There are so many things that I love about being a photographer.

No two days are the same.  I love the variety of work from sports, corporate events through to the more creative work of portraits and boudoir.

But most of all I love that I have some amazing friends within the industry.

Friends whom I’ve know for several years now, who have been a constant support and inspiration: Neil Matthews 

Newer friends who not only inspire me, but support and inspire so many other photographers, working hard to organise workshops: Jo Rutherford

The supportive network of women from the click collective

Some whom I have on a pedestal in a god like status….because they’ve damn well earned it.  Damian Mcgillicuddy  and The Yerburys

Your initial reaction might be “why the hell is she telling me about her competitors?“

Understandably you might think I was totally mad

Photographers aren’t like that! (well not many anyway)

We share information and encourage each other.

I recently shared some studio time with Jo and Neil, a studio space in Stockport,

it is a huge space and offer so many shooting opportunities.

Whilst we share the space and the cost of these days, we don’t really work together…We might hold a reflector in place, shift furniture or throw in a bit of advice

(even if it’s not asked for  ) …

We each arrive full of ideas of what we want to achieve……

 

Using a simple beauty dish and reflector (thanks Jo) Flo has lovely catch lights and the solemn expression cries out for a B&W image in my opinion.

 

I chose this panoramic crop as the black space around Flo adds to the sense of vulnerability.

 

This is one of my favourite shots of Flo from the day, very simple, but when you are that stunning it really doesn’t need smoke and mirrors (although I do love mirrors)

So a quick splash of colour for my last shot of Flo.

 

 

With next model Rose is a lady of many talents not only is she a model, but also a make-up artist, so here is some of her work too…..

 

“I get by with a little help from my friends….” (I promise not to sing) Thank you to Neil for being my reflector holder on this occasion.

Making use of the ambient light shot at 1600 iso 1/60th F2.8.

 

 

Whilst I had Audrey Hepburn in mind when I starting thinking about this shot, I loved the leading lines of the light spilling in through the windows and the shadows of the columns.

 

The shots above and below were taken using a ring flash,

one of those bits of kit “I had to have“

I had seen the results of other photographers work using ringflash and decided to indulge in the purchase….

that was about 18 mths ago….

I decided it was time to pull it out of the bag and play…up until this point I had never been happy with the results I’d achieved…

I guess that’s down to personal taste and the correct application.

You need the right tools for the job!

 

I have to apologise to Rose as she stood waiting for me to get the shot, in the freezing corridor, outside the not so freezing studio…..Sorry Rose!

And finally……. the stunning Victoria.

Victoria is also a very talented make-up artist (she did her own and Flo’s make-up and hair)

 

I know the red shoes looked Fab in colour…but this had to be “boring old B&W”

(F11 @ 100 iso on my 24-70mm)

Last one…..This actually was the very last shot of the day,

with the aid of the jet engine heater.

 

So three of us shot the same models in the same studio on the same day…..

I highly recommend that you go to Jo’s blog and Neil’s facebook pages…check out their work….

Are we the same? are we competitors…maybe….. but we are friends!

What is not to love about photography?…it shows us that we are all individuals….

BOTH sides of the camera!