JEN'S BLOG
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LITTLE BOBBY
Little Bobby had a blast at the studio for her Easter half-term portrait session! Mum Chrissie had packed three fabulous outfits for her, including an animal print dress and two sparkly dresses in pink and red, complete with matching sparkly shoes. Bobby was bursting with excitement and energy, and after…
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LEIGHTON HOUSE
I recently had the opportunity to work at Leighton House, the former residence and studio of the renowned Victorian artist Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830-1896), during a group photography event organised and styled by Tabitha Boydell. Located in the Holland Park area of Kensington, Leighton constructed the house in 1865 and…
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PORTRAIT OF AN ARTIST
Alexandra G. INTERNATIONAL ARTIST & LGBTQ ART
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Alexandra G. by Jen Mason
“I have a passion for painting the human form and it was through the Adonis Art Gallery in London that I first attained international recognition and was thrilled to be one of only six female artists in the…
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MILLIE MAE // MODEL FOLIO BUILD
Recently, Millie visited the studio for her portfolio-building photo shoot. It was so lovely to see her again in person after observing her growth through social media. I was first introduced to Millie in 2018 when she was eleven years old at a children’s charity event where she had come…
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FAUZIA // WHITE HAIR DON’T CARE
I had the pleasure of meeting Fauzia (also known as Mrs. T) when she travelled from Manchester for her photo shoot at my studio. It comes as no surprise that modelling agencies have shown interest in her, given her flawless skin and striking white hair. Leading up to Fauzia’s shoot…
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DIY V-FLATS
For those who have tried making V-Flats before, you may be familiar with the challenges it presents. It’s not just about taping the edges or joining the boards together; the difficulty lies in adding the black coloured sticky-back plastic to the white side of the Foam Board. One alternative is…
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HORSES, PEBBLES BEACH, BARBADOS
I was thrilled to bits to witness the racehorses bathing and swimming at Pebbles Beach. My friend Georgia had told me all about them and shared some beautiful photographs she had taken previously. Each morning at sunrise, grooms from the nearby stables at Garrison Savannah, a horse racing venue situated…
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BARBADOS
In February ‘24, my partner and I had the opportunity to travel to Barbados to visit friends who live part-time on the island. Departing from Manchester, England on a rainy Friday morning, we flew over 4,000 miles and landed in sunny Barbados late in the afternoon. Upon arrival, I was…
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IZZY // THE VELVET VILLAGE
While shooting with Vanessa at the Velvet Village, I mentioned to her that I had an upcoming shoot with my friend and model Irina (also known as Izzy), and I suggested that she would look stunning in the fringed cardigans. Vanessa reviewed Izzy’s modelling portfolio and promptly consented to allowing…
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VANESSA // THE VELVET VILLAGE
I first encountered Vanessa during the Banks Mill Open Studios weekend in November 2023, and was immediately captivated by her work. Her studio exuded vibrancy, and I was especially drawn to her hand-finished fringed cardigans. Upon moving into my own studio at Banks Mill, I struck up a conversation with…
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ARUN AND THE SOFA
Arun arrived at the studio in the morning for his photo session and found me and a friend attempting to unload a beautiful vintage sofa from the back of my van. I had bought the sofa that morning from FB marketplace with the intention of including it in Arun’s portrait…
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ROB
I had a fantastic time shooting with Rob, experimenting with various photo styles. Together, we created corporate-style portraits by layering a couple of hand-painted backdrops for added effect. Rob noticed my vintage red chair in the studio, and we captured a few portraits using the chair by the window. We…
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MATT - TEST SHOOT
In response to a casting call I posted seeking individuals interested in assisting with experimenting with various lighting concepts, Matt expressed interest, and I scheduled a studio session for him.
I had a distinct vision of wanting to create a moody portrait. I constructed the set utilising vintage wooden crates,…
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HAND PAINTED BACKDROP
One thing I’ve been looking forward to with having my own studio space is painting my own backdrops
There is a lot of tutorials out there on social media and YouTube.
I signed up to the ‘Make Backdrop Masterclass’ with The Migo Studio. They have step by step tutorials for…
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CAKE SMASH - OWEN’S FIRST BIRTHDAY
Gorgeous little Owen came into the studio for his first birthday portraits. He was such a happy baby and an absolute dream to photograph. He liked the balloons and cake, especially made by mum, but he was really fascinated by the propellers on his wooden aeroplane
I used the Hot…
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STUDIO NOW OPEN
So, after years of renting studio space on a pay-as-you-go basis, I’ve finally found a space of my own, right in the heart of Derby city centre - and it’s just perfect
The studio is on the third floor of Banks Mill Studios, a landmark building formerly a rope and…
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