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As promised in the previous post, here's the first set of photographs of Playful Promises Swim 2014 range.
I say 2014 but this drop is actually (hopefully) happening in July this year, which is why I can show the photos off now!
Model is the stunning Mulan from Body London, Hair: Doubravka Marcinkova, Makeup: Cheyenne Raymond
I couldn't wait and I put all of the AW13 collection images up on the Playful Promises facebook. I HAVE NO WILLPOWER, OK? And I've been sitting on these images since November.
When I first heard that the collection would be inspired by Russian decadence, I was ridiculously excited. And then I saw it and I'm just going to have to own it all.
As I said, I shot this in late November, with two beautiful models in a gorgeous location (although it seems to have no standard UK plug sockets, which was great fun). We also shot these images on the same day, with Miss Miranda.
Onto the images. I won't post ALL of them here (for the rest check out the facebook link above), but just my favourites.
Tatiana
This is a very similar shape to the Gilda range that came in SS12, and I'm very happy about because the Gilda bra is one of my daily comfy bras. Also I have ridiculous love for the longline girdle, especially the back. This is such a smoulderingly sexy set, and will be available in September.
Anastasia
I don't usually care for floral print (in fact I mainly say I hate it) but this is different. Inspired by russian floral fabircs, this print was created in-house (most of our prints are). We've done this bra shape for a while now, but previously had issues with fit, so I am incredibly excited about the revamp.
Opulence
Which I'm also referring to (in my head) as "Sweet Jesus". I don't think I can really talk about this one without going over the top. I like it a lot.
Peacock
I know these are two photos of the same set (it also comes in a non-high waist brief) but I couldn't decide. Because the strappy-cage effect of previous bras have worked so well for us, we worked them into this push up bra set. Another amazing print of peacocks and flowers really works against the black sheer panels.
Hella Bodysuit
Bodysuits YAY. Will be pretty much wearing this every day. Also this is an awesomely strong pose.
Margarita
This is another classic PP set that we've brought back in a new colourway. Such rich colours, I'm sneakily hoping we do it again next year in the underwire version (which is currently set for SS14) ;)
Nina
I can see this as being another of my daily bras. This also comes with an ouvert brief, which I don't really fancy but sold very well for us last time!
Hat by Lily Lewis, Bra and brief by Playful Promises, Waspie by Velda Lauder, Suspender belt by Kiss Me Deadly.
Hat by Lily Lewis, Lingerie by Fraulein Annie
Bra and brief by Kriss Soonik, Waspie by Playful Promises, Suspender belt by Kiss Me Deadly
Gown by Ayten Gasson
Bra and brief by Miss Mandalay, Girdle by Kiss Me Deadly
Hat by Lily Lewis, swimsuit by Paolita
What do you think?
2 more sets of images have been released from Playful Promises, which I shot back in the Summer!
Better yet, all of these items are available now (just click through to go to the PP website).
Model: Miss Miranda
MUA: Cheyenne Raymond
We also shot the swimwear in our studio.
Model: Hayley @ IMM
MUA: Cheyenne Raymond
Hair stylist: Ceri Cushen
One of the things I love about my job is being able to watch lingerie being created.... from initial sketchy design through to CAD, to first sample through to final piece! Then I get the joy of photographing them!
In December last year, Playful Promises had run a design competition which would allow one budding lingerie designer the chance to see their design created (a pretty awesome thing to put on their CV!). After a facebook vote, Emma, the brand director still had a tough choice narrowing down to just one design. So she thought, fuck it, let's do three of them.
You can take a look at the final CADs here, and how they work so well as a mini-collection!
Last week, when shooting the PP AW13 collection we took an hour out to quickly shoot these with Miss Miranda.
I'm pretty chuffed with these photos too! What do you think?
I like to take the excuse to do something creative, and luckily my day-job allows me just that!
While I am a strong believer in dressing up whenever you like, Halloween seems to be the only time that it's internationally accepted. So, I decided to shoot some fun, slightly darker images for Playful Promises lingerie. As our lookbooks have to be quite commercial to appeal to a range of customers and stockists, it's fun to occasionally do some messier shots!
