What I've been up to

    It's been a while but I'm still here, still working.

My work for Cheshire Life Magazine is still going on. Covering events in and around Manchester has led me to meet lots of different people from different walks of life. Sometimes meeting the same people at multiple events.

                                                                            Magali Gorre for Cheshire Life


    Shooting events doesn't have to be complicated. I use a 24/70 1.8 lens with on board flash, usually pointed at the ceiling. I happily shoot at iso 2500 with the flash manually set to under fire by 1 stop. Magazine print is very forgiving when it comes to noise so when I find myself in a dark room I am no longer worrying about the results.

Great Gatsby Charity Ball

Brooks McDonald 10th Anniversary

    'Get it right in camera' That's the dream of all photographers everywhere. The truth is 'Close is good enough' 'cause we got Lightroom ! Simply put, magazines like brightly exposed images which means minimum work in Lightroom. Lens correction, highlight suppression, straightening; most of these can be automated during loading. I can shoot and deliver on the same night. My Editor likes ten to twenty images to choose from but has allowed me to send more depending on the event. 

Lady Derby opening the new Boodles flagship store 

King st Manchester

Food photography

    It's not what I imagined I would be doing but it is photography and I have been allowed to shoot a couple of editorials. Basically if an opportunity is presented to you, take it, it could lead to something great.

The Nomadic Model and the 3 -2 -3 Shoot Part 2

In our previous instalment I introduced you to Roarie Yum the world travelling model and our adventure in commercial fashion lighting. Well that was just the beginning !

We could not go through a shoot with out doing some of my popular 'fashion nude' work, so while Roarie changed outfit I reset the lights. Or rather I turned off the octobox and placed a grid over the beauty dish. In the space of a minute I had a whole new look ! Remember I'm using a speed-light through a 22" beauty-dish, nothing fancy. It's just a matter of choosing the dish angle and power output. 

Then Roarie Yum stepped in front of my lens and delivered a performance that yielded a treasure trove of images that I then had to organize and make my selections from. In the end I settled on three sets of four pictures. That's twelve images worthy of publication from a session that lasted forty minutes out of a three hour shoot !

The simple truth is know what you want, go for it and make sure you cast properly ! Do not make do with the 'girl next door' go out and cast your model, use ModelMayhem - PurplePort - BeScouted, you will be rewarded !

Oh, and just to let you know, there is a third part to this shoot !

(See the rest of the sets - HERE )

More T.K.

The Nomadic Model and the Three Look Two Light Three Hour Shoot

So last month I was contacted by a model who was visiting the UK. She had seen my portfolio on PurplePort and thought that we might work well together. Well, after a quick look at her work, I knew the answer had to be 

The models name is RoarieYum and she is an established professional model. Best of all she has spent the last three years living out of a backpack travelling the world and paying her way working with photographers of every level in every country. Even landing work with established names. You have probably seen her fine art photographs on the internet and now you know the name.

The fact that such a capable and established model wanted to work with me was one thing. 

The fact that she was down to earth and a bit of a nerd was a God send !

OK, so we agreed to a three hour shoot with just four days to put something together. I didn't just want to repeat myself though. Three hours is a long time to be taking pictures and I know how quickly I can work when in my comfort zone plus I wanted some extra variety to keep things interesting for both of us..

Recently I have been watching Lara Jade and Emily Soto post BTS videos and video blogs about fashion photography and the industry. There was one lighting set up in particular that caught my attention. Two lights, an octobox to the side and an octa or umbrella overhead (and in front) facing down. Get the balance right and you had clear bright almost natural light. Well, seeing as I had just invested in a 22" beauty dish, this seemed like a great opportunity to experiment with a new look. Something a bit more commercial and fashionable.

                               

So after a shopping trip that resulted in two outfits and the addition of a chair bought from a charity shop it was time to shoot idea number one -

As you can see when the model looks up to the dish the light is brighter yet, even when turned away from the octobox there is enough light to wrap around and stop the shadows from getting too dark. The brim of the hat doesn't even cast a nasty shadow over the eyes. All I had to do was adjust the power of the two lights until I was happy. When you consider that the octobox is fitted to a Bowens Gemini 250 watt and the diffused beauty dish is attached to a speed light you realise how forgiving this set up is. 

final treatment was a little image clean up and then toning was done in Lightroom. I set the white balance to Cloudy - it was that simple !

