Naked at Yours with Steve Hayward

My very first shoot back in the UK for 2011 was at home featuring Hello Kitty! And again, I was also asked if I would be interested in featuring at a photo exhibition! It was Guildford-based photographer Steve Hayward who discovered me on Model Mayhem and contacted me last December, explaining about this project he was doing. Inspired by New York photographer Andrew Einhorn, the objective was to capture real people at real moments of everyday life at home but in the nude! I had a flick through Einhorn's infamous book, Happy NakedGirls, and was mesmorised by the beautiful work and the natural beauty of the women featured. Most were not models, just ordinary girls perceived to be suitable for the theme. No pretentiousness, no excessive posing...just being oneself... happy, relaxed and chilled...which mind you I should strive more for!

Now, I never allow togs with whom I work for the first time visit our home and have me stripped naked. However, I gave Steve an exception. His work on Model Mayhem and his own site reflected outstanding quality and taking it all seriously. More importantly, all his models looked relaxed and at ease so I knew I'd be comfortable to work with him. Also, I did what most sensible people would do and called him. He was very pleasant and polite, very professional in his approach, and I was looking forward to shooting with him and was most honoured he even invited me as part of his project! The date was set for 15 January 2011.

Steve arrived safely at our place in Horsham. With minimal make-up and just tidying up my hair with curling tongs, I was relieved to know that as outfits were not required for this shoot, I had less to worry about! I was advised prior to the shoot not to wear any underwear (especially bra) as they leave marks on the skin so I was in my bathrobe answering the door and chatting to him in the lounge which made me feel so informal yet relaxed from the beginning. After showing Steve around the house to keep in mind where to shoot, we went to the kitchen to start the session. Stripped down, I prepared ourselves some coffee and he began clicking away...

Throughout the shoot, Steve would be chatting to me and asking me questions so he would have an idea as to how to describe me in his website. We had a lot of fun talking about life in Europe, his work, why I have an American accent and how things are in Japan which he took great interest in. And of course about photography and modelling... In the kitchen, I was seated by the "Stressless" chairs just relaxing away sipping my coffee while he captured every moment. The best ones were of me just looking out the window. Then there were images of me sitting on the work surface cross-legged and smiling. Very hippy chic! And some really sultry shots of me opening the fridge and squatting down to reach for things l

ike bananas, strawberries, even a can of beer!

Then we thought we'd change the scenery and go to the guest bedroom. During the late morning, the light is best there. But before that, we did a few images on the staircase and landing, where I would be gripping the bars on the banisters and making a scary face before composing myself and going back to the cute happy face. There were a few Hello Kitty soft toys scattered around the bed, and I thought to myself, being Japanese, I so had to get a shoot holding a Hello Kitty! I was pleased to notice that Steve had actually included one of them on his site!

Back downstairs, we did our final set in the lounge. Plenty of room to go crazy! First I sat on the sofa and be reading magazines. Then Steve passed me a packet of Malteasers which I was supposed to be shot putting in my mouth and munching. Then I sat on the floor and looked as if I'm supposed to be reaching for his camera. He changed the lens to a wide-angle one (correct me Steve if this is wrong) so that my body would look smaller and head and hands bigger to make a rather cute "anime" effect. At one point, when I told him I do Yoga so he got me to do a pose which would show me at my most flexible. The Halasana or Plough position! Finally, I was to stand in front of the wall making funny shapes with my body but rather than smiling this time, I thought I'd make an "art nude" face, ie. looking serene.

I thoroughly enjoyed my shoot with Steve. He really put me at ease from the beginning as he is friendly, genuine and enjoys his work. His exhibition is not planned till at least 2012 as he has just started his project, but I hope he won't forget to include my images! Well, at least for now, I'm featured in his website as Naked@Yours. Apparently he is also looking for other models to shoot, male or female, couples or single, young or old... so hit him up if you're interested. I recommend him! Thank you Steve for this fun shoot. I look forward to receiving the rest of the images!

Steve's work can be found on: http://www.stevehaywardphotography.com/nakedatyours.html

I'll be Featured in a Photo Exhibition for Sher Khan!

Last weekend was a fruitful one. My first shoots in the UK for 2011 which I was very much looking forward to as it's been at least 6 weeks since my last proper one due to moving and Christmas. I was even getting edgy lately with withdrawal symptoms so was finally feeling calm once I got back on the modelling track! On Saturday I shot at home with Steve Hayward (blog to follow) and on Sunday I travelled up to London to shoot with Sher Khan, otherwise known as Kash.

