The Photoshoot

So, this weekend I travelled to Sheffield, to both visit my best friend and to use her as my model for my 'black' photoshoot. When travelling there I was unsure of the exact kind of photos I wanted to leave with, but I had a good feeling about how the shoot would go. Before arriving at the train station I popped into a local costume shop to pick up some black silk gloves, and then I used the journey to develop my ideas further.

When in Sheffield, as Imini led me to her accommodation, I gave her a brief rundown of what i was going for with my shoot and she seemed pretty excited. Once in her room I decided that the area around her bed was where I wanted the shoot to take place; there were two main reasons for this, them being the fact that behind her bed she has a large plain white wall which would do for a good background, and all her sheets are plain white, again giving me a simple setting to work with.

When it came to the actual photoshoot, I started by wanting to work with silhouettes, so Imini got down into her underwear as I set up the lamp and the room. We started by going full body silhouettes, which I think look really cool but I wasn't sure if that was the sort of images I was going for. I think the light captured her shape really well and I think the images are mysterious and modest. I enjoy how the light catches her curves and shapes in the photo on the left, showing off her form, which was my aim.

I then got Imini to sit down and do some

stuff lower down, concentrating of the shape and silhouette of her hands and body. I love the photo on the left, I think it looks both delicate and striking. I really enjoy the silhouette of her upper body and then the shadows on her legs and on the bed sheets. I think the one on the right is more interesting, as you can understand what her body is doing but the use of lighting makes it look more mysterious and perhaps a little creepy; she looks almost a little animalistic.

We then moved onto profile and front on shots. This meant doing hair and makeup, which I wanted to be simple and classic and something that would work with the use of black gloves. Imini was such a great sport for this bit because I can understand why she'd feel like a dick. I wanted the pictures to be posy and classic, drawing attention to the gloves without them being the main interest of the picture. I kept telling her to put her hands on her face or to move her hands around, and I get why she'd feel silly but we came out with some great shots.

I absolutely love the photos from this bit of the shoot. The picture on the left I like because I think her eyes show a little cheekiness, it's not completely serious. Where as the seriousness of the photo on the right I love. The contrast between the black of the gloves and the white of her skin is gorgeous and captures both the elegance of the gloves and the mystery of the hidden face.

After the photoshoot I did a little cinematography, capturing some footage of Imini in her faux fur coat. This video I will post once I have edited it all together.

I had so much fun doing this photoshoot with Imini. I am lucky to have a best friend who is both willing to do stuff like this and has a face that is lovely to do it with. I also used Imini in my Media BTEC when producing my music video, and she was just as lovely and easy to work with then. Working with her made the photoshoot easy to do and meant I got the sort of photos I wanted. I am really chuffed with how it all went and the photos we have produced.

Can't wait to hear what our next task is in this project and to continue with the creation of my mood boards.

Ta Ta for now, My Lovelies.

Miss Blue