Lisa's TFCD Shoot

As some of you know, we sometimes do TFCD shoots with new/aspiring models.

On Tuesday 16th March 2010, we were lucky enough to work with a young lady called Lisa Murray.
Lisa is completely new to modelling, with no experience at all - yet she took to the shoot like a natural.

We started at bridge end gardens in Saffron Walden. We had contacted the head gardener a few weeks before to get permission to photograph in the gardens and he was more than happy to help us out. (big THANK YOU to Mark Robkins (head gardener) for giving us permission).


Ross did a test shoot, with me as the model :-), in the gardens a few weeks before.

For this shoot we had managed to get in a MUA (Jemma).

When we first arrived at the gardens we asked Jemma to give Lisa quite a natural look, which we thought would fit in nicely with the surroundings.



I think we must have spent about a 1½ - 2hrs in the gardens. Ross started the shoot with some head shots and more natural posses to get Lisa eased into the shoot. He then got more fashion/model posses/shots, which Lisa pulled of really well, considering this was all new to her.

There were a few outfit changes which I advised on and some hair style changes from Jemma.

After we had finished at the gardens, we went to get some lunch. This gave us an opportunity to chat. Before we knew it, it was time to get to the studio (which is actually called THE PHOTO STUDIO). This is the same studio we used a few weeks before for the shoot Ross did with me.

While Ross was setting up lights and backgrounds, we ladies went into the kitchen, which doubles up as a dressing room. Jemma changed Lisa's make-up to be a bit more Glam. Lisa had also brought some fake lashes with her and asked Jemma to put them on for her.

When you see some of the pics I’m sure you’ll agree the fake lashes work really well.


We started the shoot using a white background and a simple lighting setup. We started with fully clothed shots. Again I advised on outfits - we even ended up using one of my scarfs! First around lisa neck and then around her waist.

Unfortunately Jemma wasn’t able to stay for the whole shoot, which was something Ross and I had not foreseen. This meant no more make-up changes or touch ups; fortunately the look Jemma had given Lisa was versatile enough for rest of the shoot.

I ended up doing a couple of hair style changes, which I actually enjoyed doing .... especially when I put Lisa’s hair into pig tails!

Again there were several different outfit changes and, like before, I advised on the changes.
Here’s just a quick list of some of the outfit changes:

T-shirt vest, jeans and pink scarf
Glitter dress
Underwear
White shirt, with underwear and shorts
Topless with French knickers

Ross changed the background to a blue one which he wanted to use for an umbrella shot and a lollypop shot.

For the lollypop shots I put Lisa's hair into pig tails and got her into a white shirt, white cotton shorts and, of course, some sexy underwear. For the umbrella shot Ross asked Lisa to wear some very colourful wellies and just some French knickers (no top). I wonder what goes on in his head sometimes.






The good thing about THE PHOTO STUDIO is that they have different sets as well as different backgrounds.

On this occasion we decided to use the living room set. Ross grabbed a red satin sheet from the bedroom set and I grabbed a fur rug from the props room.

We got Lisa to lie on the fur rug and cover herself up a bit with the red satin sheet. We adjusted the sheet a few times, just to show a bit of flesh in certain areas. For these shots Ross got up high on some stepladders and got some fantastic shots of Lisa looking up at him and some with her eyes closed.



Finally we ended with a shot that Lisa specifically asked for. She'd seen similar shots on other websites and wanted to giive this a go. The image speaks for itself and shows the beauty of photoshop - she was actually still wearing her panties.



This was the last shots of a very long, but a very successful, day. We got some stunning images and got to work with such a lovely young lady.

And, of course, we all had fun!

If you are an aspiring model/new model, are in the Essex area and would like the opportunity to work with me and Ross, then contact us to see if we have any TFCD slots left.

All our details can be found on our website; http://www.campbellphotograpic.co.uk/
You can also join us on Facebook and Flickr, plus the UKs No1 Profile Networking site for the Modeling Industry: Skys Angels

We would also like to hear from any MUA's in Essex. We want to work with as many different people as possible. Ideally you would have had some experience of working on photo shoots.


Before I go Ross and I would like to thank Jemma (the MUA), Mark Robkins at Bridge End Gardens and, of course, the lovely Lisa - Hope we get to work together again.

Photo Shoot with my favourite photographer

Not only do I enjoy taking photos, I also love having my photo taken.

And who better than Ross to take them!? Well I’m comfortable around him and I know he takes stunning pictures :-)

It also gave me the opportunity to know how it feels to be on the other side of things.

