In Bloom

I had the pleasure of being feature on Benjamin Kanarek's blog earlier this month with my shoot 'In Bloom'. I love big hair with lots of volume, and red hair, and even though it's winter I keep hoping for spring. Dat give Missy(from Sutherland Models) an amazing fro and just kept building it and shaping it into different things, and Shawnna did some beautiful glossy eyes and purple lips. We didn't have a stylist that day, so we ran to nearby store Made You Look to borrow a few pieces to go with the shoot. For lighting I used a large softbox, placed almost directly overhead.

Behind the Scenes

Lately Shawnna and I have been wanting to put the creative back in creatives, so this Saturday with Dat asked us if we'd be down to shoot we messaged a bunch of models, found lovely Dalia, and headed to the salon. Shawnna wanted to do a look inspired by Alex Box, with coloured contouring and building elements to each look as we progressed. Dat had recently shown me the app 8mm, so I decided to make a little behind the scenes video. Making more behind the scenes videos is a goal of mine for 2012, so hopefully there will be more to come :) Here's the result!

Lost at Sea

A few months ago I posted this photo:



to my Facebook, and when amazingly talented Stef Toews asked me if I'd like to shoot something like it I jumped on the chance. We did a series as her entry to the Contessas contest(A Canadian hair competition), with a nautical/overgrown theme throughout. This was shot in the oldest brick building in Vancouver's Gastown, which is apparently haunted. I was hoping to see some ghosts in the photos but they were either camera shy, or not interested in digital formats. These were all lit with a small square soft box.

Crystal

Yesterday I was walking home from picking up some retro inspired swimsuits, and it was such a beautiful day out and I decided I wanted to shoot. I sent Shawnna a text message asking if she'd be in, and she replied that she was with a model we knew from Vancouver. A phone call to her agency later and we were good to go! Dat from Dat Salon had messaged me wanting to shoot too, so we got together and started our shoot. Sometimes the last minute things are the best.

Crystal with Next Models
Make Up: Shawnna Downing
Hair: Dat Salon

I flew back to Vancouver yesterday for my workshop, and it's kind of nice to be back for a few days. The sunset flying into Vancouver was stunning, so I couldn't resist taking a few photos of it. Vancouver really is so beautiful, I tend to forget. This post is cloud overload, I'm aware but it was hard to help myself. Every time I get in an airplane I'm taken over by my childhood desire of being able to walk around in the sky. That, and it has the tendency to remind me of mashed potatoes.

Magpie Darling

This was the last shoot I did in Vancouver, just over a month ago! Working with amazingly talented Nicolette Lang-Andersen as styling, Aaron Wozlowski doing make up, Kara Gilbertson in charge of hair and modelled by Jules Aspinall. Our inspiration was flapper/20's style(I adore this era), but with a slightly modern twist. When I was trying to find a model for this shoot no one seemed to be available, so by chance browsing through Model Mayhem I came across Jules and decided to give her a shot, and I'm glad I did. This was one of her first shoots, and I think she was a perfect fit.This was shot later in the afternoon/evening with natural/existing light, and towards the end I was slightly worried as to whether there was enough light. However, I'm kind of pleased with the slightly grainy moody feel to the photos that the night and higher ISO gave, so things worked out. This is also the first magazine cover one of my photos has ever been on!

Adrien

I seem to shoot at Carnivals and Fairs quite frequently, but there's just something magical about the combination of rides, fried food and bright lights. I had never shot at one at night though, and after shooting Adrien for Noir Masae's lookbook we decided we needed to shoot again. I had been meaning to go to the CNE, so things just fell into place. Fried butter is something I don't think I need to ever try though. Wardrobe was provided by amazing Anastasiya Kayevda, and make up was done by Shawnna Downing. and despite the hoards of people I think we came up with something lovely.