Model of the Moment: Ashleigh Greenwood

Now, this particular blog post has been in the pipeline for quite some time as I was initially waiting to publish to outstanding shoots with this particular young lady. However, following a recent shoot with Eilish Barrett, I honestly could not hold off any longer!

Make up by Eilish Barrett, Jewellery by Riptinka.

Ashleigh Greenwood is a new face model with Model Team, Scotland's leading modelling agency. Through a bit of cheeky online networking, I first came into contact with Ashleigh in early January this year. Ashleigh had discussed shooting a set of images for her portfolio alongside fellow model Lawrence. I'll be honest, when I had met Ashleigh at first, I worried about her potential as a model, but from the instant I had her behind the camera, I immediately knew she was in a league of her own and her potential? Unprecedented. 

As soon as I shot this lady, I was already thinking of new ways to shoot her and shoots I could wrap her into. I think my favourite feature of Ashleigh is her smouldering "smize" eyes. As a photographer, I always feel a sense of momentum when shooting Ashleigh - rather than having to encourage her to pose, she makes me chase after her - frame after frame. On several occasions, I have ran out of memory shooting her!

Make up: Kimberley Dewar, Hair: Lesley Docherty.

Ashleigh has a fantastic working ethos. Never late, fresh faced and prepared, she is the perfect working canvas. Dedicated to maintaining her well balanced figure and clear skin, Ashleigh is the definition of versatile - portraying everything from high fashion to edgy to commercial. Her bright, bubbly personality and refreshing honesty makes her a true pleasure to work alongside. Clients and work colleagues find her to be trustworthy, and above all a true professional at the job.

Make-up: Nikki McMillan, Jewellery: Riptinka

 Ashleigh is a true pedigree breed of model. With a passionate aspiration for more in life, to better herself with every shoot, to help contribute in every way possible, I foresee Ashleigh's future being jam-packed with adventures all over the world. In fact, I would not be surprised if she became a household name within the UK. Give her, oooh, a year.

Make up: Eilish Barrett, Jewellery: Riptinka

You can follow Ashleigh's work on Facebook or check out her profile at Model Team.

Make up: Nikki McMillan

Mirror Mirror

It is a downright beautiful Sunday, and with only one more magazine editorial to edit, I'm glad to say I am able to take things at a bit more of a relaxed pace than my recent hectic weeks. I know a big massive fry up is on the cards once my old man rises from the dead!  

From time to time, I have the pleasure of working with three of my favourite make-up artistry students, Katie Sproull, Rachel Newton and Eilish Barrett, of whom are now at the stage in their course where they must complete a "graded unit". A graded unit is a module that requires each student to study and develop a concept, keep a scrapbook of progress and portray their looks through three photo shoots each. Each and everyone of these young ladies approached their graded unit with such passion and vigour, I felt it would be a real shame not to tell you all about them!

Katie Sproull

Model: Nicole McCubbin

Katie's chosen inspiration for her graded unit was the dramatic and illustrious make-up label, Illamasqua. Katie took inspiration from the fantasy undertones, bringing in hints of tribal and illustrating with interesting face designs, choosing to use the entire face as a canvas as opposed to keeping the make up limited to the lips and eyes. I have always relayed that Katie's strength excels in skin prep and coverage - skin rarely, if ever needs to be retouched later in Photoshop when I shoot with Katie, which, as you could imagine, is invaluable to a photographer as it saves a great deal of time! Katie also drew inspiration from Illamasqua's new collection "Human Fundamentalism" and brought some fantastic colours to the shoot reminiscent of a throwback to the electro-rocker 80s. 

Model: Lauren Kate Haggarty

Katie is always a pure and utter pleasure to work with. Having only been studying make-up for a year, she has excelled both in skill and confidence and developed into a budding little Bobbi Brown! Bringing fantastic banter to the shoots, models always get along well with her and brighten up my mornings. I am so glad to have bumped into her at my school's fashion show just over a year ago!

Rachel Newton

Model: Kirstin Gribbin

Following the popular trend this year, Rachel also opted to seek inspiration from Illamasqua. To be honest, I would not have expected anything else. Having only worked with Rachel on a few occasions, I've become accustomed to her very distinct style - in fact, even Corrine has mentioned an ability to recognise Rachel's style herself. Rachel Newton is not for the faint hearted - she unafraid to use the boldest, brightest and biggest colours and techniques in the book. Once the reigns had been let loose on Rachel, I had walking art buzzing around my studio - that is the only way I could describe it. The models looked absolutely nothing like they did when they first walked through the door. Rachel's vibrant personality shines through her work - she's zany, passionate and honest. 