Best of all we went on to shoot two more different ideas with the same set up and achieved completely different results !

More on that later, 

More,T,K

Simple sexy one light fashion

I was overdue a shoot and wanted to give my portfolio an overhaul, something a bit more exciting and bold. I always liked black and white for art nude work, it automaticaly tells you to think differently about the image. So at the start of January I posted a casting on PurplePort for a fashion nude shoot and got a great response that led me to choose two models. I thought the first shoot would be me figuring things out and the second shoot would then benefit from those lessons.

For the first shoot I enlisted the talents of Scarlett Fox who's portfolio showed me that she had experience of this style and had offered a few of her own ideas when I made initial contact. For the set-up I played safe - 

Speedlight through a softbox on a boom arm high and to the side. 

With a strip box below for fill, but not alway necessary.

As we progressed and Scarlett got used to me and we both grew in confidence I switched the overhead light to a beauty dish. Now most people use a 22inch dish, and one day so will I but my trusty 16inch dish has never let me down. With the diffusion sock fitted I could easily shoot 3/4 length. I just had to adjust the lights angle to balance the coverage with the shadows. The only problem was when the speedlight started playing up.

One light or two, it does not have to be complicated !

A week later it was time for shoot two with Robyn Brooke. The first thing I changed was the speedlight. I put my Bowens 250 studio light on to the strongest light stand I have and I shot with the bare beauty dish. No diffuser or grid.  No fill light either.

This gave me a very classic high key beauty look that also does amazing things for a models complexion.

Later though we needed more drama so the grid went onto the beauty dish and I angled it down to more of a rakish angle.

Robyn was brave enough to let me pour water over her head so we could shoot some wet look images. The entire shoot was shot at 100iso F5.6 with my 24-70mm 2.8 lens. I don't think I ever adjusted those settings !

Visit swrdigital.com  to see the complete set

Importantly there was never a weird moment  due to the fact that I was photographic a naked woman. When you know why you are there and are focused on getting the bast results and honouring the models time and commitment your entire objectivity changes for the better. If it doesn't then you need to stop and re-evaluate your life !

Myself, I intend to shoot more like this with improved styling maybe some more custom processing.

                               More T.K..

2016 The story so far...

Once upon a time;
It was January and I had successfully shot an event for Cheshire Life Magazine, with two more confirmed for March and April, quickly followed by two model shoots within a week of each
other !
 

      

      

Cheshire's very own The Tea Alchemists were having a special afternoon tea event and as purveyors of the finest loose leaf teas they had selected one of the finest venues in Manchester, Chetham's Library. My job was simple enough, photograph happy people enjoying their fresh tea and make sure to spell their names correctly. some jobs just look after themselves !

Then it was time for something completely different ! 

I had posted a casting call on PurplePort and ModelMayhem for a fashion nude shoot that left me spoilt for choice. I decided on two models knowing that the first shoot would let me figure a few things out and so make the second shoot go more smoothly. Plus both models were happy to shoot at my house but more on that later...

Christmas List

So what do you buy a photographer for Christmas ?
It's not exactly a cheap past time and surprise gifts could be an expensive mistake. Of course you could just ask. Maybe have the photographer in your life draw up a wish list ? With Black Friday and Cyber Monday almost here I thought I might share a few ideas...

Clutch camera hand strap - by Peak Design - £24.99

 I've never been a big fan of traditional neck straps but cameras can get heavy, especially with telephoto lens attached and they will give your wrist and grip a work out. Enter the Clutch strap from Peak Design. It's supper comfy with a cool little alloy clip that lets you adjust the grip on the fly. Totally comfy and totally secure. (I totally have one). 

Color Checker Passport - X-Rite - £52.00

A must have for any photographer, especially those who do their own prints. X-Rite(website) make a range of calibration devices for your monitor, tablet and even your phone. The Color Checker Passport is the first step in guaranteeing accurate colour reproduction. Place in shot or shoot a separate file with the same lighting. What ever editing software you use you can sample a point on the card and instantly correct the colour temp and white balance and then apply it to all the other shots. The included software can even automate some of the process for you.

