Self-doubt and isolation

So, it’s been a while since I wrote anything here, probably mostly because I just seem to be a little busy with life lately! It’s May 2020, and we’re living through a pandemic, which is a pretty scary reality to face.

During this time, I decided that I would try and see how well I could be creative in the garden. We’re very new to this home, and it was left in a state, so it’s more of a jungle than a garden.

I will update this, and add to it as I go, but I decided I’d look at how many self-portraits I could achieve in a very confined space. As I am very much my own worst critic, this was quite an achievement.

I hope you enjoy them, I had fun creating them and there are certainly more to come. The message I was looking to convey was mostly that you don’t need much to create a fairytale <3. And now you all know what I look like too!

Dreams vs. Reality

I've often found myself wondering why I take pictures, am I creative enough? What is it that inspires me, what do I want to create etc? I first picked up a camera because I was uncertain about myself when I was modelling. Nearly 3 years ago, my partner gave me a Canon 7D, stuck an 85mm lens on it and said I should try photography, that way I may miss my modelling. To this day, he curses the fact that he thought I would no longer  be calling him for help up the stairs with my suitcase, I now need help with so much more! 

Dream

What is your dream? Mine has always been to create images that would fit into the theme of 'Dark Beauty' - but that also have an ethereal, fantasy and fairytale quality. 

I want to bring characters to life, for me, beauty lies within fairytales and dreams. Such magical creatures can be found in stories and books, I love to photograph something that embodies real people and fairies, a borderline between fantasy and reality. 

The beautiful tales that may be found in a book will look different to everyone that reads them, I suppose my photography is what I see. 

I knew pretty much immediately that I didn't want to composite, I wanted to try & make the natural world magical. 

Styling Props & accessories

I have learned that Styling, Props and Accessories are as important as any skill as a Photographer. A great image is a great image because every facet of that image is great. 

Take time, prepare, and research. From my earliest days as a Photographer, I have styled a shot, because that way, you can make it into whatever you want. Don't shoot it until you're sure about it. There's never any harm in waiting for the right model, weather and inspiration.

If you're on a budget, you can still do all this, it's just harder, but that is where you learn to improvise, make cheap charity dress shops into something outstanding, just by cutting up material and sticking on jewels. Anything is possible when you invest time & total dedication. 

Inspiration

I will never forget this shot. It was inspired by many shots I've seen on Pintrest. Shots not like this so to speak, but closely cropped portraits. 

The shots I have seen have huge detail in freckles and on skin etc. But they inspired me to get close, create a frame, and ultimately to create this image.

Don't copy, be inspired. Inspiration is beautiful, we can take it from simple things in day to day life. Be inspired by your dreams, but create something that is your own, only then can you be truly proud of it.