Photographer: Manuel Odabashian

..is a lovely photographer, originally from Cyprus, of Armenian descent and residing in London. Two shoots I've had with him have been enjoyable; both at Adrian Pini Studios, but a complete contrast in terms of style, lighting and look.
And Manuel makes me laugh. He introduces me to all his favourite music during a shoot, tells me he goes dancing regularly and is learning to sing opera, that he's often found singing round the studio.

There are only two months between these two shoots, first from March 2010.

 

This beautiful black scarf is something I picked up from tiny Greek island, Skiathos a few years ago and helps to transform what starts off as a rather ordinary headshot into something more eye catching to the viewer but without detracting from the face. I love how the silver sequin detail and intricate beading is picked up by the flash making it sparklier, but you need not travel Europe to find exotic garments - I try to look for interesting fabrics, textures and sparkly bits in town that I can throw over my skin. Charity shops are great for this; great for materials, hair accessories, jewellery, hats, props and more.

Something so simple can be a fashion statement, a finishing touch to a refined outfit. Not even nude has to be nude. A pretty voile scarf wrapped around a bare figure can be used to enhance shape, emotion even.

These nudes however, from late-May are not telling any story, but are simply a beautiful interaction of light and skin, and shows how light plays on the curves of a nude female figure, defining and sculpting.
I like the way the second image is almost a silhouette on the box.
Who said low-key on white doesn't work?

Close to home

I love it when I'm out walking the dogs or just cycling around my home town and I discover secluded little places that have photoshoot potential.

These shots are taken from a shoot I did back in May with Kevin Goodwin. Surprisingly, this is not a rural area, but a mere 10 minutes drive from my house near Portsmouth. There is a river that leads into a large lake, a couple of old bridges, areas of woodland, fields with brambles and long grass, pathways, a board walk that is heavily sheltered by trees all summer and more.
You wouldn't expect it to be so secluded either, but even at its busiest, you'll see a couple of people fishing, a couple of dog walkers and possibly a cyclist. And usually that's from your little sheltered spot with your photographer; the best parts are away from the vast open areas.

Fringe fever

These new head shots by Brian Hopper, taken at the weekend at my local Lowford Studio are a little revolutionary in that I have decided to reinvent my look for the second time this year, thanks to a number of people! In January I opted for a choppy, shoulder-length, platinum blonde GaGa look but after returning to my natural colour in June for my wedding, I have been varying the styles from shoot to shoot to keep it fresh.

Now I don't technically have a fringe, but on this particular day I decided to curl my short bits in one quick sweeping motion and bring them all the way over my forehead, set in place with hairspray and straighten the rest (which is also new to me as I usually keep it wavy at the very least) for a set of well-lit head shots on black.

And these are some of the results. I am so in love with that little pool of light on the backdrop to give the first image extra depth.

As you can see I had to sweep it to the side a little to keep it from covering my eyes, but since I am off to the hairdresser tonight I plan to ask for a blunt fringe to be cut in. Looks like I'll be asking to upgrade my straighteners to GHDs this Christmas too..

Introducing.. Mrs Palmer

A lot has been happening in both my professional and personal life this year. One of which was my marriage to Robert on a very sunny, hot Saturday 26th June. After much planning and running about organising all the finer details in the last few weeks, it all came together; it was a most beautiful occasion and the day was perfect. But maybe I am bias!

St. John the Baptist, in a little village called Shedfield (Hampshire) was our chosen church, seating up to 300 people. A colourful brick interior, beautiful large stained glass windows, but an aisle I had to measure before the big day just to make sure my dress (and my father/groom) would fit! These pictures are courtesy of Keith Curtis, official wedding photographer and Shaun Hodge.

After the ceremony.

Photographer: Kash Rafique

These two were taken by the lovely Karen Jones as the confetti was thrown.

My beautiful bridesmaids, Stacey, my cousin Anna, my maid of honour Rachel, and another Rachel.

More images courtesy of Shaun Hodge.

The wedding party also included our 5-year old flower girl Caitlin, dressed in sage green crinoline and silk with a petticoat that almost competed with mine(!), 14-year old page boy George, best man Nick, (above left) my father Ian, (above right) master of cermonies, Anthony and the two young ushers, Joe and Ben.

All the guys wore morning suits with top hats from Charles Gale. Cravats and handkerchiefs were made from leftover bridesmaid dress material - you would not believe how hard it is to find that gold/green colour in the shops!

Photographer: Kash Rafique

The olive green taffeta floor-length bridesmaids dresses were bought from Cynthia Styling. The jewellery I made myself from tiny champagne and ivory pearls. On the morning of the wedding, we all had our hair and make-up done by Southampton based make-up artist Rachel Thomas, who is not only excellent at what she does, but a good friend of mine. I first met her working on a shoot with Graham Wood.

Flowers courtesy of By Arrangement.

Dress altering courtesy of Heidi Diefenbacher.

Dress courtesy of.. Ebay!

No kidding, Heidi pretty much sewed it together, but initially I had bought this for a shoot and loved it so much, it simply had to be my dress. I don't really believe in spending ridiculous amounts of money when you can shop around and quite honestly? I didn't even find anything I liked in bridal shops.

Our reception was held at Botleigh Grange Hotel (Hedge End) near Southampton and this is an image by Keith Curtis outside in the grounds, and below with the horse & carriage, me with our gorgeous little flower girl and the cake.