Portfolio website - SmugMug 

All those fabulous photos getting ruined on Facebook and social media = lots of likes but no sales or jobs ! If only there was an easy way to set up a professional site with a built in print store that you could use to attract paying clients, with lots of design templates, all easily customizable and makes your pictures look awesome ? SmugMug has four price plans but only the Portfolio (£8.23 mth) and Business (16.46 mth) have the print store. If you want to buy this as a gift I suggest a annual subscription, also if you use this link - SmugMug you will get a 25% discount.

Lens - 24-70mm f2.8 Canon - £683.00 used / £1400,00 new

Not a cheap lens (even second hand) but worth the investment, The build, the quality of the glass. The softness of the background when shortening your depth of field. This is the go to lens. Fashion, journalism, headshots, travel, this lens will deliver.  It does weigh just shy of 1kg though. 

This lens, along with my 85mm f1.8 and 50mm f1.8 is always with me.

Online shop - Wex Photographic

My favourite go to website for buying gear is Wex Photographic. They have a huge range, from entry level to top of the line professional equipment. Delivery times average two or three days.

My favourite part of the site though is their used pages. Whoever writes the product descriptions under sells the quality of the item. I bought a 24-70mm f2.8 that was described as having a few marks and signs of use but when I un-boxed it I could not find a mark on it. The lens was as new but at half it's normal price. Definitely worth a look if you want to upgrade but don't have a large budget.

I might update this as Christmas gets nearer !

                                                     More T.K...

Egyptian Memories For Sale

OK so a few years back I went on a Nile river cruise and it was one of the coolest things I have ever done ! Better still I took some awesome photographs that I then put into a book using Lightroom & Blurb so that I would have a hard copy to share with friends.
I have posted the best of the collection online before and received great feedback. So now, with Christmas approaching,  I am offering the book for sale.

Egypt - the Long Cruise aboard the SS Misr by Simon W Randall | Make Your Own Book

So if you are a lover of Egypt or know someone who is this may just be the perfect present.

More T.K....

An Eventful Few Weeks

Have I mentioned that I have started doing event photography ?
The folks at Cheshire Life Magazine have taken me on as a freelancer covering Manchester. It's only part time, which means one job every four to six weeks, so not enough to live on but it's work and it gets my name in print (about 30,000 in circulation).
All I have to do is be available, turn up on time and cover every important detail and get peoples names spelt correctly. Luckily for me this summer saw a few extra events so I've already shot three with two more booked.
The key is to travel light, eat before you go, don't drink alcohol and be respectful.

Salvi's Restaurant launch event

My first job was covering Salvi's Restaurant and a dinner they laid on to promote their new restaurant  and deli which will be opening across town.

I was lucky with this one. It was early enough for the daylight to make exposure easy and I didn't have to fight the camera over slow shutter speeds  when it did get dark. There is nothing worse than uploading the shots onto your pc only to discover that some are too 'soft' for print. Low light shooting is a whole new arena. More on that to come...

Getting on Track and Getting Serious

Finally life has given me space to get back to doing what I love.
    So in the last two months I connected with the editor of Cheshire Life magazine and she gave be the opportunity to do some freelance event photography. Go to a venue photograph people enjoying the hospitality and make sure you get their names spelt correctly. Then deliver the shots promptly.
    It's only occasional work (once a month if lucky) but you get to go to interesting places and meet interesting people. I have learned though that it is a good idea to check in with the PR person a couple of days before the event to make sure there haven't been any last minute changes or cancellations !

    So far two events covered and a few more lined up over the next few months (and yes I get paid !). For the first event I used my prime lenses -50ml f1.8 and 85ml f1.8 these are great for interior shoots thanks to their big apertures. Then combine a TTL off camera flash and you have got it covered. Obviously this means lens changes are needed according to the subject matter which means carrying the lenses and stopping every couple of minutes to change over. Not too efficient. Well, when you know there is more work coming and you are serious about it you invest in the appropriate equipment. In this case a 28-70ml f2.8 lens. This is the lens that every Canon shooter talks about and wishes that they could afford. Used for portrait, fashion and editorial it is a fabulous piece of kit but at £1400.00 new it is out of reach of mere mortals.

   Step in Wex Photographic who are fast becoming my favourite supplier. Free and almost always next day delivery and their used department is excellent. Who ever writes the descriptions and ratings for the used equipment is very modest and conservative. The 28 -70ml lens that I invested in was described as having some wear on the focusing ring and around the mounting. Well when I received the parcel, wrapped in about 6 feet of bubble wrap, even the original box looked as new ! I spent five minutes examining the lens looking for any sign of wear. I could not even find any dust inside the elements. So at £749.00 it's an investment but if you pick carefully you can get your hands on an 'as new' lens at half the price ! So how serious are you ?
    I intend to keep shooting and want to keep Cheshire Life magazine happy so this lens is a real investment in my career and that has to be a good thing.

