On Location with Phil and Gary

Monday morning was spent shooting on location with Phil and Gary. It was so lovely shooting with them both individually at the weekend then together on the Monday. Phil and Gary have a great relationship and this was their first time shooting at the same time on location. I felt like a star being photographed by more than one photographer at once, it was fab!

The above image is one of Gary's taken at the first location. I love it but wish I had relaxed my neck and head forward slightly, I think my figure looks good in the image though. The image below is again taken by Gary but showing Phil shooting me and a little more of the location. I like these set-up shots, they really make me feel like a model!

The below images are more of Gary's taken at the next location...a fab reed bed Phil found.

I love these so much! Phil got a lovely reed bed image too - although I feel I look a little too curvy in it. I spoke with Gary about my curves, I feel too curvy at the moment but Gary says they look fabulous for art nude work, gives my body a nice feminine shape and gives me something different from the usual stick thin models. I feel proud of my curves now :)

Another two of Gary's...

The last location was fab too, I can't remember the name of it but it was a gorgeous huge quarry with massive rocks, absolutely stunning. Here's some images below from Gary.

I really can't thank Gary enough for a wonderful weekend. Not only am I super proud of the images we created but I had such a good time and also got compensated with my gorgeous baby 30D. I'm already annoying the dog trying to get him to pose for me!

Gary, Phil & Tony - thank you all, you are each a little star in my heart!

Kirst xxx

Lighting group in Lancaster

On Sunday morning I drove up to Lancaster to meet Gazhilla aka Gary as I was the chosen model for his lighting tuition group. Altogether there were eight photographers, the most I've ever modelled infront of. I was really nervous on the drive over but as soon as I met Gary he put me completely at ease, he is such a lovely man. His partner was there too, she was so welcoming and made all my nerves fly out the window.

We never really got a chance to shoot some proper images as he was teaching others how to understand lighting and model etiquette but we sneaked in a few shots. I love the above shot, it's not usual I wear clothes but I guess I don't look that bad in them!

I'm not sure of a lot of the photographers names who were at the lighting course but one I remember is Tony aka toneb75. We seemed to hit it off from the start and I felt completely at ease infront of his camera. I've always struggled to get a decent headshot I like but Tony managed it pretty well...

My favourite is the first headshot, the tones are lovely and my eyes look gorgeous (even if I do say so myself!) Tony should be proud of these! We also managed to sneak in a couple of nudes, my favourite by Tony...

Thanks for these Tony, they truly are lovely, I don't think it will be too long before I'm back down your way!

After leaving Lancaster Craig drove us back to Blackpool to spend the night in our little guest house after dinner at Frankie & Benny's. I almost fell asleep in the restaurant I was so tired, sometimes I think non-models/non-photographers underestimate the effort which gets put into every shoot, it's not easy work.

Will update on the location work next,

Kirst xx

Scotland, England, Wales...in 24 hours

I decided a few weeks ago I'd like to do a little tour to work with a few photographers I've wanted to work with for a while. The alarm went off at 5am, the car was packed, the dog in the boot and off we went.

First stop was with Phil aka Lifescapes in the Lake District. The weather was against us and it was raining quite a bit. Phil knows the area like the back of his hand so I trusted him to scout out a few locations. We ended up deciding to shoot in a boat house as it was sheltered and had some lovely features (including more swans). Wwe shot for a couple fo hours then hit the road again.
Next stop was another 3 hours drive to Colwyn in north Wales where Craig and I done a treetop assault course 50ft high. I WAS TERRIFIED! My balance isn't great when I'm sleepy and my hands were so sore from holding onto the ropes so tight. I managed it all though and in top time too. I was super proud of myself, especially when Craig got scared of the freefall at the end and almost chickened out!
After Wales we hit the road again and drove up to Blackpool where I'm writing from at the moment. We are staying here for a couple of nights as it's near enough to where I'm shooting tomorrow/Monday and we got a really good deal at a lovely little hotel.
I'm shattered now, we've covered over 500miles in less than 24 hours, I've been bitten by a swan and almost fallen 50ft after getting stuck on a thin rope! I've also dropped my mobile in the dogs water bowl (thankfuly it's ok...no idea how!) and realised I've forgotten to pack underwear! Typical me! Just as well I'm a nude model ;)

This image makes me giggle soooooooo much!

I'm heading off to bed now, I'll update with images when I receive some. I've got a big day tomorrow shooting with Gary all day at one of his tuition sessions, looking forward to it.

I hope I can sleep with the entertainer guy downstairs singing his heart out. It's a £1 bar tonight but I don't drink before shooting, one glass of vino was all I had and I'm now ready to take off my make-up, put on my PJs and catch some sleep!

