maja shaving workshop strongest shave Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

AOP part 8: Shaving

I had booked Maja for the workshop partly because of her bald look. It is really beautiful and quite rare.

shutter speed movements iso start Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

AOP part 7: Movement

Now, remember I said this was all natural light? Well the previous images were shot at ISO 1250 at f4.

abstract skin lighting torso toned Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

Simple abstract figure lighting

In this shot we skim across the torso both seeing the overall form and shape, but also the fine details of the texture of the skin and the downy hairs.

tight portrait working start someone Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

AOP part 6: A Darker Portrait

On the very first set I shoot with anyone I always go through the same sequence of long shots, to medium, to tight portraits.

Leah Axl model, shoots setups paint experimental blog Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

Experimental Shoots: Body Paint, Serendipity and Leah

We were actually capturing full length and portrait shots in this wet paint shot, but I was fascinated by the small, abstract interaction and mixing of the paints.

pose model theme photographer genre Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

AOP part 5: Attitude

So this style of guidance lets me and the model move easily from genre to genre, theme to theme. I can say "give me some attitude" and we are in a different place.

model pose emotion working shadows Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

AOP part 4: Natural Light Serenity

Another simple window light portrait. Always look to the lighting on the face first. See here how we have perfect Rembrandt lighting on the face.

models model glamour fashion nude Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

AOP part 3: Strength

From the first few shots it became apparent that Maja could play the emotional chameleon and pull of a wide range of posing styles.

workshop location maja wow workshops Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

AOP part 2: The Location and the Shoot

The location was a disused factory in the Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham. I have used the location several times for workshops.

maja shadows scheme base yellow Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

AOP part 1: The first shot

This was my first image of Maja. I was completely blown away. I remember jumping up and down exclaiming, "Oh my God, that's perfect!