Kash and a few other photographers are working together to open a photography exhibition in a few months featuring erotic and art nudes. The beautiful and tasteful stuff you see in art books and wall pictures which are sensual and "leaves to the imagination". Not and never to be mistaken with pornography! Therefore I was most chuffed when Kash asked me to be one of the featuring models. I have seen his work on Facebook and Fetlife all of which I was very impressed with. However, I never actually spoke to the guy before and imagine he'd be way out of my league to work with me. Then one day out of the blue he contacted me on Facebook and asked me to give him a call. Imagining him to be dry and stern, I must say I was pleasantly surprised to hear how friendly, warm and even funny he was over the phone!

I was more than delighted to help him out for his exhibition. I must add that I was elated to hear I was recommended by another photographer and also that since I'm "experienced and confident", I would be suitable. Wow! We set the date at his house in North London for 16 January 2011. Armed with rucksack full of several lingerie and corsets and a pair of stilettos, I took the tube to Dollis Hill where Kash picked me up and walked me to his place, where the open-plan living room was the studio.

We had some coffee and a chat about the shoot whilst browsing through some photography books to get inspiration. Once we had an idea of what we wanted, we started as a warm up with me dressed in a black bra and knickers set with holdups and doing teasing poses then eventually stripping off whilst just kneeling on the sofa which he flattened out to make a bed. As Kash sells luxury cars, I have to admit I had a bit of a giggle when he used his black Audi car cover as a "sheet" over the sofa. Then it was a changeover to a white lingerie set. There was one picture I liked in one of the books Kash had in his collection of a girl lying down and pulling up her white knickers which were quite sheer. So we thought we'd adapt that. I have to say it came out quite well though rather raunchy!

The third set, we thought we'd have me in a corset! As it was to be a black & white image, I had a perfect one for this purpose...black with white polka dots! I got that in Amsterdam a while back and have been intending to wear that for shoot for ages. In this, I was to be a scary dominatrix armed with a crop. We decided to shoot that in the staircase leading to Kash's front entrance to his flat. Though quite a confined space, the photos turned out quite well as he was able to shoot from the bottom. We did nail some good ones there, and one of them is along the photos to your right.

The final set we returned up to the living room where Kash cleared the floor and lay down his black sheet. He had this ingenious idea where I'd be lying down still in my black polka-dotted corset surrounded by all sorts of art erotica books and magazines scattered around me, looking ecstatic. Then, the piece-de-resistance was to be a shot when I'd be all nude still lying on the floor this time surrounded by CDs. Some of them were placed on my body to cover up the

"bits". I liked how the CDs shone, especially against my rather tanned skin tone...

These are the images on the blog which Kash posted on FB. I'll also be picking up a CD of all the images he shot shortly and will be selecting the ones I'd like edited on my part. Seeing his viewfinder from time to time during the shoot, I'm most certain I will have helluva time trying to select which ones! Moreover, I'm very excited that some of them will be used for his photo exhibition shortly. I definitely must be there! And of course I have to tell my friends...!

Although Kash told me he only started photographing models last year his quality of work shows that he's got even more experience! He definitely has the eye for it as well as the talent. The lighting and composition of his images are both good, and he's got great ideas. I can't wait to shoot with him again another time. Thank you Kash! Once I get more information about the exhibition, I will let everyone know...

First Shoot of Year with Jessica Evans

Before I begin, HAPPY NEW YEARS to you all! I hope you enjoyed your White Christmas and celebrated New Years in style. And what's my New Years Resolution? Getting even more experience with shoots especially in Holland where I just moved to, getting even more in shape and according to the Chinese, it's the Year of the Rabbit...so...that means getting even cuter and more raunchy with my Sexy Bunny Girl image!!!

My move from England to Holland has been a smooth transition despite being before Xmas. The only things that sucked about it though was having to keep my modeling on hold for nearly 6 weeks and of course... the fact that I had very limited internet access since moving. And what a rush that was, especially when a Florida-based photographer/webmagazine editor contacted me via Model Mayhem asking me to be featured!

A guy called JD Moran contacted me from FemmeXposure, an up and coming online magazine featuring fine art and erotic nude. All I had to do was answer 20 questions about my career and provide him with a set of 44 images of tasteful images, nude included. Great publicity for me and the tog involved. This was all happening right when I was in the middle of my move and I quickly had to find a suitable photographer within good reach. Enter one of my best mates and favorite photographer, Jessica Evans!

