Happy New Year
A look forward to another busy year
Well, Happy New Year as we welcome in 2026.
2025 was my first full year of retirement from corporate life. I'd had the last 6 months of 2024 to acclimatise and so, last year, offered an insight into what the next few years could offer.
It was my busiest year of shooting, with 40+ shoots, including multiple drives, trips, and flights to shoot in places far removed from our base.
As you'll have seen over the last week, those 40+ shoots produced some fascinating images and the plan is to do much more. Here, then, is a brief look ahead.
What lies ahead
January
This month, I'll be working with seven newer models at Silkwood across a couple of days of portfolio builder sessions.
In between these two sessions my middle daughter heads back to Liverpool to continue her Law studies. So it seemed opportune to combine being a glorified man in a van with a first visit of 2026 to Libre and a reunion with Val (Infinity Model)
Mark Skeet
At the end of the month, I'm shooting down to London for 5 shoots, before flying to Berlin for two shoot packed days (9 shoots across 2 days) before a late flight back to London and another couple before heading back to Yorkshire. Time will tell if 16 shoots over 5 days was wise planning! But I'll be working with many models, including the fabulous Scandinavian model Dottir and the arresting French model, Rebirth of the Bird.
After 2 busy days in Berlin, it’s a late flight back to Stansted and a further 2 shoots the day after. Statuesque Nia Virenes and art nude specialist Nausicaa Yami await before a long train journey home!
February
In February, I'll be working with Rebecca Perry (long-time fan of her work), as well as Leanne (Miss C) the owner of Basford Photography Location. I've used her venue enough now that it seemed a little rude not to ask her to dance, so to speak!
I'll be rounding the month out with a trip back to Libre to work with veteran Demi Hughes.
March
March is another busy month of shooting. With shoots in Birmingham, Leeds, Paris and Antwerp.
The month starts with a first time trip to Phos Media Studios in Birmingham for a shoot with Tania Rozhko.
I'll then be working with some fabulous European talent in Paris, including Ukrainian model Nina Olk and French model, Ophelia Gano, as well as a bunch of newer models.
I'll then be visiting Raf and his awesome place in Antwerp for a couple of days.
It's another busy trip with 13 shoots confirmed across a hectic 4 days of travel, shooting and sleeping.
There is a smorgasbord of talent, both in terms of experience and nationality, lined up. I'll continue putting together the remaining pieces over the coming weeks.
Mark Skeet
I'll be closing March out with a shoot with Louisa Lu, closer to home.
April
I'm tackling another long-distance trail, the High Weald Landscape Trail, after last year's restorative Yorkshire Wolds Way escapade.
I'll be putting in a pit stop on the way down to work with a model at a fab dystopian film set/location. The images from that are likely to be very different from what I normally shoot. I'm also looking to book in a shoot on the way home as well.
On the way back, I'll be diverting into North London for a shoot with Alyssa Taylor.
May
May promises to be fairly quiet. With just the one shoot so far booked in. I'll be reuniting with Valentina in her current base, Birmingham. And then a shoot with another photographer, and model, Holly Alexander.
Mark Skeet
Much of the rest of the month will be filled with an Italian road trip. This is subject to Cat not needing another operation on her already perforated ear drum. If she does, I may just insist that Alice gets dusted off, and we drive the whole thing rather than fly and hire a car. I may also cheekily try to wangle a shoot with a Florence-based model I've had some comms with.
June
In June, I have 2 shoots currently arranged. I'm reuniting with Kayla at Basford for a full day of creative play. As a reminder, here's some of the stuff we got up to in Scotland, last year.
Mark Skeet
I'm also scheduled to work with Victoriah for the first time. We've been trying to make a date work for nearly two years now! So I'm glad we're finally getting to make it happen. And it will be a return to Aura, in Northamptonshire. This was where my Euro road trip in 2025 kicked off with a glorious shoot with Holly:
Mark Skeet
I'm likely to take the summer off from shooting to allow for holidays and family time, as my youngest will have completed her GCSEs and my middle one will have completed the first year of her Law degree. I think we'll all be ready for a break!
The second half of the year looks very bare, aside from that.
August
In August, I get to work with a Belgian model who I couldn't sort a shoot with in 2025 as our timetables didn't quite align. So I'm very much looking forward to seeing what we can create together in the myriad location offering, Basford.
October
Though I've agreed terms with Regina Piil for when she's over in September/October. So, as with Kayla, it will be a full day of experiments in creativity. This will be at the well-renowned Kiln studios in Stoke. Really looking forward to what we can create in such a space.
Mark Skeet
2026 kit bag
It's a very welcome return to the Leica SL2S and Sigma Contemporary 65mm combo. I should never have sold the last one on. But, it did give me a chance to reunite with a Nikon D750 and try a Canon R8 for a while. Shooting with them produced fine images, but the experience lacked a certain je ne sais quoi.
So with an influx of cash, I made the decision to re-invest. I genuinely think this is it now, other than maybe an upgrade to an SL3S at some point.
I've settled on a kit bag of the Sigma 35mm f/2 Contemporary, Sigma 65mm f/2 Contemporary and the Sigma ART 105mm macro. These three lenses should cover what I do with models.
Lighting wise, I'm currently using 3 Godox TT600s with an X3 Nano trigger. I've since picked up an AD300 Pro II and an AD200 Pro II. My aim here is to get a kit together that I can fit into a Thinktank Airport Essentials and a carry on bag for these short photo trips abroad. So lighting kit is minimal but versatile without having to check bags. Once it all arrives, the fun and games of making it fit begin!
There's likely a post in that somewhere down the line once it's all been road tested.
As Steve Jobs said...
Oh, and 1 more thing, I'll be posting on Mondays and Thursdays from now on. The archive isn't getting any smaller, so there's plenty of content to share with you all.
Back in a few days with the first of this year's shoot shares.
I hope you enjoyed this post looking to the year ahead. Members get to access to all work I post.
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