I must admit it did feel strange being the person being photographed and posed - I’m so used to being behind my camera and taking pictures
But, with that said, I did really enjoy having my photo taken. Ross, as always, was very professional, charming, relaxed and patient.

I would like to thank Mark the head gardener at bridge end gardens for granting us permission to shoot at the gardens. For the studio shots we went to the photo studio. We also took a few shots at home.

No make-up artist was on this shoot so I did my own. The clothes were also my own and I did the styling.

Below is just a small selection of some of the photo’s taken. To see more go to the Campbell Photographic Facebook page or go to our Myspace Page.

Choosing your Wedding Dress

Now I'm no expert in this department, but I do have some simple advice on the subject of choosing your Wedding Dress.

I still remember shopping for my wedding dress. The first thing the assistant did was to try and sell me the most expensive one in the shop and a cut that was totally unsuitable for someone with my figure. I have a small frame and I'm only 5ft 3ins, so something with loads of layers and flared out would not have been suitable for me. I would've been lost in a dress like that!

Instead I went for something very simple and elegant (I think it was an empire line cut). It had little spaghetti straps and was ruffled on the bust, which is apparently good for ladies like me that are smaller in that area :-) (apparently it makes your bust seem bigger somehow).

However, I still stuffed some "chicken fillets" down my bra - just to give me a little enhancement (if you know what I mean :-)).

You can buy all sorts of clever things to go into your bra. One of the best places I found is La Senza and while you're there you can look at some underwear for your wedding day and your honeymoon (wink, wink!).

(Me on my wedding day)

Here's a few nice examples of dresses:-

Basically, what I am trying to say is think about what sort of figure you have and be honest with yourself. We all have dreams of that beautiful princess wedding dress, but very few can really pull it off. Don't just pick a beautiful dress, pick the dress that makes YOU look beautiful.

Size & Shape

Make sure you think about your height, your weight, your shape, if you're a fuller busted lady or smaller busted lady or somewhere in between. You might be thin, but do you have the hips to carry off the clingy, slinky dress, or are you straight up and down? Broad sholders? Short legs/long body?

All these things will affect the type and style of dress that will suit you and show your figure off the best way.

Whatever you choose, it should show off your figure! Whether you're petite, curvy or a lady with a fuller figure, don't be scared to show of your figure. I have been to so many weddings where the bride has chosen a dress that is totally wrong for her figure (many end up looking like their cake!).

Remember at the end of the day you want people to notice you and remember how good you looked in that dress, not how much the dress looked like your wedding cake or remember the dress and forget who was in it because you were swamped by it!

Add a Splash of Colour

Who says your dress has to be white? You can choose white with some red (which I always like). I've seen a silver wedding dress with some purple (see above)! You could always go with your favourite colour. I went for ivory but looking back now I would've liked something in red. But red is a very bold colour and is very, very difficult to pull off (it usually works well with pale skin and dark hair). When picking the colour remember you don't want a colour that does not suit your completion.

You and your dress should set the the colours and theme for the whole wedding, not the other way round. We've seen so many brides in the wrong dress because they decided on the colour scheme for the wedding first and ended up in a dress that didn't suit them or was totally the wrong colour for them.

Don't forget your shoes! These should either match or compliment your dress and be comfortable for you to be wearing all day. Or have two sets of shoes. one for getting married, photos, etc, and then slip into a comfortable pair for spending the rest of the day/dancing in.

I went for a wide sling back with a block heal simply because I usually don't wear high heels and they were more than comfortable for me all day. Some bridal shops even do boots, which is different.

Advice, Advice and more Advice

There is plenty of advice about on so many parts of your day in wedding magazines and online. The advice they give is usually really good and the magazines will usually have an article on specific issues each month. Most magazines will show the different styles and types of dresses, shoes, cakes, cars, etc.

But be aware that all their advice will be geared around whatever the latest fashion or craze is, or steered towards whatever the latest celeb has worn at their wedding, etc.

My best ever peice of advice is - Do what YOU want to do, not what some magazine SAYS you should do and make sure you enjoy yourselves no matter what!

Magazines look at:

Wedding Ideas

Bride & Groom

You and Your Wedding

Brides Magazine

Wedding Magazine

Places to buy Bridal Wear:

Dynasty

Debenhams

BHS

Pronuptia

Littlewoods

Precious Moments

Brideswear Revisted

Matchmaker Bride

Nualas

Jane Jansen