Last but not least, a group of net-model models and photographers, from left: Bob Dixon, Steve Spurgin, Jessica Harris & partner, Amanda & Shaun Hodge, Andy Haynes, Kash Rafique, Tobin Jones, Robert & I, Nikki Hambry, Roze Thorn, Graeme Trott, Karen Jones, Loreena Maguire and Linda & Chris Brick.

Time out for a two week holiday on the cruise ship, Ventura in the Mediterranean last month was pure bliss. Neither of us had been on a cruise before, so we agreed seeing many of our favourite European cities in one trip, including Barcelona, Cannes, Pisa, Rome, Palma, Valencia and Gibraltar was definitely the thing to do.

Not to mention the outstanding service on board - the formal dinner nights, the entertainment, pools, spa treatments, gym.. which I have to say was much needed after the restaurants' set 6-course dinner menu each night. We even went to salsa and jive classes to wiggle off all that delicious food a little more.

Of course, this entry has nothing to do with modelling, (despite the net-model 'paparazzi' outside the hotel who tried to prove otherwise) but it is such a huge milestone in our lives and I am so over the moon.

Robert has only ever been thoroughly supportive and positive in regard to my work as a model; he has never judged or felt threatened; but listens and admires, and in return I have great respect for him.

I am so lucky to have that wonderful support.

Beautiful song we first danced to, Anne Murray ~You Needed Me.

Hello, year of my marriage

Happy new year to you all!
Because it's the start of a new decade, (or maybe that's next year, but hey don't spoil my opening line) I have a new look.
The hair. It's always the hair. Extensions are gone and I asked my hairdresser to up the peroxide so it's now all choppy, just past my shoulders and white. I can't decide whether to go 100% Lady Gaga and have a fringe cut in too. I might.. or I might just buy one of those fringe pieces you clip in whenever you want.

Here are my new year's resolutions for 2010. I find if I write stuff down, I can't run away from it and say, 'well I never said that!' a few months down the line.

• Work on some digital art with Rebecca Parker in Wales - http://www.rebecca-parker.co.uk/
• Work in Ireland
• Work in India (with Ajit Letap?)
• Print off new portfolio / book
• Be accepted into a London modelling agency
• REALLY work on getting rid of those dark circles under my eyes - find miracle product / buy an insane amount of cucumber!
• Drink 8 tall glasses of water a day and make a note of it (as I'm never going to get enough sleep lol)
• Maintain regular (but not daily) workouts
• Continue swimming regularly
• Get a part-time job in a photography/camera shop for extra cash
• Get canvas-selling business set up and on the road
• Back up ALL hard disc drives literally every week or set it up to do this automatically - I learnt the hard way :(
• Get married *girly squee*
• Get driving - pass test
• Buy an artist's easel and take up painting / drawing again as a full-time hobby
• Make TIME for this hobby
• Get entire hallway and living room finished by the end of 2010

It would also be cool to work with Stefano Brunesci, (http://www.stefanobrunesci.com) John Barone, (http://johnbarone.co.uk/) do some fashion with Wayne Johns (http://www.waynejohns.com/) and work in Hong Kong with Teddy So at Studio T (http://www.fotop.net/studiot)

How 2 b a modelz (Idiots guide to facial expressions)

© Jim Bateman

1. 'Busting for a wee'

2. 'Glee'

3. 'Happy'

4. 'Hot n saucy' (can't you get that flavour nik naks?)

5. 'I've a pineapple up me bum'

6. 'I've eaten too many chips!'

7. 'Not another one of your jokes please'

8. 'Jim just offered me a chip covered in brown sauce'

9. 'And he's just told me I've got to go home tomorrow'

10. 'Laughter at Jim's rubbish jokes'

11. 'Just been told the ma-in-law is coming round' (this is not strictly true as my mother in law is lovely)

12. 'Miserable cow'

13. 'OMGWTF'

14. 'Oops my bosom totally just fell out'

15. 'Pain'

16. 'Pretending to be a virgin'

17. 'These better not appear on the internet Jim.........'

The Liqorice Allsort & Trashbag Fashion

I took the time to dig out an old contact card the other day. One that'd been in my bag for over 6 months, belonging to John Farrar, who I met at Brighton back in May 2009. Two days ago, we collaborated ideas at the little studio he uses in Hove, produced some images from two great sets, with a little fashion thrown in for good measure and here are the results.

'Trashbag Fashion'
The idea started off as a beauty shot but then more and more was added to this concept. The latex skirt worn as a top was going to envelope both arms the bondage way, but instead added a glitzy necklace, a pair of killer platform shoes and a few blown up binbags smeared with babyoil, tucked into a thick belt around the waist.

Hair & make up by Cheryl Elizabeth

'The Liqorice Allsort'

So when I pulled these socks out of the suitcase and mentioned Bertie Basset, the only natural thing to do was to model AS a liqorice allsort. The actual sweets didn't have a place in the final image, despite many episodes of laughter of trying to weave them into my huge manic hair.

So I bagged them back up and gave them to my fiancé when I got home.

Only joking!

 

Hair & make up by Cheryl Elizabeth

Tomorrow I am at Lowford so will be spending the rest of tonight packing long silky materials, floaty fabrics and dark lacy lingerie. The shoot's not until 2pm but there will be a pole dancing instructor there in the morning, so I may be lucky enough to bag a lesson or two and indulge some hardcore warm-up stretches.