New Art Riot

After a disastrous month, I am happy to find myself back in the warmth of the city who loves me. London can often be unforgiving for many, but I've always felt that somehow, it manages to pick me up and dust me off as needed. It'll also give me a bit of a reality check at times too, but London really can be the city of opportunity, if you know where to look. It does also help to have amazing friends around you to ensure that:

1. You find somewhere to live. Quickly.
2. You don't starve.
3. You don't go crazy and give up in a giant emofest of epic proportions.

Luckily none of these things happened because I do have amazing friends; people who I was sad to leave in another city, and people who I was happy to return to. And now that I'm back, I'm almost at the end of the "sorting my life out" check list, and am looking forward to getting that camera lodged firmly back in my hand, and run off to new locations, and the new studio upstairs.

But for now, here's a taster of what's coming your way before the biggest website reworking that I've ever done.

1. Anna Fur Laxis for Pearls and Swine (Leeds, UK)
Brand: Pearls & Swine
Model: Anna Fur Laxis
MUA: Skaii Blue

2. Binky and Trafford (Leeds, UK)
The ever beautiful Binky from Pearls and Swine, and her superstar DJ / artist / partner in crime Trafford Lovething. Both images were shot in their conservatory with what available sunlight was free for us.

3. Bettie Wishes (Turnpike Lane, London) - a taster from an amazing shoot!
Model: Bettie Wishes
Hair and Make-up: Sarah Frasca

4. Test Shoot - Ryan (Turnpike Lane, London) - another taster from a larger shoot.

5. The Count, Bow, London.
This was the first "proper" portrait which I'd shot upon my less than triumphant, gloom-filled return to the city. And it made me feel so much better on so many levels. Firstly because I adore the subject. Secondly, I had a lighting set up in my head with one light which got me the exact result that I wanted. And also... despite my brain telling me the contorary, I hadn't lost my photo-mojo. It made me want to hold my camera again, and continue to work. I was very aware that the balance of freelance photography to journalism was slipping, and I was finding every excuse to put down my camera as I felt so burned-out. But this photo made me want to start again, finish my editing backlog, re-do my website... and remember that I'm an actual photographer.

So London, I'm back. The website is taking shape. And there will be a few "Thank goodness I'm back in the Big Smoke" special offers coming up shortly.

Until then,

Diana x ♥ x

The Dancer

It's been a little while since I've had a chance to update - three editorials, lots of fashion stuff and the beginnings of my Autumn exhibition are all slowly in the process of getting edited so there will be a few big updates as and when bits and pieces are finished off, or published.

In the meantime, here's some outtakes from a shoot back in March, and I will get round to doing a much larger update when I'm back in London.

Model: Nyuszi Boros

Make-Up: Sarah Frasca

Hair: Gergana Madzharova

Location: The Second Floor Studio, London. 

I'll be back soon with a bigger update, and lots more out-takes and editorials shortly.

D x

Lucky Pressure

It's been a crazy month here in photography towers, and we've been making the most of the sunshine shooting on location as often as we have been at The Second Floor Studio.

Having shot an editorial for Diva Magazine last month, tomorrow we're heading to the sunny shores of Brighton for editorial number two! Cupcakes and cheesey chips are calling...

However, here's a taster of what's been happening at Fashion Loves Photos:

Firstly, the always amazing Al Pillay who last week had an amazing interview in The Voice newspaper with some of my photos:

The ever handsome Geoff Carr. As his dwarf alter-ego...

Bettie Wishes at her first London show at Volupte:

Some of the shots for website It's My Generation:

Product shots for Rockalily:

Various headshots:

 And finally, a teaser from some photos done with MUA Miss HoneyBare of the lovely Natalie Booth:

There are lots of changes happening at the moment, and lots of exciting work coming up. I have three editorial shoots underwraps (two shot with the incredible make-up artist Sarah Frasca who has an amazing blog) which I can't wait to share with you...  

Diana ♥

Honey In The Sun

Gosh, what a busy few weeks in photographyworld!

Despite the brrr-breeze whilsting around outside, the falling blossom and shards of sunlight suggest that Spring have well and truly sprung.

What better way to celebrate this, than a much needed girly roadtrip to Brighton with one of my best friends, Natalie. Unfortunately the excitement of sea air, cupcakes and carousel rides made me forget to grab my camera, so these are happy memories snapped on my phone rather than shots worthy of Brighton's beautiful scenery.

This last photo was of an amazing band who we stumbled across by The Lanes - The Iron Boot Scrapers. We must have watched them for at least 20 minutes, covering amazing classics by the likes of, erm, Lady Gaga, Rhianna, Katy Perry and Muse.
 

The birds were also so beautiful to watch, as they circled the pier with their migrating dance. They looked as if they were pretending to be paper-plane birds from a Miyazaki movie, and were so incredibly calming.

However, as well as girly days at the seaside, Spring also brings with it the glamour and glitz of Spring cleaning. Wait; glamour and glitz? Is that right? Well, it IS if you're Bettie Wishes, and you do it with style!

Vintage seems to be key right now, How about an afternoon shooting 35mm with a dapper chap in a pool hall? Yes? Win!

And wait, vintage fair did you say? Of course. Hi again Tom!

Or how about some red lipped vixens wearing the much anticipated Rockalilly lipstick?

Rockalily hair and make-up by Kelly Humpreys, styling by ReeRee Rockette. Modelled by Miss Banbury Cross, Luki Fortune, Verity Higgs, ReeRee Rockette and Emerald Fontaine.

For some ultra-vintage fun, how about checking out Photoautomat in Cargo?

Of course, me and Natalie couldn't resist having a poutfest after the shoot was over!

Spring also always makes me gravitate towards the Southbank. Sunshine and ice cream and pretty much both key, although tea and rain will also make me smile. Yes, I 'm a Londoner. Yes, I like the rain. We do exist!

Firstly, my niece Aimee taught me a lesson in how to take photos. Pressing the button was key.

This evening with my lovely friend Carl ended with free hot chocolate and playing on swings next to the London eye at 1am. I love that he's a teacher, yet we always have the least sensible evenings imaginable, which normally involve getting lost and chasing white rabbits with pocket watches.

Speaking of which:

I had the most incredible Mad Hatter's Tea Party at The Sanderson with some of my best friends, and then stumbled upon this amazing stencil work in Brick Lane the next day.

And finally, this last week has been crazy. Lots of headshots and bridal make-up.

Make-up by Nina Aubhi's make-up academy.

Plus I'm still trying to finish off the images from my editorial shoot from a month ago. As a taster, here is one of the dancer's non-editorial images:

Model, Nyuzzi. Make-Up by Sarah Frasca. Hair by Gergana Madzharova.

I am so excited for these images - the avant garde ones are exactly what I hoped they would be, and can't wait to get them into something. They took an incredible team and three wind machines to produce, but were so worth it. I'll hopefully be able to publish them within the next few weeks...

There's actually so much going on right now. I have another editorial with quite an interesting concept to shoot this Friday, and am putting together the final bits and pieces for my editorial shoot for Diva Magazine.

I was also interviewed for French magazine Plus Size Tall, and have found myself writing once again, this time for the wonderful New Empress Magazine, which I can not recommend highly enough. My workshops have also started at The Second Floor Studio, and with such a lovely and varied group, are proving to be a lot of fun already. However, you can see from all of that why it's been a while since I've updated! There are lots of exciting things happening right now, and it's all busy, busy, busy. Hopefully the next update will have even better news, and even more photos!

Until then, enjoy the sunshine! x x