jess
This was one of my first shoots for a proper agency. As in I had done the thing that all young “fashion” photographers do which is to go into a modeling agency with a tiny book of images and hope that the youngest booker takes pity on you.
Luckily, it worked out for me and so started my short and fleeting relationship with D1 models in London. D1 weren’t the biggest, but they had an office behind Shoreditch Highstreet station. Shoreditch was probably a few years past its high flying trendy best, but it still felt like I had made it as a photographer.
The shoot with Jessica took place at fellow photographer friend, Craig’s tiny studio. Calling it a studio is almost too much, you’d barely be able to call it a spare bedroom if it was in someone’s house. But it had a window and nicely worn down floorboards. So there I was, on an industrial estate in Walthamstow being a real photographer. I knew I wanted to try blending the natural light with a little but of flash to wrap around her, which looking back I think I pretty much nailed. Just a large Octa feathering across the front of the frame to lift the shadows on the shadow side.
I had bought a deep blue dress from M&S, alongside a nicely fitted blouse, which is why she is is dressed like a substitute school teacher. I also had a yellow wraparound skirt which I had recently liberated from Motel Studio’s fashion cupboard. I’m happy I’d brought that as it was a nice contrast against her darker skin tone.
My memory of Jessica is that she was sweet, but rather quiet. I was probably too focused on everything else to actually make her comfortable, but we got some good frames.