Model: Jennifer Gribben

I do not think I've ever met somebody so excited to crack on with their graded unit. Given that Rachel still has one more year of college to go, I am eagerly anticipating what the coming months will bring. You can check out more of Rachel's work on Facebook, here.

Eilish Barrett

Model: Sula Powell, Jewelley: Riptinka

The beautiful Eilish Barrett chose the theme of Vivienne Westwood, and being honest, it was by far my favourite to shoot. Eilish secured stunning locations and concepts to convey and even managed to rope in my talented client and loyal friend, Katie Reekie at Riptinka. Eilish impressed me no end - she had everything prepared - from hair extensions, to nails - even making dresses and shoulder pads to complete the looks. It was a true storm of creativity - and it transformed Eilish into more than a make-up artist - she was a stylist as well. Eilish's final shoot just blew me away - with Katie making a dress out of raw material and pins - it was a feat to make Vivienne herself proud! Eilish stuck to using reds, pinks and purples and paid proper homage to the Vivienne label itself. As a person, Eilish is incredibly modest and very mature for her age. I think she has all the right qualities to progress within the fashion industry very quickly. I am so keen to get cracking on a rather big shoot we've got under our hats, but as for what is it - you'll just need to wait and see! 

Model: Stefania Zoletti, dress by Eilish.

You can view more of Eilish's work here.

Ones to Watch: Jennifer Gribben

It has been a busy few weeks in the studio, I tell you that! It's that time of the year again that all Scotland's best budding make-up artistry students hit the graded units and out come some of the most superb and downright bizarre looks I have ever seen! The creativity never fails to amaze me!

Whilst developing make up artist, Rachel Newton's unit, I had the pleasure to work with a young lady by the name of Jennifer Gribben, of whom, is currently testing as a model for a super agency! In between beauty shoots, we were lucky to grab a few test shots of Jennifer and I was absolutely delighted with her results, especially considering she had next to no experience!

Jennifer has a wonderful willowy quality to her - being so natural and candid in front of the lens. Despite working with her amongst some of her first test shoots, Jennifer was well prepared - coming in all the right outfits as well as being smack bang on time! Asides from a striking quality in patience (it was a long day of shooting), she is a very agreeable young lady to work alongside, working with a very positive attitude. I am looking forward to seeing what this lovely girl will produce over the coming months. I predict her future shall burn bright!

Make-up by Rachel Newton.

Growing Up

Please excuse the gnome by the fireplace.

Today has been a landmark day! I have finally purchased my first high-end camera - leaving me nothing short of two grand, it is every bit worth it's money! I am now equipped to also video in HD on this baby, so during the summer, I plan to venture into some light-hearted cinematography - a side hobby on the job!

It's quite late on in the day, so the light is fast fading, so no time for a shoot with the new baby, but on the way home from Glasgow, earlier this evening, I had the opportunity to shoot a moving car from the moving train in fairly low light, and unbelievably, the camera completely froze the shot - I am in true awe!

For now though, it is back to the editing suite and shoot prep. Tomorrow, Nikki and I will have the absolute pleasure to work with the rather mysterious Kirsty Fraser. Needless to say, I am rather looking forward to it.

Model of the Moment: Lauren Kate Haggarty

Make-up Artist: Katie Sproull 

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of being introduced to a lovely young new face at Model Team by the name of Lauren Kate Haggarty. Over the course of the following months, I've been privilaged enough to work with this young lady on several occasions. Naturally, as part of being a photographer that deals with fashion, it is always important to establish a good connection with your model - the results always show in the work and that always makes for a happy client. 

I met Lauren for the first time in early March. She had been looking for a photographer to help expand her portfolio and have some fun creating images that sourced inspiration from the macabre genius that is Tim Burton. Shortly prior to our shoot, I was working away in London at several fashion events and I was slightly taken a-back and downright delighted that when I returned that Lauren had taken upon herself to help organize both a creative team and deal with sourcing permits for our location to help cut down on my workload. Despite only being eighteen, Lauren had already displayed a refreshingly mature approach to our shoot. Needless to say, on the day of the shoot, I was not surprised to find Lauren to be a very eloquent, conscientious, well-mannered and dedicated lady to the job! 