Lots of love,
Kirsty xxx

Sun is shining

I LOVE it when the sun is shining, it makes everyone so cheery (me included!). I've taken a break the past couple of weeks from shooting as my M.E has made me quite ill but looking forward to getting back out there on location on Sunday with Desova and then again on Monday with John Smith. I just found out yesterday that the location I was meant to be shooting at with Desova has been demolished so checking out another one tonight, it has BIG potential, I'm excited!
I'm also off down to Lancaster next weekend to visit my good old friend Phil aka Lifescapes and to meet and shoot with Gary aka Gazhilla. Uber excited as I also get my camera, courtesy of Gary! Can't thank him enough!
It's now only 24 days until I become Auntie Kirsty to either Ava or Lewis, whatever they decide to call the bubba and only 12 weeks and 1 day until I officially become a Mrs! I even got a t-shirt printed with Mrs then my new sirname, can you tell I'm excited about the wedding? That also means it's only 12 weeks and 2 days until I fly to the Maldives for the holiday of a lifetime!

Everything has been pretty damn hectic with me recently, I've also decorated the whole house from top to bottom as well as decorate the nursery at my future brother in laws place, it's so cute, makes me just want to steal the baby! Why is it baby stuff is just so cute? I love it, can't stop buying it! I'll get enough of babies today though as I'm doing a massage demo at a breast feeding group for my salon later on today, screaming babies included...wish me luck.

Anyway, I'll post some images up for you once I recveive some more back and get round ot finishing off some edits!

Love and cuddles,
Kirsty xxx

Feeling Blue

Not sure what it is...the weather, stressful times planning a wedding, the modeling industry, work at the salon, relocating the salon, M.E flaring up again, fallout with the other half...not sure, but I'm feeling pretty blue today.

Is that the right saying? Feeling blue? It sounded right saying it but not sure it looks right after typing it..anyway, I'm having a down day. Everyone gets them every now and again - today in mine. I refused to climb out of bed this morning and curled up under the covers for an extra hour in tears this morning, sometimes everything just gets a little too much and you need a release.

One thing that cheered me up yesterday was seeing KatyT posted a comment on my blog, it's lovely to know someone so inspirational to me is taking her time to read about ME. Unbelievable.

The above image is one from JohnH. Our latest shoot was basically just the two of us playing around for a few hours and seeing what we can come up with. I really like this shot, it captures how I'm feeling today very well. Thanks John.

It's also snowing again up here in Scotland, it's very wet though and I have cold feet...I hate having cold feet. Grrr I'm in such a rubbish mood today, sorry guys.

Here's to a cheerier post next time,
Kirst xxx

Will you be my valentine?

I always love Valentines Day, as much as it's a totally commericalised occasion it's still nice to receive a card telling you how much someone loves you.

I was woken on Sunday morning by Craig with a big box of yummy chocolates and a card. He also said he had a surprise for me in the afternoon. After swapping cards and sitting on the couch in my PJ's watching Hollyoaks Craig told me to go and get ready because we had to leave the house.
I waas super intrigued but went and had a shower, done my hair, made my self look super gorgeous for him and put on a new day dress I got a while back. We got in the car and hit the road. It was raining when we left but Craig kept driving until we were out of the rain and into the sunshine. We ended up way up North on a little stoney beach by a loch with a picnic basket full of yummy treats and a big blanket to put round us to keep us warm. As soon as we got there the dog jumped out the boot and was straight in the water splashing about as Craig and I sat and cuddled on the beach. It was so romantic, so peaceful and so calm we just forgot everything and spent the afternoon sharing stories and talking about our wishes for our future together. It's moments like this I realise why I'm marrying him in 4 months time.

The above image is by Simon James Hayhow, we shot at Contrast last week. It was only Simon's second studio shoot so I helped out a little with the lighting, well tried to. I really like the above image, it's something different for me and I got to wear the new shirt I bought while I was in Glasgow. I've got a few more lovely images from this shoot, just waiting on them being edited. Simon done really well in the studio and should be proud of the images he created, his confidence is really growing and it's nice to be in the company of someone as they blossom.

I shot with JohnH at Contrast too, just awaiting some edits to post so keep an eye out for them,

Kirsty xxx

Broken Angel

I received some images back from a shoot I done in August last year with the very talented Natasha DiPasquale. The idea for the shoot was to use the angel wings Natasha had then for the last few sets I put my make-up skills to the test to create a "broken angel". I love the above shot, it's my favourite from the shoot. I feel the image tells a thousand stories and sums up a lot of what I've been through in 2009. This last set of the shoot was very quick but I'm proud I managed to show such emotion, particularly in this shot.

Not exactly sure why but these shots remind me of my dad, who is now my guardian angel up there in the sky. They make me think I am trying to spread my angel wings but not quite managing to get to him. I'm super proud of my dad and I know he'll be proud of me (maybe not the fact I'm nude though!)

Natasha let me know when she sent these images over she is going to try to edit out the staps in due course but everything has just been a little hectic with her at the moment. I know the straps aren't to everyone's taste but I quite like them, I think the images might look a little fake without them.

I remember telling the story in a previous post about how a feather appears in my life from time to time. It's always after I have been thinking about my dad. I always look up to him for guidance and many times over the last few years, after I have been looking up to the sky for answers a feather appears in my path somewhere. It first happened the night my dad was snatched away from this cruel world, a single feather fell from the sky in front of my mum. Since then many feathers have made an appearance in my life. The other day when I was at my salon working away I had something playing on my mind and subconsciously asked my dad to send me a sign if I was doing the right thing, as I turned around there was a huge grey feather at my feet.

Thank you dad.

Kirsty xxx