You will recall that I did a shoot with Jessica in Breda during the summer with me wearing lingerie and looking cute. There's something about her that makes me want to be cute. Even when I've been focussing on art and fetish shoots lately looking scary or scared or simply serene, I somehow managed to smile again with her. It is also great hooking up with her, as she has just returned to the Netherlands from Spain. We set a date for 4 January 2010 at her place in Etten-Leur just near the Belgian border. After a two-hour train ride, Jessica met up with me at the station and drove me to her place. After a nice girlie chat and playing with Miffy, her mischievous dog we were up for shooting!

Unfortunately, Jessica lacked proper studio lights. They were stolen in Spain when some thieves broke into their apartment on the day before leaving for Holland. A real pity as they are quite expensive and necessary to have, and Jessica practically considered giving up photography because of it but talked her out of it. In fact, we managed to pull through, as we made do with two smaller lights. After some experimentation, she discovered that by putting one of the lights behind me, and the other on my right hand side, the effect was quite impressive as it brightened up my skin tone.

And amazing how a little space could do a lot. Just as we experimented with the shower area during the last shoot, all we did was use one wall in the lounge, a black and white striped one which could have easily been a studio setting. So there I was initially clad in a pretty peacock-blue lingerie set, gradually stripping off to nude. With Jessica being a friend as well as a good tog, I always feel at ease when working with her, especially as she's such a good laugh!

After our shoot, Jessica's boyfriend, Javier, came home from work and we hanged around and chatted. He gave me a lift to the station and just when I arrived at the platform the train arrived immediately so I was able to ride back without having to wait out in the cold. Jessica sent to me about 50 web-sized images to forward to FemmeXposure which will be launched in two days' time (15 January). I am very curious as to what it will turn out to be!

Nevertheless, Jessica and I had fun as usual and churned out at least one good image which she's edited I've uploaded above. Thanks again hun and next time lets' spend more time and do some crazy images!!!

That Crazy Snow Shoot is now on Flickr!

Click onto the button , a fancy photo sharing thing, and have a look at all the images we took on that day...!

Private Snow Shoot in the Secret Garden

So the snow sets in again! In UK it's pretty bad, ditto in the Netherlands. It somewhat happens to be a tradition out here to have a snow shoot, in nude if possible, whenever there is snow. Maybe because it's not usual to snow so heavily. Or maybe it's just the case of us mad togs & mods seeing who can come up with the craziest and most daring pics of braving the snow with nothing on. Well in my case that's definitely so!

Obviously getting a shoot arranged on snowed in days is rather

impossible. Trains are disrupted and roads are too dangerous to drive on. Last year I was lucky when Lester Coates approached me as he was local and had a good solid SUV to drive around in! This time in Amsterdam, I wanted Jessica Evans to shoot but then she's based all the way near the Belgium border, a good 2 hours train ride if I'm lucky. So what is more handy than grabbing a decent Nikon camera and doing a home shoot! It need not be done professionally...the whole point is that we have a lot of fun, right?

We had a whole day to wait last Saturday for our new washing machine to arrive. That is, 18 December 2010. During waiting, I did my makeup and hair, practically meditating before having to brave the cold snow outside. Luckily the delivery men and the engineer came and went before it got too dark to shoot. Around 2pm, we shot away!

First I wanted to shoot a cute Xmas theme possibly for this year's greetings "card". Some would be FB-friendly, others "rude". I donned a Santa Claus hat along with a pair of red sequin Xmas theme pasties but as I had neither red knickers nor red bikini bottoms with me, I simply covered my bottom bit with my faux-fur scarf! To add a little va va voom to it, I put on a pair of black thigh high boots. You got it, it's going to be Sexy Santa in the Snow! Afterwards, the faux-fur and the pasties came off and it was just me, the hat and the boots...

You know, I was expecting it to be torturously cold out there. But somehow, I was so excited about this shoot, looking forward to it all week, that I totally forgot how freezing it was! There was snow on the ground alright but it wasn't snowing, and there was no wind. So even when I shook the trees so the snow would fall on my naked body, I was still smiling. And even when I was instructed to go on all fours on the snow, I was still smiling. And also even when I was asked to pick up some snow with my bare hands and rub it on myself, I was still smiling! Trust me, it wasn't because it was "part of the job". I was actually enjoying it!