More T.C...

Why I Won't Be Spending £3,000 On A New Camera

    Canons new 5DS is an awesome piece of kit. Full frame 50.6 megapixels, 61 AF points, Digic 6 processor; the list goes on...
Their 5D mk3 - 22.3 megapixel, 61 AF points, Digic 6 processsor, basically the smaller brother to the 5DS, is also awesome; but they ae over £2000 just for the body !

   Lets be honest. Most of us cannot afford that kind of money and anyone who does buy one is probably using a credit card or a payment plan. There is an alternative. (or 2)

some pro photographers rent their gear. They build the cost of one or two days equipment rental into their budget for a shoot. So the client is paying and the photographer is playing.
All those pros who talk about medium format, they hire the camera per shoot.
   Yes this is a valid option but in today's market I don't think most budgets will accommodate.

    So Canon are also releasing two other cameras. The 750D & 760D.
The 760D has a APS-C 24.2 MP sensor, 19 AF points & Digic 6 processor. Oh and it's £649.00 !
Canon do not class this as a professional camera but when you look at the specifications what else do you need ?
The 760D out performs the 5D mk2 one of the most successful pro cameras on the market !

Now let's be honest, the 760D has a cropped sensor (1.6) but it can except all of Canons lenses. Pro full frame cameras can only except EF lenses. Yes you loose the full width of view of any lens but you avoid the flaws that can be found at the edges.
  For someone who spends most of his time in the studio photographing people I see no reason why the 760D can't be taken seriously. Some of you will be thinking bokeh, that lovely transition from sharp focus to soft fuzzy gorgeousness ! Well cropped sensors tend to have a harsher transition but a larger sensor can improve the transition. So it is a trade off, if you're not sure try it out and make your own mind up. I know what my decision will be when the 760D comes out in April.

More t.k.

USA Print Store

    Being based in the UK I of course favour a UK based printer - Loxley Colour. They are one of Smugmugs printing partners so they are an obvious choice. Trouble is that half my audience is in the lovely U S of A and shipping costs from the UK are a little steep ! Now if Smugmug allowed me to have more than one print supplier and used the customers location to guide them to the appropriate one, that would be awesome; but no for some reason this is not possible !

Fear not -

    Step forward Fotomoto. Recently aquired by BayPhoto (another Smugmug partner) their plugin allows me to set up a print gallery page on my blog. So now the USA and close neighbours can order prints without having to pay over the odds for shipping !

 Here is the link -

PRINTS USA

UK & Europe -

PRINTS UK

                                                                                              

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New Business Start Up Package

    Introducing a fixed price photographic package for people who are starting up new businesses in and around Manchester UK.
If your new business is the kind that needs professional photographs for your products and marketing and if you are receiving assistant from an agency or a new business start up scheme, such as the New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) or similar you can benefit from my 'Startup' package -

This includes; consultation and preproduction,
                        a full day shoot,
                        edit & retouch of final images,
                        image licensing / usage rights.

Normally all these things are priced and billed separately but by offering a fixed price package I hope to help new businesses successfully launch themselves into the market place and hopefully cultivate some long term clients.

    For more information visit my website and contact me with information about your business needs.

More t.k...

New Year New Deals

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR !

Now that that's out of the way lets get back to work. Start as we mean to go on because before you know it the Christmas ads will be back on and you'll be wondering where the year went and why your 'To Do' list is still two pages long !

    So to kick things off I have put together some packages for my photography business. This achieves two things -

It helps me define my own Brand Identity and it position me within the market place. 

This is something that I have been thinking about over Christmas. I asked myself - 

                                                    What kind of photographer am I ?

                                                    What is my style?

                                                    How much do I need to make to cover expenses ?

                                                    What does the local market charge ?

    

    A lot of people make the mistake of undercutting the competition and so becoming known as the 'Cheap Guy' who most probably is not making his fortune just yet. In fact he will probably go out of business because to pay the bills he will have to get a day job which will then prevent him from committing any time to his photography.

