concludes our Sweden Tour!  One of the wonderful things about working with Dmitri is that though he takes his photography seriously and could be candid when directing, he is such a good laugh and makes photoshoots so fun. In fact, when I took some months off from modelling and seriously considered packing it all in, it was through his moral support and seeing the results from our early shoots that I decided to give it another go.  So don’t let his perfectionist ways and immaculately presented work put you off.   Thanks, Dmitri, it was such a great pleasure working with you in Sweden, and I certainly look forward to more when am in Japan next!

Window Dressing

Dmitri is busy perfecting his portfolio and working on his own gallery site but meanwhile, you can catch him and his work on his Facebook Page.

Stockholm Tour Trilogy - Window Display

The Bitch

In addition to classic nudes, I am looking to extend my fetish portfolio and explore erotica.  Unlike glamour or fashion modelling, they have no age limit if well pulled off.  It’s all about the art of making a statement and leaving the viewer with awe.  Fetish involves role playing to one’s fixations and fantasies, and thus, I find the idea of being in control wearing latex and boots just as exciting as being subject to the beautiful art of rope bondage.  Erotica aims to provoke and tease without the “in your face” vulgarity.   Not to be confused with pornography, it means exposing yourself elegantly and looking refreshingly sensual as opposed to overtly sexual.  The purpose is to leave the viewer imagining with the wow factor.

I was lucky to be able to capture a few such images during my trip.  Dmitri Reyer, the photographer with whom I was travelling in Sweden, has also been looking to explore the more outrageous.  So we decided to shoot some discreetly naughty yet subtly classy images in the living room using the natural light from the window.  We wanted to capture this “home” feel for a more spontaneous effect.  Again all the images were nude but it was about projecting a statement and focussing on the emotions.  The first set I was to assume a submissive role.  I wore nothing but a collar and leash, tugging at it whilst staring aimlessly out the window.  I really liked this image because it captured helplessness and despair without any exaggerated facial expressions of fear.   Relying on the natural light coming in from the window further enhanced the calm but gloomy mood.

In Waiting

And now for some role reversal and some truly bitchy stuff!  Dmitri cleared the dining table and had me sit on it.   Then had me wear nothing but my infamous pair of über-high Perspex platform sandals embellished with “BITCH” spelt loud and clearly across the side in diamante.  I sat and propped my legs and knees up to enhance the shoes which clearly required posing rather indecently.  To top it all, I had this  “don’t think you can f*** with me” smirk on my face.  And you’d think the image would turn out vulgar?  Wrong!  With clever lighting, correct facial expression and making the image black and white, the result came out very tastefully.   Even our parents would have been proud!

Another highlight to this shoot was an even more daring pose.  This time, I lay down on the table facing the window with my legs sprawed out.  Yep clearly for all the passer-by’s outside to see!  I must admit that even I was a little apprehensive but thought what the heck, is anyone really going to notice?  Besides, at that time of the day on a weekday in a quiet Stockholm suburb, there was not a soul in sight.  Dmitri took the photo from behind me.  And wow, the result was so stunning!  You can clearly see me with my legs wide open but the image was cleverly taken from an angle so that my chest was obstructing the area between my legs.  Being black and white further made the image look more serious and aesthetically pleasant.  Something that would be perfect for a Taschen photography book!

It is always great fun shooting with Dmitri and experimenting with different concepts.  This time there was a fetish and erotica element to them by being more daring.  The images nevertheless came out so tastefully and elegantly with immaculate lighting, interesting angles and perfect composition.  And he is right, I should stick to being photographed doing more artistic stuff as they suit me best.  It’s wonderful to be reminded that I can still manage to pull off looking exquisite and elegant when I’m nude and even assuming a risqué pose.  I definitely should exploit that.  Thanks so much, Dmitiri, for believing in me.  I look forward to shooting more of these with you again soon!

Exhibitionism

Again, for more of Dmitri's great work, please check out his Facebook Page!!!

Stockholm Tour Trilogy - Outdoors Nude

BEAUTIFUL LAKE!  Love the reflection...

