Simon Pow Photographer

Simon Pow Photo Shoots - May & September 2010


http://www.simonpow.com
http://www.flickr.com/simonpow


What can I say he is one hell of a creative guy when it comes to taking photographs!


I've had two photo shoots with Simon, both location outside and both with the power to make the viewer go 'wow'.


My first time doing a shoot with Simon was back in May down in Bristol, we wanted something dark, edgy and funky so used areas of the city that possibly not many people would dare tread but we did! 


I hadn't been in front of a camera for a while when it came to this shoot so when I look at the images I pick on myself as I know I could of done better but Simon's work is outstanding, he's a man who knows how to use his lights! There is no just pointing and clicking for him, it's all about the lights, angles, props, background - he takes it all in and produces fantastic images that have a very different look. His work adds a very edgey look to my portfolio, far away from the cute cheeky smiles and bright colours!


For anyone out there who wants a photo shoot of themselves, their car, motorbike, you name it, he can do it and do a damn good job at it! Very friendly guy, easy and fun to work with whether it be your first time or one hundredth time!

May 2010 Bristol

September 2010 - Death of a Cover Car - Birmingham

Dying to be Beautiful.

Confidence and Body Matters.

Confidence

Something I myself used to lack an awful lot of and on those off days, still do because at the end of the day, no one is perfect! 

However it's came to my attention after reading emails and comments and having conversations with people, that so many lack this thing that at times is stopping them from shining.

Ok so you can't just get it over night but simple little things can step it up a little.

• Go somewhere you have never been on your own, random but do it...just make sure your safe! 

• Smile! Smiling makes you and those around you happy! Walk into a room with your head high and a smile on your face and say hello to people!

• Sit and pick the points you do like about yourself, e.g eyes, smile, hair... it will make you feel better to concentrate on what's good instead of always looking at what's bad! 

Body Matters

Only you don't like what you call your 'bad bit's' because you have got it in your head that you look awful and must repulse everyone which is so so wrong! But we all do it! For example, I don't particularly like my stomach that much so I will flaunt my legs as I do like them.

Beauty is not one look, being beautiful seems to get associated with skinny, long hair, pout, whatever, 'Barbie like' if you wish but no one stated somewhere that beauty is 'one look' and if your not that look then your out, well that's just bullsh*t. You are individual. If everyone looked the same it would be pretty boring, yes?

Someone who I admire is Marilyn Monroe, she was a curvy girl and she flaunted those curves!!

I don't get why being skinny became such a craze unless of course it's natural that your thin! Kate Moss once said "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels' - In my opinion this is a sick woman who needs medical care!! Possibly the worst thing to say when thousands of young girls look up to her. The term I believe is 'Dying to be Beautiful'. Media is a lot to blame for criticizing celebs about their weight, celebs whom girls and boys look up to and want to be like.

I have been there believing I needed to be skinnier to be better and guess what? I was ill and I looked it! Not through starving or vomiting, just diet diet diet, something that pretty much every magazine will have a feature on, 'the latest way to get thin'. Why do we want to 'get thin' what's the matter with lady lumps and bumps?! 

Unless a doctor has told you that your obese then I don't see why torture yourself. Okay some want to lose that few pounds and fair enough, done in the correct healthy way then your all good, there is nothing wrong with that at all! I'm criticizing those who say you must be this size or must be that weight to be attractive or those who agree with Kate Moss's theory...

Eat healthy/in moderation, allow yourself treats, don't starve and do light exercise, simples! By light exercise that could be a simply 20min brisk walk, not torturing yourself to the point of almost collapsing! I don't eat amazingly, I eat healthy to a point but who can resist a carb fest of pizza, garlic bread and pasta?! I know I can't and I won't!

To End..

I was the ugly ducking at school, ask any class mates! I had squint teeth and was bullied beyond belief. Yet, now I walk around in small outfits for work, perform on a stage and will make a total arse of myself without feeling bothered. How? I thought f*ck em am gunna do this! I stopped dwelling on the negatives and looked to the positives, I got out there and got in front of a camera, I did catwalks, I went and spoke to people, I got dropped in the deep end and it was the best thing ever! 