After exhausting the Santa "outfit", it was away with the Xmas theme and just shooting with nothing on but my thigh high boots! I figured that after Xmas, the theme would look too

"outdated". So there I was posing away. And yes, I was still smiling even when I was once again asked to pick up snow and rub it on myself and go down on all fours so low that my belly would touch the snow. The piece de resistance of course was... I was to lie down on my BACK in the snow and to cover my bits with snow... yep especially for Facebook! Why pixilate or censor areas when you can use snow???

Boy that was one awesome shoot! Going crazy and having so much fun frolicking in the snow, in the nude for that matter! It certainly brought the inner-child in me once again. The images got downloaded today, and I must say I was well impressed with the quality of them despite the lack of studio lights and reflectors. Thankfully with my elementary Photoshopping skills, I was able to tweek the exposure and the cropping.

As someone on Fetlife suggested, I ought to have gone barefoot in the snow... Brrrrr....oh well maybe another time!

When Tokyo Roze meets Roze Thorn with KK Perales

Oh dear... the Amsterdam move has put me back a few weeks. I'm even starting to forget which shoots I have done which is not good! But I suppose some things have to take priority. And whilst I'm out here I'm still waiting for edited images from "certain" togs mainly from three major ones I had done last month....YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!

On a more positive, I had one of the funnest shoot the other day. Well say precisely on 12 November 2010. I happened to spot a very interesting pic on Facebook and traced that to be shot by a Spanish tog based in London called KK Perales. I really liked his "crazy" and original ideas which are all well captured. Then there is also Roze Thorn... a fellow model from County Durham whom I met at a group shoot last year. Such a sweet, bubbly and gregarious gal with the cutest Geordie accent ever. We've been chums since and talked about doing a shoot together. Only problem was finding a suitable tog!

KK has previously shot with Roze and in fact get along so well I thought he would be a perfect choice. Another plus is that a week or so before our shoot he had been in Tokyo with a bunch of photographers and was so fascinated by the culture and "Tokyo Fashion" scene so we had lots to catch up on. Originally, KK and I were going to shoot one-to-one but with Roze in mind, I suggested to KK she also join which he was very keen about. It was going to be one fun shoot!

KK picked me up from Swanley station which is near London and drove me to his garage-studio. What an easy-going guys he is, full of energy and vitality. In fact I only met him for the first time but I felt I have known him for years! When we arrived at the studio, Roze was already there getting ready and we just gave each other BIG HUGS. As we prepared for the shoots we were chatting and having so much fun like two teenagers getting ready for a night out

Roze had the ingenious idea of being the strict headmistress with me playing part of the naughty schoolgirl. Recently, I've been doing quite a lot of shoots of me in a Japanese school girl uniform and in fact it has practically become a trademark so thought it would be an idea to use it in this shoot. KK, being back recently from Tokyo, relished on the idea. He put an old schooltable in the middle of the set and later on even added a few props like a skeleton and bottles of dead reptiles (!) like it were a Science lab. Roze and I happily worked on various poses and had lots of fun experimenting. And you know, she may look scary but she's actually very gentle and sweet!

For the next set we just spontaneously decided to do a modern Tokyo gal meets Victorian-style English lady. So Roze got on her black corset with black lacey dress along with a cute white hat. And there I was in a skimpy white PVC top with pink frills with matching white PVC hotpants along with a shocking pink hairpiece Roze had kindly lent me. We looked so cute together. And I really loved the image in which we're holding hands and looking so happy. And we were!

Final set, another "mismatch" theme! This time I was clad in a red pvc one-piece dress I had bought at the Fetish Fair in Brussels and teamed that with a pair of matching red fishnet tights and borrowed a pair of cool chunky red & black shoes from Roze. She, on the other hand, decided to dress up as a nurse and donned on a voluminous wig. We decided to play dentist and victim where she is supposed to be torturing me with dental instruments which by the way she even brought along! Where she managed to find to them is quite a story too...

We called it a day as it was getting late in the day and we were getting hungry. After packing up, we proceeded to KK's place where I was introduced to his wife who is a make-up artist. In fact she teaches theatrical make-up at a local college! The next time I shoot with KK, I would definitely like to use her as our MUA as I myself would love to do something different.