I booked the beautiful Anita de Bauch (and her kitty Dexter!) for this sex kitten style shoot. I'd been wanting to work for her for a while as she has such a classic look, but it was actually a welcome surprise how photogenic she is. It's hard to explain, but some people need more post production work than others (not to alter their face, but to ensure the light and angles are flattering - I tend to need quite a lot to look like I do when I look in the mirror!), but Anita was just amazing in front of the camera (as is Miss Miranda, hence why I like working with her so much).
Model - Miss Miranda
Tessa rolling around on the bed during the Playful Promises clothing shoot - I've been editing commercial photos for the past week, time for a little darkness!
In the past few weeks I've been a rather busy bee, and ended up with a terrible cold after overworking myself! Not only did The Roustabouts head to Amsterdam to DJ at a sumputous event, but I also shot 3 lookbooks for Playful Promises.
At the end of May I shot a colourful Frida Kahlo inspired swimwear lookbook, which is possibly THE brightest thing I will ever do. Take a look at the behind the scenes instagram shots!
How gorgeous is that hair (by Ceri Cushen) and makeup (by Cheyenne Raymond)?
Last week we also shot the SS13 lingerie and clothing over two days, in a truly beautiful location...
Miss Miranda looking proper posh, innit.
Beautiful Iskra in a red dress
Tessa looking cute!
The lovely lady that owned the house also baked us heart-shaped delights each day! This cake was much appreciated on the second day, especially after an evening of cocktail drinking with Miranda (whoops!).
Two new products are almost ready to hit the Playful Promises boutique, which means I can show off a few more images from the AW12 Lookbook shoot!
The location was actually a studio, believe it or not! I met Sarah and Mike at a club last year, and found that we actually tend to go to the same clubs quite a lot. They not only own but live in Area 44 studio, which is full of beautiful props and antiques.
The above image features Ana from IMM in the beautiful Dominique Corset, which is available for pre-order now. The hair was done by Mutsumi and makeup by Cheyenne Raymond. Below is the Love Corset, which is also available to order now. I just found out that the vintage stitch detailing is done by hand - amazing!
Now that we have published the new issue of Playful Promises Magazine, I can show the images I shot for the editorial!
We wanted to do a different take on the Valentine's theme (which is, of course, a busy time for lingerie!), so went for a shoot in a boxing ring. I have to say, I've never felt so out of place! Somehow we managed to shoot this in 3 hours; I'm not entirely pleased with the lighting, but I made do.
Models: Mamzelle Maz, Miss Miranda and Randolph Hott.
Miranda is the winner! ;) But we still very much love Maz too.
To promote the Love Bomb feature taking place over the next few weeks, I shot a set of images in an amazing circusy location! Featuring 10 independent lingerie brands, who will be giving away prizes galore from the 30th onwards, the Indie Lingerie Brand Big Love Bomb is a love letter to independence, away from large corporations. Catherine from Kiss Me Deadly wrote a fantastic explanation over on The Lingerie Addict about exactly why we have organised this love in!
I had the pleasure of working with two of my favourite models ever, the beautiful Jess Abidde and Miss Miranda. Also my first time shooting Tessa Kuragi, who just has such a stunning look.
Here is the full set, with makeup by the awesome Cheyenne Raymond:
Tessa wears Playful Promises, Jess wears What Katie Did
Tessa in Miss Mandalay, Velda Lauder, Playful Promises and Pearls and Swine
Tessa in Kriss Soonik and Fraulein Kink. Shoes by Natacha Marro.
Tessa wears Miss Mandalay, Velda Lauder and Playful Promises. Jess wears Kiss Me Deadly. Masks by Pearls and Swine.
Jess in Ayten Gasson
Candy Baker hosiery with Natacha Marro shoes
Tessa in Playful Promises
Tessa in Kiss Me Deadly and Fraulein Kink
Jess in Paolita and Natacha Marro shoes
Miranda and Jess in Paolita and Natacha Marro and Fabulously Fetish shoes
Jess in Paolita and Natacha Marro shoes
Plus Playful Promises have just released one of the lookbook shots from AW12, which I shot recently in yet another beautiful location! This set of lingerie is called Dominique and will be available in April ;)
Oh dear, aren't I awful at updating? I'll be definitely adding this to my new years resolutions, and hopefully give this place a bit of a facelift!