So....what are you waiting for? Go take that risk! Whatever it is you've been shying away from just do it!! And I bet you feel fantastic and ready to take on the next challenge! 

Don't believe you need to diet and cause your body harm for people to find you attractive, it's not healthy and causes stress on you and those around you, life is too short!

Don't let your insecure demons stop you and don't let anyone tell you that you 'can't' do something and if you do, at least do it to prove them wrong!

You only live once, keep smiling :)


All Content is COPYWRITE of Georgia Graham

A little advice.... :)

Some people are curious about this crazy and sometimes competitive industry known as modelling/promotions!

I can't say I'm a genius on this as I'm not! I have been and am part of this industry so I can answer from my experiences but that's all I can do! 

Girls and guys often ask me questions on modelling, promotions work etc and often it's via a Facebook status and I end up writing an essay in a tiny box! So, I made this blog to write down some answers and advice to questions that often appear, I hope this helps :)

The most common occurring question:

Q.I want to be a model/promo model, where do I start?

A. I was once that girl sitting saying "I want to be a model", that was almost 5 years ago, I had squint teeth, was shy and pretty clueless. I guess for me it's always been right place right time but that doesn't mean it's not taken years of hard work, rejections, tears, hairspray and bitches. Fact is, fair enough you want to be part of this industry but you have to be prepared for the harsh reality of having a potential client look you up and down and say "your too short and I dislike your hair, sorry." You have to be thick skinned and remember it's just their opinion and they are not worth the worry. Hard? Yes, I've cried after being told I wasn't good enough but now I simply think "your loss!" People seem shocked by the attitude I have towards rejection but to me it's not the end of the world, I look elsewhere and work a little harder next time! When I didn't get placed at Miss Universe GB (more on pageants to come!) I didn't cry, I simply turned to my mum and said "well, sod this, I got tits and an arse so its lads mags next!". Basically I'm saying yes if you want to do this job then go for it! Don't let anyone hold you back but so be prepared to get knock backs, just remember to dust yourself off and get back in the game!

Where to look, what to look out for, do's and don't's!

• Internet - it's amazing, Facebook is brilliant. Just be careful! A site called Alba lists all the places that are scams and all the places that are for real.

• Don't be sucked into a scam! Something along the lines of "You just pay £50 over the phone deposit then come to our location..." - Don't do it! 'Diesel Models' did this and scammed loads of girls out of up to £800 for photographs that modelling agencies wont even entertain. I think it was Watch Dog who found them out.

• Don't think you need to pay hundreds of pounds for a portfolio when you first start out, most agencies will ask for snap shots - head shot, side, full length etc - you can get a friend to take these on a normal camera. Some will want full portfolios, I can recommend lots of lovely photographers or you can usually get time for prints off some if your lucky!

• Be aware of 'people with cameras' these are the type of people that get all defensive when you ask questions. I've experienced them messaging me asking for my time but when I asked to see work, reviews, models they had worked with, if I could bring a chaperone they just couldn't give me answers or evidence. You just cant be too careful, not everyone is your nice friendly photographer who I can say I know many of whom are all lovely! 

• Don't be pressured into doing things you dont want to do! Say no and if the photographer/company dont like it then they know where they can stick it! You should never ever be made to feel uncomfortable in a situation.

• Network! Network! Network! Facebook is amazing for this! I've also found car show's have helped me massive amounts just getting to know people and finding new clients.

• Enter competitions! All lads magazines have monthly and weekly competitions so what are you waiting for, get some shots sent in! Promotional companies also do competitions, mainly bike and car related, just keep checking out for new things on the go.

• Smile! Be friendly, chatty and approachable! People like to see a smiley face who they can talk to so always remember even if your doing a job and your feet are killing - just keep smiling, you are setting an example for that company!

• Don't bitch! Maybe you don't like someone or someone has huffed you but leave it, it'l only come back and bite you in the bum! Just smile and keep it to yourself and if you really need to tell someone the tell your parents. When I've had a bad day I go home and tell my mum lol.

• Always say thank you! Remember the people who help you out and the people who make the effort to come and speak to you and the photographers who take your photographs. A little message saying thank you doesn't hurt :)

Hope this has helped some peopel :) Anything else you wanna ask me feel free to!! x


All Content is COPYWRITE of Georgia Graham