This was actually the first time I've done an alternative fashion shoot which made it even more interesting for me. It certainly adds creativity and flavour and plus it's so much fun! I would love to do more shoots like this. KK has in fact invited me to do some shoots with him for his stock photography in addition to doing some more "crazy stuff". He is not only a photographer but also an artist which is clearly reflected in his work. Working with a model like Roze Thorn who has plenty of experience in the alt scene opened up my eyes as well. Thank you both of you. I am looking forward to working with both again!

Second Helpings with Niko and Dave

This is the second installment of my blog on the East Midlands Fetish Tour II. On the day of arriving in the area on 13 November 2010, I had the honour of shooting with Niko (also know as Clover) and Wykd Dave again. I only know them by their screen names and honestly don't know their real names yet but who cares! They're still awesome to work with as well as being one of my good friends. Dave is highly praised in the shibari circuit in UK, also getting quite known abroad, while his partner, Niko, continues to model beautifully with the best photographers and is doing well with the photography side too.

Dave picked me up from Derby station and drove us to their pad where Niko greeted me with big hugs. We had some lunch and chatted for a while. Previously I told Niko that I got myself some Japanese school

uniforms on e-bay and I seem to remember her mentioning that the navy-blue winter uniforms are hard to get hold of. So.... I thought it would be a pleasant surprise for her and moreover most appropriate for the shibari theme. Both Niko and Dave were so excited about this and so was I! In fact... Dave was so excited that a small school desk and chair was waiting for us all ready to be shot with at the studio. How cute is that!

So there I was in my school uniform ... sitting on the tiny chair getting my right leg bound in "futomomo" whilst having both of my hands tied back from over my head. I was supposed to look distressed though in reality I was not at all in pain as David is very highly skilled at tying and making sure I had no discomfort. We also added a few sets in which I am to be caught red-handed looking at some bondage pictures for which I am to be later punished. So more an expression of "Oh no, I've been busted"!

After a break, we thought we'd experiment shooting upstairs where the extra bedroom is. It was Dave & Niko's first time as well. Dave "ripped" the carpets from the floor so we would have the floorboards as background. While the crimsom red walls in the downstairs studio created a dark solemn atmosphere, the white walls and the natural light from the window in the upstairs room created a brighter effect, a change of scenery. I was quite impressed how well the images turned out. So well done, Niko!

Though still in my schoolgirl outfit, we did a different bondage style. Dave this time tied my wrists and forearms together to create a sort of "prayer" position which in turn would be roped in conjuction with having my ribcage area being bound so I can't move my arms at all. Then I was to sit on the floor and my right ankle would be tied as if I were going to be dragged!! Hehe in the last of the series, my panties would be down to my shin as Dave created a futomomo again on my left thigh... I have to say that was rather naughty... but cute!

We also did a few topless shoots where I'd be just in my school skirt. Dave created a "breast

harness" or a variation of the shinju whilst my arms would be tied back. Going on my side on the floor, my ankles would be tied together like they were going to be dragged or being leashed on a post. In actual fact, it was one of Dave's kettlebells the rope was tied to!

Our last set was back downstairs, and this time no uniform! In fact nothing on but ropes. I knelt on the floor and again had my arms tied back. Dave created a "harness" in the breast and hip area and as I leaned back as far as I can, the harnesses were suspended to a ring on the ceiling. I myself was not suspended as my legs were still on the floor but even just bending backwards was just as effective in terms of aestheticism and comfort level. Dave and Niko got hold of some beautiful Japanese "sensuu" fans which they fastened on the ropes leading to the ceiling. And wow, the effect was outstanding...!

By the time we were done, we were all quite exhausted. Elaborate rope bondage, namely

shibari, does take up quite a lot of energy but certainly brings back the positive vibes. This time we weren't able to do full suspension but as we have done that the last time, it was better we did something different and focus on the "naughty schoolgirl" theme. As usual, Dave was very quick and skillful in his rope tying and I felt safe. Niko was also with us the entire time of course taking the pictures and she too kept making sure I was okay and to let them know if I feel uncomfortable at any time. As I mentioned in my blog on the last shoot with them, Niko is a model as well so can sympathise with our concerns.... no faffing about with the lighting or position, all is well thought out before Dave ties the model...

As usual I am very pleased with the results. The quality of the pictures turned out so well, and the ropework was beautiful. I hope to work with them soon as they are so pleasant to have around and such fun to work with. Thank you both of you again!!!