Make-up Artist: Rachel Newton, Designer: Miranda Williamson

As a person, Lauren has such a natural way with people, combined with her humour and wit - it instantly puts a brand new creative team at ease. As a model, this is such an invaluable skill to have - after all, a good working ethos is absolutely essential to a successful shoot. Lauren is incredibly versatile too - pulling off looks from the very commercial to the darker, more editorial styled work. In fact, if I'm honest, from frame to frame, she reminds me a touch of the legendary Debbie Harry! 

Make-up Artist: Nikki McMillan, Designer: Fruit Riche

Lauren is a true consumate professional. Working with her always leaves me on a high and I can vouch for every creative team we have also worked with. I see big things coming her way in 2012 and I recommend you grab her whilst you still can!

You can follow Lauren's modelling work on Facebook here and you can view her Model Team profile here.

The McCollective

 (Left to Right: Laura McKinnon, Nikki McMillan, Corrine McConnachie.)

Hello and at long last, welcome to my overdue blog! My name is Laura McKinnon and I'm a fashion and editorial photographer based between Glasgow and London. I've been working just over a year of as a professional in the industry and I've been on nothing short of a rollercoaster - doing everything from becoming a regular at London Fashion Week to travelling as far as the cosmopolitan paradise of Singapore on commission. 

This blog is aimed to be specifically dedicated to the absolute consummate professionals I come across on my day to day travels - it just doesn't feel right to me to not tell you about all the wonderful talent I am privilaged to work with!

It only seems right to kick off the blog, talking about my two main ladies, appropriately nicknamed "The McCollective." The McCollective consists of myself (Swedish-looking photographer), Nikki McMillan (make-up artist extraordinaire) and Corrine McConnachie (fashion correspondent and budding stylist.) 

Asides, from us all mutually sporting a rather excellent haircut and sharing a very Scottish surname, these two ladies are nothing short of an integral part of my team. 

Nikki McMillan

 

Model: Nicole McCubbin

I first met Nikki late August last year - and I cannot vouch how glad I am to have stumbled upon her. She is the true definition of an artist - approaching each and every shoot I send her way with an encyclopedia of research and the appropriate mediums. She uses the face as an actual canvas to paint the most fantastic picture. The particular trait of Nikki that I find perhaps the most mesmerising is her ability to immediately assess a face and just know what will work - be it the eyes, the cheekbones, the lips. Nikki is most definitely an entrepreneur - meaning she is unafraid to take risks - usually in her command of colour and sculpting. Nikki pitches herself ahead of her competitors, knowing that photo shoot make-up has to be accentuated and exaggerated to have the appropriately desired effect. Her creativity never ceases to amaze me - creating polka dot lips with nothing but a bobby pin, to feather-like face illustrations using eyeliner. That teamed with her increasingly ability to work incredibly quickly - completing full body paints and quartet groups of models in under four hours, makes her utterly invaluable.

Model: Sula Powell 

Model: Namate Sililo for Rene Walrus

Check out Nikki's work on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.

Corrine McConnachie

Model: Iona Stoddart for Fusion by Cernei

I have known Corrine McConnachie since I was twelve years old. We fatefully met at high school, however, it was not until March, 2011, that we really began working together in a journalistic sense. Corrine initially helped to assist me by writing up press releases, leading to publications in some rather lovely glossy magazines! A good year on, Corrine is a fellow correspondent at the Bite magazine with me, as well as a contributor to other publications such as HADES magazine and TLG magazine. At the beginning of this year, Corrine took a leap into styling and quickly developed a sharp eye and eclectic sense of style for dressing our shoots. Like Nikki, Corrine is truly invaluable. She is simply the best support system I could ever have asked for - I can whole heartedly trust her to source the right clothes, approach the right people and most importantly, write strong, engaging articles - often dealing with sensitive subjects with a maturity and eloquence that is somewhat rare within the younger generation of writers. Words that apply to Corrine - conscientious, selfless and hard-grafting. The level of dedication and effort that goes into Corrine's work would make any prospective employer battle to snap her up. Corrine has brought a breath of fresh air into my work, making working even more enjoyable and providing the best comedy relief at the end of a long, hard-working day. 

 Model: Colette Dryburgh for Sophie Donaldson + Caldow Salon

Model: Amy Ledger for Sophie Donaldson + Caldow Salon

You can read Corrine's blog here and also follow her on Twitter.