Assisting my mentor

OK...so there's comes a time when all you've struggled and worked for starts coming into place. I have told you before about my fav. man behind the camera, Gavin O'Neill many times. I had the pleasure of assisting him last week and have only had the time to sit down and write about it now unfortunately. When you see yourself in the same room as the person you most admire, and see him in action, words cannot explain. Gavin, not only is an amazing photographer, but is a very bubbly chilled out person! Its amazing what its like when you talk to someone that was simply born with the gift and when your talking to some arrogant photographer. This man amazed me in so many ways not even he knows. The simplicity of the way he did things, his energy and even his bright bright blue eyes left me wordless. I acted like a total ignorant/idiot around him, OBVIOUSLY, because ... well...that's what you do around people you admire so much and for so long!!! You say all the wrong things, cant open a master stand, trip on a polyboard.. but thing is: I guess he felt I was just staring at everything and was just all over the place. He inspired me even more to go on and do my thing. He showed me, once again, to use your gut as a tool!

Thank you for the millionth time, Gavin :)

Sola Studio's and Snap Studios

I must confess I am not putting up any picture because both studio's are just amazing. I am assisting both Sola Studio's and Snap Studio's. Very different from each other, these studio's are 2 of the top renting studios in London.

Snap Studios:

Has 4 studios, very different from each other, MANY MANY MANY stairs to go up and down and a very good way to lose weight. You never get to really see the photographer or model or know who's who, only when I got go inside to exchange tea or coffee. Until no, I've LOVED the experience and the adrenaline. The other assistants, Bobby and David have been there for a while and have helped me and Chloe get around. Obviously Scott, the studio manager and Steph, the boss, have been 5*! I literally had my jaw on the floor and tongue rolling when I saw these studios. Not ever have I seen such huge well equipped spaced. Not to mention the roof! OH, the view to all big shot points of London. clap clap clap for the them!

Sola Studios:

Sola, a very nice place to work. With 1 studio and the chance to see the models face and actually exchange words with production team. Its a softer mood, in terms of renting the studio, but a hard work in terms of getting light equipment all together to rent out. Sola is not just a studio rental, but also rents equipments to photographers.
Mike, the boss, is a very very very nice man and very patient from what I have seen. Laura, the assistant thats been teaching me stuff, ( oh boy there A LOT of equipment to know, you can't IMAGINE.) is a 5* girl also very patient with me and has a lot of knowledge about the equipment use which is amazing!Anyway, Sola rent out BRIESE equipment, which is Germain brand, and apparently not yet in many places for rental in London but a very big hit! You should check it out.


SO there's a bit of advertisement for both studio's. I realized i SUCK at technical stuff. Portugal had many natural weather qualities and a HUGE one was the light. I never use lights, ever.. I mean, it just wasn't necessary! The amount of light that exist to recreate the sun is huge. I shall tell you tomorrow about by outstanding day i had today, but now, off to another episode of The Tudors. Having ideas for a shoot when I get all settled.

Take care all!

They say London is gray

Dear All,

after many weeks of settling ( which is still in maintenance), I have come back to sweet London. Its been a difficult journey, but hard has never been so sweet. I ended up living near Peckham where I did, but closer to east Dulwich, and first thing I see when I leave my house is this (above).

They say Peckham is terrible and that London is gray. Well, they don't know what their saying. Sunday, and quite an alright weather, all I wanna do is go to the park and sit in the semi-sun and appreciate "dodgy" fun Peckham Park.

As you know, my last time in London didn't go as planned and ended up a lot of time alone, which in one way was good to focus on shooting, but London can be a very lonely place. This year could not have started better. I am living with 3 other really nice/clean fun girls. One, I actually barely see to be honest, but of what I'v seen shes nice. Having friends around is also great and I have that here. So loneliness doesn't ever affect you. A dear friend of mine asked me last week: "You don't really like being alone do you?" - and its not some issue I have, its just I like being around people, I like chatting, I like going to the pub and reading the paper with some1 even if its for the company, but I know how to be alone, It helps me think. Its is better to have the choice of being alone, than not having a choice at all.

Don't normally talk about what goes in my head in this blog, just very very very happy to be back and seeing many photographers and studio's that actually listen to what I have to say...

....so that doesn't make London gray at all :)