Posts tagged ‘kids’
BABY FASHION – DOUBLE ACT
Twins are big news! Both Beyoncé and Amal Clooney are expecting them – joining the ever-growing Hollywood twin club whose ‘members’ include Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie, Sarah Jessica Parker, Mariah Carey and Julia Roberts. Goodness, it seems everyone’s at it!
So, it wasn’t a surprise that Baby London Magazine wanted to do a twin fashion feature. I must admit I felt slightly daunted styling 5 sets of twins in one day. Was the shoot going to be twice as nice or double trouble? Luckily, we were in safe hands, our photographer Ken Copsey is one of the maestros of baby shoots and all our little duos were gorgeous, so a fun day was had by all – phew!
PHOTOGRAPHER – KEN COPSEY. FASHION STYLIST – BECKY JOHN
GIRL POWER !
Fantastic to see Marks & Spencer are doing a brand new activewear collection for girls. So as you can imagine, I was really excited to style this shoot for them. It’s a fabulous range for 5-14 year olds with vibrant geometric print vests, dip-dye leggings and slogan tops. All the sportswear pieces are made from an ultra-light elastane blend that sits close to the skin and helps regulate the body temperature. I think the fitnesswear looks amazing and the little models on the shoot really enjoyed wearing it. What a great incentive for kids to keep fit, active and healthy.
PHOTOGRAPHY – OLIVER SYMONS THOMAS, FASHION STYLIST – BECKY JOHN, HAIR & MAKE-UP – JO BULL
KIDS CHRISTMAS FASHION – JINGLE BELLES & BEAUS
Last Sunday we all pitched up at our hygge vibe location in East London to do this fabulously festive shoot for Slick Mummy Magazine. Hope it fills you with Christmas cheer!
PHOTOGRAPHY – IAN HOOTON, FASHION STYLING – BECKY JOHN, HAIR & MAKE-UP – SARAH MCLLWAIN-BATES
KIDS FASHION – THE HAMPTONS PHOTO SHOOT
When I was asked to style a kidswear shoot the client called ‘The Hamptons’ I imagined jetting off to New York State. No such luck I’m afraid, this time the budget didn’t quite stretch to an overseas trip. So if we couldn’t go to The Hamptons, The Hamptons would have to come to us!
We ended up in an East London studio that became our base. I was sure it would all pull together and look amazing as I was working with such a fantastic team. First of all, set builders constructed a whitewash, weatherboard backdrop and then it was up to me to find some really eye catching props that would make the images come alive.
The day before the shoot I headed off to ‘Propland’ – the name in the trade we give to an area in West London where all the furniture and prop hire houses are situated. Soon I was elbow deep in all types of seaside and Americana paraphernalia – flags, bunting, binoculars, sailboats and starfish! I remembered that there were also some lovely kids’ stripy deckchairs in my daughter’s Wendy house that would come in handy too.
It was fun doing a day ‘propping’, usually I’m trampling up and down The West End sourcing clothes for editorial shoots, but as it was a shoot for well known brand Mothercare all the lovely nautical clothes were supplied by them!
The big shoot day arrived and we had such a gorgeous array of little models ranging from 14 months to 8 years old. Ross, our photographer is always brilliant at making the kids laugh so I knew the pictures would look really animated and lively!
The trickiest part of the shoot was the group shot. It was challenging getting all 6 infant school kids in a line, looking in the same direction and smiling all at once. The children’s clothes and hair had to look just right too so lovely make-up artist Freya and myself had to madly rush in and perfect the look in between each shot.
Working with kids is exhausting and I’m always ready for a G&T at the end of the day. But it’s totally worth it as you can see by these fabulous pictures – That’s a shore thing!
PHOTOGRAPHER – ROSS BOLGER, FASHION STYLIST – BECKY JOHN, HAIR & MAKE-UP – FREYA DANSON-HATCHER and ROSE ANGUS, CLOTHES – MOTHERCARE
EASTER EGGS, FASHION BUNNIES & CRAZY CHICKS
MY EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA – HERE’S TO A HAPPY & PEACEFUL BANK HOLIDAY…………
HOPPING MAD
CRACKING EASTER
CRAZY CHICKS
LITTLE FASHION-EASTER
Here’s to a cracking Easter…..
For the little chicks……
Easter Eggstravaganza……
For the Home Bunnies……..
Easter Bonnets and Accessories…….
KIDSWEAR – MAGIC & SPARKLE
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
May 2015 be as magical and sparkly as the kids on this shoot……….
Photography – Phil Babb Stylist – Becky John Hair & Make-up – Amanda Bell at Artistic Licence.
KIDSWEAR – AUTUMN SHOOT
I’ve always loved a redhead. It’s the nearest hair colour to gold or fire. But after my daughter was born with her Titian crowning glory it has almost become an obsession.
Photographer Katy McDonnell and I had talked ages ago about doing a redhead shoot and it wasn’t until this autumn that all the conditions seemed right. It has been a late glorious autumn with the trees not wanting to relinquish their leaves. The colour palette has been spectacular – gold, russet, burnt orange and saffron. So with this in mind I scurried around the fashion PR’s and collected a fabulous selection of rich Autumnal toned clothes for our shoot.
We decided The Downs in Bristol would be the perfect location with it’s leafy, rambling woods. The models were chosen from the aptly named Gingersnap Agency in the West Country and here are the results…
Behind the scenes…….
STYLING KIDS ON FASHION SHOOTS
They say never work with children and animals, I didn’t listen. I have always loved doing photo shoots with kids. It can be challenging but mostly great fun and so rewarding. My favourite game as a child was dressing up and I suppose I’ve never wanted this fun to stop.
So what happens on these shoots? Well in the stylist’s case so much happens before you even get to the shoot. First of all, the client briefs me by phone or email. Then I’m out in all weathers sourcing the clothes, accessories and props. Most days I’m staggering up and down Oxford Street laden with clothes like a glorified bag lady. Kids clothes vary so much in sizes so I tend to get 3 different sizes per child – so all those bags weigh a ton. Well at least I get a free daily workout!
Just before the shoot a meeting with the client and photographer happens. I always think it’s the stylist’s version of the primary school “Show and Tell.” I take everything into the offices for approval and we thoroughly go through the clothes and props. Everyone then knows what we are doing and a shot list can be compiled.
Then comes the shoot day! The crew – photographer, assistant, make-up artist and stylist arrive at least an hour before the kids. Preparation is everything. I hang up all the clothes on rails and lay out all the accessories and props. As any parent know kids get bored very easily. So as soon as the little ones breeze into the studio, they are whisked into make-up, quickly dressed and on the set before they can say er, ‘cheese’. I love styling kids because of their playful nature you can get away with dressing them up as theatrically as you wish! I usually choose one hero piece like a mad hat, vintage spectacles or eccentric prop and style the look around it.
To get the best shots it’s vital to have a good natured, patient team that can really engage with the kids. The photographer takes the lead, either directing the children or setting up little games for them and then capturing that magical moment when the kids are engrossed in play. The stylist is also expected to be the entertainer. I have a Mary Poppins style bag packed with balloons, party blowers and bubbles. I’m a wow with my feather tickling stick – Ken Dodd would be proud. Over the years I have learnt every dance move by The Spice Girls, The Macarena, every flipping verse of ‘The Wheels Of The Bus’ and my knowledge of One Direction is legendary!
But what about the tantrums you ask? What tantrums? We leave those to the supermodels.
photography Richard Burns, Hair & Make-up Sally Kvalheim, Styling Becky John, Location www.wingfieldcollege.com