So you may be asking, why Sweden of all places?  Well, I thought this would be a great chance for me to capture some awesome shots with one of Tokyo’s top photographers, Dmitri Reyer, who happened to be on home leave to visit his folks in Stockholm and photograph for the annual pole-dance competition, Pole Art.  I had the honour of working with him in Tokyo last June, where he currently resides, but although some of the images turned out well, we wanted to develop our creative ideas further and come up with even better ones!  Besides, Stockholm is only a two-hour plane ride from Amsterdam so I thought, why not? We spent nearly two weeks between 19 August to 1 September 2012 in the edge of Stockholm chilling and hanging out with his family and friends, whilst scattering photoshoots here and there. 

We shot quite a lot during the fortnight.  However as they are too numerous to write about in one go, I will be focussing on outdoors nudes now.   One of the good things about working with a series of serious and talented photographers like Dmitri is that one discovers a few things.  After years of modelling and wondering why I have been in a rut or lacking direction, I realize the time has come to transforming my style from that cheesy shallow "hello boys" glamour to the more elegant and classy  “coffee table book” artwork.  I myself have done quite a lot of outdoors nudes over the years, but a lot of it tended to focus more on me being naked in a public place for the sake of it with little regard for composition and light.  And where else would be an ideal location than Sweden which boasts one of the most scenic landscapes such as lakes and forests!

By the Rocks

Thus, one morning we got up about 5am to shoot by a lake.  I was told that the natural light would be ideal for the kind of mood we are trying to create and that there would be little breeze or ideally none to enhance the reflection from the water.  It was to be a one-hour bus ride to where Dmitri wanted to shoot but whilst waiting, the bus never turned up!  With both of us being so determined to make things happen, he came up with a contingency plan and suggested another lake within a 15-minutes walking distance.  When we arrived there by foot armed with cameras, I was amazed by the serenity of the area despite being just outside Stockholm. 

We firstly shot by the cliffs.  The morning was quite cool and crispy but did I mind taking my kit off?  Never!  In fact, I had so much fun and struggled very little with treading through the rocks although at times they were slippery.  I was to look as if I was climbing the rock.  It was also hard avoiding smiling which I tend to do in nude shoots as the atmosphere we were trying to create was about subtlety.    Although there was some graffiti on the rocks, it was not so obvious.  The ground was also littered with rubbish, and Dmitri remarked that there was little space to manoeuvre when shooting without falling over the cliffs.  Despite these limitations, though, we managed to capture a couple of beautiful images from the natural light and interesting texture of the rocks. 

Then we proceeded to the lake, more precisely on the tiny dock.  The scenery was just so still, quiet and picturesque, the water being clear and greenery so green.  Accustomed to being photographed nude in the cold and being the exhibitionist I am, I had no hesitation stripping off and running off excitedly to the end of the dock like a child to pose.  In fact, nothing felt so good as to feel the fresh but slight breeze on my naked body.  Dmitri shot me from behind, as I was standing tall at the edge of the dock looking as though I were saluting to the vastly amazing scenery in front of me.   After a while, though, a man on his kayak pulled up!   Of course, neither of us were a least bit bothered, and all he did was look away, whilst I didn’t even bother covering myself… yep, that’s Sweden for you!  Just like Holland, people don’t make a big deal about nudity even in public.

Last set we did was just behind a small wooden shed right by the water.  I was much tempted to jump in the water to get some cool shots but decided against it after dipping my toes in.  We nevertheless managed to capture some images with me standing by the water with the greenery in the background.  Dmitri tried to capture a few shots of me lying down on the boardwalk but apparently they didn’t work out as what he was looking for.  By then, too, the breeze was getting stronger and hence I was feeling the cold.  So we called it a morning!

We were hoping to shoot another day at the location we had originally planned on going.  Unfortunately it didn’t happen for one reason or another, namely due to bad weather.  Gutted.  It always happened to rain on the days we had nothing planned which is so typical!  We nevertheless got to shoot at other occasions and for different themes besides outdoors nudes, which provided both of us with a diversity of images.  Most important is that we are both happy with the stuff we had already done by the lake, so what more can we ask for!  Besides, we anticipate on doing more outdoors nudes when am in Japan which will be quite exciting as Dmitri knows a few hidden areas.   Now I look forward to that!

Wanna see more of Dmitri’s awesome work?  Check out his Facebook Page!

Next instalment:  Fetish and erotica shoot at home!!