Work has been super busy lately, and most of my blogging skills have gone into the Playful Promises blog. My partner and I have also set up a new venture, a theatrical DJ duo called The Roustabouts! We play all sorts of music, from Balkan Beats to electro swing - hopefully 2012 will be a big year.
I'm writing this from my parents' new house in Cornwall. They moved down from Essex a few months ago, but they have been looking forward to this for years and years. Their house is beautiful and this is what I can just about see from where I'm sitting...
It smells so beautiful here.
Have a lovely Christmas and I'll leave you with some photos I took of burlesque stunner Sophia St. Villier for Playful Promises!
Have I mentioned before how much I love my job? No? Well I love it!
I have also come to realize how much I adore marketing, when given creative freedom. Working for a laid back company that encourages creativity is so inspiring and refreshing. I think that even in university I had come to understand that I wouldn't be JUST a photographer (for one thing, I needed something secure, and freelance photographer does not provide that unless you are lucky enough to hit it big) - photoshoots are stressful and it would be taxing to constantly come up with good ideas. My skills are far too practical and technology-based to be a true artist (in the sense of what an artist is now - coming up with the newest bullshit to sell their art); I wanted to improve my graphic design skills, use social networking, write articles and blog as well as shoot pretty ladies in pretty underwear!
We have some exciting things underway for Playful Promises, from Circus-inspired events (I'd love to run my own club with my partner one day, so this is a fantastic stepping stone), more photoshoots, more magazines and more ways to reach out to our customers in an exciting and entertaining way!
Yesterday I published the 4th issue of the Playful Promises online magazine, which I had been working on over the past 2 months. Our current AW11 collection is called Damascan Dreams, and as it is our Autumn issue, I thought I would theme the whole magazine around the East and, in particular the way the Eastern culture and traditions have filtered into the West over time. As we also have a new style of gift pant available, themed around Circus pin ups (complete with their own adorable striped tin), I also included Circus-themed articles and images.
Articles include makeup tutorials, cocktail recipes, a review of the Boom Boom Club, an interview with the fire-eating, glass-bathing Missy Macabre and an article about the birth of bellydance in the East. I also shot bellydance sensation Leah Debrincat and, to go along with her interview, Missy Macabre in all her art deco/carny glory! I've posted some of the images below, along with a few screencaps of my favourite sections of the magazine - don't forget to take a look!
Thanks to Silvia Ribera (hair) and Alice Birchmore (MUA) for their work on the shoot with Leah!
A few weeks ago I shot some images to show off the gorgeous vintage kimonos that are only sold in the Playful Promises London Boutique. Modelled by the delightful Miss Betsy Rose, this green kimono is just luxurious.
Alongside these images, I also wrote an article about the history of the kimono and it's decline and use in Western fashion - you can read this on the Playful Promises Blog!
I've been keeping this fairly schtum over the past month, but two weeks ago I started a new job as a marketing assistant for a London-based lingerie brand!
Playful Promises is a gorgeous boutique brand, with an online shop and a boutique in fashionable Brick Lane. They stock a range of lingerie, from sultry and sexy to cute and flirty. I'll not only be engaging with our fans and customers via social networking but I'll also be photographing anything that needs to be shot, which includes product and body shots. If that weren't awesome enough, I'll be producing the next issue of the Playful Promises online magazine (which includes 2 creative photoshoots) and revamping their blog.
I am beyond happy and inspired to be working with the PP team. In my previous job, where I was often pushed to the limit, I was starting to feel like there was no light at the end of the tunnel. It just goes to show, if you work hard and keep trying, you will get the job you want.
I shall make sure to keep this blog updated with any creative work I do as part of my position at Playful Promises. For example, our next magazine will feature an interview with Missy Macabre (you can see the results of our previous shoot in the below posts), and to accommodate this, I also shot her in some of our lingerie. Unfortunately you will have to wait until mid August to see the final results, but heres a sneak peak of the behind-the-scenes film that my partner (Markabre Charade) shot
Playful Promises Teaser from Markabre on Vimeo.
We will also be running a tumblr giveaway once we reach 200 followers, so head over to our tumblr and follow us to be in with the chance!
