Ella Rose: The Story

>Last week I drove for hours on treacherous ice and snow to get to Glastonbury for a shoot with Ed Melville. Much of the journey was in first or second gear and there were times, during the way back, at which I thought I might never get home!! BUT it was worth the trip and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Ed wanted some Christmassy images with a ‘pagan’, natural theme, amongst other things. He’d gathered ivy and holly, and I fashioned myself a headdress.

We then went a little bit mediaeval/pre-Raphaelite. I’m really struggling to decide which to upload to my portfolio, so any help here onwards would be appreciated!!

Red and musical, featuring a Nordic lyre (which I could not resist twinging constantly, poor Ed):

Also, I now have these. I’m so sorry I’m bombarding readers of my blog with belly-dance pictures, but I’m having such a blast doing them…

Hope everyone had a wonderous, splendiferous Christmas. HAPPY NEW YEAR and love to all!

Last week I drove for hours on treacherous ice and snow to get to Glastonbury for a shoot with Ed Melville. Much of the journey was in first or second gear and there were times, during the way back, at which I thought I might never get home!! BUT it was worth the trip and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Ed wanted some Christmassy images with a ‘pagan’, natural theme, amongst other things. He’d gathered ivy and holly, and I fashioned myself a headdress.

We then went a little bit mediaeval/pre-Raphaelite. I’m really struggling to decide which to upload to my portfolio, so any help here onwards would be appreciated!!

Red and musical, featuring a Nordic lyre (which I could not resist twinging constantly, poor Ed):

Also, I now have these. I’m so sorry I’m bombarding readers of my blog with belly-dance pictures, but I’m having such a blast doing them…

Hope everyone had a wonderous, splendiferous Christmas. HAPPY NEW YEAR and love to all!

>Merry Christmas everyone!

May it be filled with magic, warmth and wonder.

Merry Christmas everyone!

May it be filled with magic, warmth and wonder.

>… From the Berkeley Castle Charity shoot. This was to promote charity shops around Christmas time and publicise the wonderful work of the Cotswold Care Hospice (see my earlier blog entry). Recently delivered to my inbox by photographer Simon Walden:

… From the Berkeley Castle Charity shoot. This was to promote charity shops around Christmas time and publicise the wonderful work of the Cotswold Care Hospice (see my earlier blog entry). Recently delivered to my inbox by photographer Simon Walden:

>My favourite Irish phrases: ‘Grand’, ‘Your man’, ‘….. so’ and, mostly said in baffled amusement: ‘What are you like?’

Hilarious. I must go back.

Seriously, I love the place. I would say I understood at least 85% of what was said, too, which was good! This was my second trip to Dublin and my first ever flight alone. I know, it’s ridiculous that I was worried, having done a lot of travelling all around the world, but I always freak out slightly when the plane takes off and lands. Normally I grab whoever is next to me during those times, but I wasn’t sure this would be entirely appropriate with a complete stranger, so I resisted and managed to convince myself, instead, that I was on nothing more than a big train in the sky.

It worked! I feel so liberated. I’ll be all over the place in 2010, I warn you all.

Anyway, I was spoiled by both Ciaran and Lorraine and then Des, all wonderful photographers with such fun visions.

Ciaran announced in the car between the airport and his house that we’d be straightening my hair – I love it when photographers turn me into something different – it’s so much fun. But nothing could compare me to the shock of how different I actually look in this photo. I literally (and that’s a cliched word, but I mean it) didn’t recognise myelf at first when I looked in the mirror, after the make up too (MUA: Nicole). It’s so strange when that happens. And again when I saw the photos – wow! Is that really me? Certainly makes a change!

The curls reappeared for Des, thanks largely to the rain (I was there during the mass flood epidemic), and the make up artist – Elaine Hopkins – did the most gorgeous blue eyeshadow. It was so cold out there, but worth it, I think.

My favourite Irish phrases: ‘Grand’, ‘Your man’, ‘….. so’ and, mostly said in baffled amusement: ‘What are you like?’

Hilarious. I must go back.

Seriously, I love the place. I would say I understood at least 85% of what was said, too, which was good! This was my second trip to Dublin and my first ever flight alone. I know, it’s ridiculous that I was worried, having done a lot of travelling all around the world, but I always freak out slightly when the plane takes off and lands. Normally I grab whoever is next to me during those times, but I wasn’t sure this would be entirely appropriate with a complete stranger, so I resisted and managed to convince myself, instead, that I was on nothing more than a big train in the sky.

It worked! I feel so liberated. I’ll be all over the place in 2010, I warn you all.

Anyway, I was spoiled by both Ciaran and Lorraine and then Des, all wonderful photographers with such fun visions.

Ciaran announced in the car between the airport and his house that we’d be straightening my hair – I love it when photographers turn me into something different – it’s so much fun. But nothing could compare me to the shock of how different I actually look in this photo. I literally (and that’s a cliched word, but I mean it) didn’t recognise myelf at first when I looked in the mirror, after the make up too (MUA: Nicole). It’s so strange when that happens. And again when I saw the photos – wow! Is that really me? Certainly makes a change!

The curls reappeared for Des, thanks largely to the rain (I was there during the mass flood epidemic), and the make up artist – Elaine Hopkins – did the most gorgeous blue eyeshadow. It was so cold out there, but worth it, I think.

>I worked recently with Dave Kennedy in my local Oxford studio, and today received some images from him. We covered a range of stages from clothed to nude. A few of my faves:

(Well I couldn’t resist doing some belly dance, could I? Dave said he’d never shot it before, so I think he quite enjoyed the experience!)

Near the end, we switched to a black background. I realised it’s actually been a while since I’ve worked against black. No idea why! I agree with Dave that it can work nicely to bring out skin tones, even though I never wear black in everyday life as I’m a huge fan of colour and would die of bordem in black. Hope I’m not alone in liking these:

I worked recently with Dave Kennedy in my local Oxford studio, and today received some images from him. We covered a range of stages from clothed to nude. A few of my faves:

(Well I couldn’t resist doing some belly dance, could I? Dave said he’d never shot it before, so I think he quite enjoyed the experience!)

Near the end, we switched to a black background. I realised it’s actually been a while since I’ve worked against black. No idea why! I agree with Dave that it can work nicely to bring out skin tones, even though I never wear black in everyday life as I’m a huge fan of colour and would die of bordem in black. Hope I’m not alone in liking these: