Reine Des Abeilles - behind the scenes video

Reine des Abeilles photo shoot 21/12/2013

So today we are doing our Reine Des Abeilles shoot at Artista studio in Brighton.

Crew as follows:

Photographer: Chrissie Nicholson-Wild

Videographer: Zoe Van Spyk

Hair/Make-up: Zoe Della Rocca

Model: Natasha Gatward

Wardrobe: Curve Couture

Mentor: Chris Bulezuik from Artista Studio

It is apparent with how the day is proceeding that the process of building the shoot is as much a part of it as the final photographs. We arrived at 10.30 to get fuelled up and set up because we have several tasks to accomplish today.

• video footage of the shoot to make into a capsule 'making of' video
• series of editorial quality beauty photo's
• series of artsy photo's telling the story of our Queen Bee.

I am writing this whilst the hair and make-up are being applied by Zoe Della Rocca and Zoe Van Spyk is doing a bit of filming. I have dressed the set and I'm happily waiting for the model to be ready to dress. Natasha Gatward, our fabulous model is patience personified as we have already stuck a foot high wig on her and proceeding to put wax on her eyebrows and paint her face white. Later on we will be covering her in bee's and lace.

We have a total of two looks to get through today in terms of outfits. An ivory transparent cage corset with skeletal panniers and a blue taffeta corset with transparent panels. This is a continuation of the development of our transparent corset series, which we are super excited about for 2014.

Zoe Della Rocca will be composing a post of her own on the make up look for the shoot, and I must point out that she single handedly designed and made the wig for this shoot. It is the first time she has made a wig (wow!), and I love the way this team works together and works creatively. I feel hugely lucky to have such fine and talented collaborators. The fact that we have worked with each other in the past successfully and harmoniously adds to the easy air of the day, especially as I feel nervous enough already.

For although I have been a party to many a shoot I have never been the photographer. As a novice photographer I found that the hardest thing for me was keeping my energy levels up by the end of the day, and this had a knock on effect in my ability to think and direct the shoot. By 6pm it was time to wrap it all up, for although I enjoyed my day I was truly spent.

You read it first: my photography escapade started here...

Curve Couture Countryphile - Behind the scenes

Here is our exciting behind the scenes film of the Countryphile photoshoot.

We would like to thank the following people for their expertise and support:

Photography: Gareth Gregg 

Creative Director: Zoe Della Rocca

Shoot Assistant: Zoe Van Spyk

Make up: Sarah Vickery

Models: Tarcha Ann Josephine Peters, Damola Egbeyemi, Victoria Bennis, Rebecca Bennis

Accessories: Masters Desire

Location Manager: Jacqui Bennis
Videography: Ed Lannon

Countryphile Shoot 17/8/2013

On Saturday we went out into the wild to shoot the Countryphile corset Collection. We had had two test shoots last week, and in both the weather was fairly pleasant so when Saturday morning arrived and it was sunny it was all looking good. But as I ironed the clothes and packed my super sized suitcase I could see the clouds starting to roll in.

And thus it was, our very English photo shoot for our very English Collection was going to be set in some very English weather!

I feel so privileged to have been involved with such fantastic, creative, hard working people. It all came together beautifully, crew as follows:

Photographer: Gareth Gregg, www.sunshinelensphotography.com
Videographer: Ed Beeson, Zoe Van Spyk
Creative Director Hair/Make up: Zoe Della Rocca www.zoedellarocca.com
Make Up: Sarah Vickery www.facebook.com
Wardrobe: Chrissie Nicholson-Wild www.curvecouture.co.uk
Accessories: Masters Desire www.mastersdesire.com
Models: Damola Egbeyemi, Tarcha Ann Josephine Peters, Rebecca Bennis, Victoria Bennis
Horse: Nugget

I can't show you any of the final shots because they are still being edited, but here are a few snap shots from the day as a taster, all shot by the wonderful Zoe Van Spyk.

Photoshoot at the Engineerium

Today the Gods were smiling on me!

The team assembled at the Engineerium at 2.30pm, make-up completed prior to the shoot by the fantastic Tabitha Adams. Model Kat Lawlor is always a pleasure to wok with, not only is she drop dead gorgeous but her wit and attitude always lift me. Bringing on the hair was Sandy Moo, whom I love working with. She just pulls out the stops, considering I made her job really hard today by telling Kat not to wash her hair when I should have told her not to condition it. Schoolboy error...how am I to know?

Anyway Sandy gave me the mega quiff I was after, I got Kat in the outfit and off we go!

Doug Craib, photographer maestro, did the business whilst I fretted about pulling out skirt creases. Raw silk can sometimes be unforgiving in these situations without an iron handy and I just had to go with it. The crew were a pleasure, all of us chipping in with reflectors and wet wipes. Unusually for a shoot, it was utterly tranquil, by far the easiest shoot I have ever done....which I put down to our team being tight and working so well together. It also helps to work with nice and wonderfully talented people.

I am so pleased, but I cannot show you the results as I am leaving it a surprise until the exhibit at the Brighton Museum opens. You will have to be satisfied for now with my docu shoot shot....

Oh, Steve ate all the cakes by the way...