File:My Favourite Portrait - EVER! (that Ive ever taken). (8738696326).jpg

A Bit of Waffle

Sometimes, the only way to capture emotion or a moment is to take photos when the subject is not aware. You have less than a split second from the moment they turn to the moment they realise you are pointing a camera at them, to capture that authentic reaction. After which, especially with models, they automatically pose.

Sitting in reception, outside the studio, myself and Kristina were sat on the sofa discussing what shoot we would work for next. We had just finished some implied topless work and we were taking a few moments to discuss ideas. The day was mainly cloudy and there was little light passing through the big window to the right, yet as the clouds cleared, for a moment the room was bathed in warm sunshine. She turned for a moment and looked towards the window, the brightness catching her eye. I noticed the way the light fell upon the side of her face and grabbed my camera that was besides me, quickly dialling it into f/1.4. I knew she would notice me holding the camera besides her, and I wanted to capture something really intimate and up close.

As the suddenly turned back to look at me, I quickly locked the focus on her nearest eye and snapped the image, before she realised what I was doing. I think the result is something authentic and a real window into who Kristina is.

I think this photo is like an ugly child, its only ever going to be loved by the mother (me :)). Its something that I doubt a lot of people will take to, simply because you had to be there to remember the moment and to see into it. Youd have to know Kristina to know just how much of her this image has captured. Still, I hope you do like it.

Model - Kristina Year Taken - May 2013 Camera - Nikon D800e Lens - Nikon 85mm f/1.4G Location - Reception Room Make Up - Jade Crean

Kristina

I never thought Id ever work with a model who was as naturally beautiful as Elizabeth, but today I was proved wrong. Meet Kristina, most definitely the best and most beautiful model Ive ever worked with. See thats the thing, models are not normally beautiful, they are striking, glamorous, remarkable - but rarely beautiful. Kristina is all of those things, but naturally beautiful too.

She was born in Hungary, brought up in Russia, ended up in England via Milan and France and speaks with an American accent - yeah, i cant stereotype her either. She is hilariously funny, and could easily do stand up comedy if it wasn't for her insanely authentic modelling. She does the best Russian accent Ive ever heard an American sounding Russian person do and her French isn't far behind. Ive never had so much fun on a shoot and never gotten so many images that contrast so much between the cute, the powerful, the damn-right pretty and the original.

With a flick of the hair and a change in emotion behind the eyes, she moves from resembling Eva Mendes to Jessica Alba to Laetizia Casta (I had no idea who that was until I just googled it). You will not find two images, in the plethora of ones I will upload, that look the same. She is a one off.

Lighting

Nothing but the rarest of sunshine passing through the window to the right.

Processing