    When you do your research in to your local competition look at how long they have been in business and whether they work from home or have a separate business address. Then look at what they charge for specific services.

    If someone charges £180.00 to £220.00 for a days shoot it is because that is what they need to charge to keep themselves in business ! More importantly they have clients willing to pay that amount !

    Look for at least five local competitors and look at their rates. Most of them will be fairly close to each other, with at least one exception who will either be way out of your league or too cheap to be doing this full time.

    

    The simple maths of it are that the average of these rival rates is what your local market currently supports. So why would you price yourself out of it ? Too cheap and people will ignore you (waste of their money) Too expensive and people will still ignore you (You're not competitive enough or just plain egotistical).  

    You need to get into the game so price yourself accordingly. Position yourself - 

within the marketplace

not outside of it !

Immediately you are making yourself comparable to the successful photographers in your area the difference of course will be what makes you stand out. Your Unique Selling Point. 

This is where you have to sell yourself and what you have to offer. This is the reason that clients will come to you and not the competition. Not how cheap you are but how good the services are that you offer !

    So start the new year off right and reassess your place in the market place and reposition yourself in a more realistic position and then work damned hard at justifying it !

More t.k.

Grow Your Network

We all need to put ourselves out there if we want to be noticed. To build our on-line presence and connect with fellow creatives and clients. So when I was invited to join a new networking site called *Modeling Stage* I was happy give it a try. The site is currently open to photographers, models & actors. It just takes a couple of minutes to set up a profile and, because the site is in beta, you get to be in at the beginning and help shape the network as you build your following and audience.
    Here is the link - modelingstage.com

Black Friday !

Black Friday 50% Print sale ! - runs all weekend till Cyber Monday 1st Dec - Christmas starts here ! 

Here's the LINK

Ying & Yang or The Need for Personal Vision

So back when I shot the  A Distant Shore Series with Jodie Winyan there was a second series, Tempest

Tempest was shot on the same day in my living room with the same Bowens Gemini light & 1.2 mtr Octobox. Oh, and 10 metres of white, sheer, material.

Now whilst I had had plenty of time to prepare for this shoot most of my energy had been focused on the 'Distant Shore' theme. This second theme was always about two distinct images and how to achieve them. The first theme had a story to guide it. Give it a direction to develop in as we shot.

Whilst having two distinct images in mind for the second 'look' may have proven enough for, say a fashion shoot or advert, I was in full on story mode and keen to shoot as much as possible. I already knew the first series was going to yield some great shots so I was determined to make the most of this new setup.

After twenty minutes of trying every possible pose we decided to stop and so avoid repetition. All that was left was for me to pick out the best shots and edit them. No so easy when your vision only went as far as two key images. Coming off of the success of the first series my expectations were high but without I a clear story in my head I was struggling to build a sequence that was of any merit. Not to mention the editing and post processing was just a series of experiments as I looked for something that would work.

All the while this is going on I also have real life to contend with. Which means these images were taking longer than usual to complete. Then one morning I turn on my PC load up Lightroom and hate what I see ! There was too much Photoshop, too many layers and manipulation. The focus of the pictures was lost because the 'over editing' was destroying them. I needed to start again, strip back, simplify. Only now I had a better idea of what to do.

An important part of any story is the journey and that includes the creation. This set of photographs was being difficult. I was not making it easy for me to see past the surface. So I made that part of the story. I made our 'Tempestuous' relationship the thread that linked the images in the series and informed the style of edit.

What could have been a disaster was saved by using the experience of creation as a key part in the presentation and style of the work.

'Every project is personal'

I've always believed that. Now more than ever !

More t.k.

We Tripped the Light Fandango...

Or so the song goes.

    Anyway, a few weeks ago I finally got to do a photo shoot with Jodie Winyan and give my 1,2 mtr octobox a real workout. Think 'The French Lieutenants Woman' & 'Wuthering Heights' for the concept. A solitary woman lost in her thoughts about a lover who may or may not be returning. 

Oh the drama !

    Anyway it was shot in my living room next to the TV and fireplace. No, seriously. I pulled the sofa out into the dining room put up a collapsible backdrop in front of the living room window. Bowens Gemini 250 watt studio light (about 1/3 power) with my 1.2 mtr octobox, on a light stand, up against the wall to the left. An optional reflector, against the bookcase, to the right. Then the backdrop was a black bed sheet with a length of 1.5 mtr wide black fine netting. Importantly the creases were left in for texture.

    A black dress fro Ebay, some artificial lilies and red ribbon for symbolism, then throw in an electric fan to create movement (only for it to die after 5 mins).

    Note, the main light is aimed passed the subject, not at her, this way the light can wrap around her more easily. This makes the reflector optional.

    The numbers:

                           ISO - 100

                           Focal length - 80 mil

                           Aperture - 3.5

                           @ 1/90 sec.

    All that was left was to go into Photoshop do a little retouch and post processing with a couple of custom filters and actions. Then release into an unsuspecting world.

Full picture set here

                        

                                                                                  More tk...

The Little Things

    OK so call me a geek, call me a big kid but sometimes the simple things make me happy :)

For instance Velcro !

I decided that securing filters and flash triggers to my equipment with elastic bands was not very professional or reliable. Then I went to Maplins (UK) ans spotted these little Velcro rolls...

And they are brilliant ! Each role is a metre long, you can cut them to length. A choice of colours,  if you want to colour code your gear. 

Wrap a strip around the head of your speed light and it will grip a piece of coloured gel. 

Flash trigger hanging off the side of your strobe by its cable ? Use a strip of Velcro to secure it.

Packing gear, Wrap around loose light stand legs. Group gear together.

My Bowens studio flash does not have a hole to fit an umbrella shaft. So two lengths of Velcro wrapped around the body of the light gripping the umbrella shaft. Easy !

did I mention the choice of colours ? OK, so you get the point.

Here is the Maplins link

                             More t.k...

(The author will not be held responsible for the fate of small children and animals when using Velcro.)

Time to Mean Business

     I've decided to dedicate more time to developing my photography and the possibility of generating more paid work. This means developing my online presence and building up my audience and potential client base.
    Whilst the internet makes it easy to reach out globally it is still just 'virtual'. Even in the 21st Century it pays to have something tangible. The simple answer is of course the humble business card, only they aren't so humble any more !
    There are plenty of firms that offer cheap deals on print runs of 100 cards, or more but they are cheap for a reason. Thin flimsy paper, poor colour reproduction, soaks up water like a sponge.
    It's true that some people think that business cards are dead. that you just need a persons email address and share a selection of images with them. That's just too impersonal for my liking. Pictures on your computer or phone are now too easily disposable and forgettable, because 5 mins later they are replaced by new ones.
    A photographic business card, on the other hand, has weight and texture. The stiffness of the card and the finish on the image indicate an investment in quality. This is a card worth keeping. If you invest in it then so should the recipient. The simple fact is that if you care about your photography then you should care equally for all things connected to it. Potential clients will sense this. That means spending money and investing in a product that will reflect positively on you and your business.
    I had heard about MOO from various sources and have never heard anything bad so I decided to give them a go. 100 matte finish laminated cards with the extra touch of rounded corners.

    The cards are stiffer than playing cards and the matte finish gives them a lovely feel between the fingers. You can order thicker and posher card stock but I love my choice and being able to have multiple front images gives people a choice when taking one of your cards and giving it pride of place in their wallet. These are cards I am proud to offer to people and for that they are worth every penny.

    Here's the link MOO cards so you can check them out for yourself.

                                                                                         More t.k....

The Creative Trigger

      Just like you I have limitation on what I can achieve by myself. I don't have a full time stylist, makeup  artist and hair stylist. Now I pretty much do my own wardrobe styling, it's a key part to my 'look'. You know what it's like you have the model but they don't own the right outfit, who pays for it, do you give her the outfit as payment for the shoot ? Or do you start filling your spare room with a random selection of clothes ?!
    Like I said I do my own styling and an important piece of the style is jewellery. It creates a focus, influences the theme. Hell it can inspire an entire shoot !
    I can literally spend an hour or two on Ebay, Amazon or just image searching for interesting pieces of jewellery. These character pieces have a story of their own which can inspire a new image/story.  Just one little piece, a necklace or headband can completely change a models character and define the 'story' that you are telling with your photograph.
    Believe me there is some really cool jewellery out there. Some not as expensive as you might think.
Recently I bought some artificial lilys and guess what ? They keep popping into my head when I imagine a new project ! So the little book of big ideas is expanding !
 
         'The little things are really the big things.'

                                                                           More tk...