Top Gun

Irida, aviators and the green flight suit...

Shooting update

Well the day has arrived, the last planned shoot of 2026. As this publishes I should be close to arriving at the Kiln, in Staffordshire, for my full day shoot with Regina.

Once a pottery this building is now a multi-space photography studio with access to the old kiln itself. I've seen many many wonderful images captured here with a range of models. So I'm hot with anticipation as to what Regina and I can conjure up between us on this our third creative collaboration.

Today's content

Today we're featuring another favourite model to work with, Irida the Shapeshifter. London-based, Greek-origined art model with a reputation that matches her modelling name. She's just bloody great to work with. Especially for someone like me that beyond aesthetics, has no clue what I'll shoot on any given shoot beyond really vague ideas of what might be good.

I think some of this comes back to my previous life in software development where every day was different. Especially in the latter years as a manager. But I think back also to soe of my previous photography iterations. And in all forms being able to think on your feet and deal with what unfolds in front of you is an invaluable skill.

So whether it's energetic kids, nervous couples, rowdy wedding guest more interested in the drink on offer or the ebb and flow of a corporate gig that needs press worthy images, I've developed a knack of finding a way of creating something from just about any situation.

But, with the right collaborators, that job is so much easier. I think when you've also worked together previously, and the model feels they can trust you to portray them well, with empathy, and with the same standards, you are already ahead.

So it was that Irida and I re-united. This time at Liber8 in Lancashire and with Irida's hand now thankfully healed from the frankly painful looking jellyfish stings she had when we first shot together.

After a good catch up and a brew the experimentation began.

This was the fifth of the eleven looks we managed to cram into the half day we had together.

The full set of 40 images is available to all members. This level of membership is free and gives you access to all member posts, past, present and future. I post twice a week for free members and then a third time exclusively for premium tier members. They also receive a monthly downloadable wallpaper and quarterly e-zines. All for less than the price of a couple of coffees a month.