Some more portraits of my partner Alina. She helps when I’m itching to shoot something new. Bless her for humouring me.

I’ve just realised that I said ‘bless’ her. That seems to origin from religious chat. I mean ‘thank’ her.

This is my cousin Will and his girlfriend Liz. They’re both currently obsessed with tattoos and show no sign of stopping getting inked anytime soon. They were both booked in for new sessions, a week after I took this.

With one Elinchrom Quadra Ranger batt pack and a 70 deep Octa, with diffuser, I wanted to keep a formal and classic approach, as this particular event called for that anyway. I wanted though, to at least create a slight juxtaposition in the notion of ‘classic’ and ‘formal’, by emaphasising the care free attitude towards permanent and highly visible, bodily markings.

Running Out Of Space

I shot a similar posed image of my brother and his best man (see blow posts), based on an old portrait of Lennon and McCartney, made by David Bailey in the 60’s. This is a much tighter crop with pairs heads closer together and with being square in orientation, helps to get rid of the wasted space around the sides of my images. Baileys crop and composition is more comfortable to look at, I feel. Noted.

Lennon and McCartney by David Bailey

I recently hired some LED lamps to shoot some video for a friends interior design shop (video coming soon).

I felt the lamps would make for a cool backdrop on a portrait, so grabbed Alina to shoot a few tests. Pretty happy with the result, using my 580 speedlite to light Lina’s face.

While we were out finding appropriate settings for my work with Paul Normansell, Lina and I shot this image on Brighton Pier. The electric blue colours of the sea and clothing, the coastal scenery along with a retro finish, gives it a riviera-esque feel. I like this image a lot and more pleasingly, so does Lina!

Lina, Brighton Pier

All my family together for the first time in ages to celebrate my brothers 30th. In a slight homage to Dorothea Lange’s infamous shot from the great depression in 1930’s America, I created this portrait of my mother and her three kids. Without wanting to take anything away from the power and seriousness of the original, which was titled ‘Migrant Mother’, every mother worries about the future of her children, with mine being no exception.

Migraine Mother

Shot for a student journalist/make up artist friend of mine – Ami Streets, this shot of Charlie will be used in her portfolio. Le Mindu is the man of the moment when it comes to hairstyling. His extravagant pieces are designed for the likes of Lady Gaga, MGMT and Block Party, among a host of fashion clients.

Charlie at the Hoxton Hotel, 31.03.10