waist it

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• More info: waist.it

Of course I couldn't do any of this without the help and support of my long-suffering wife Zsuzsi, and all the attractive, creative, intelligent women with whom it has been our privilege to work .

  Costumes...  

I try to replicate the classic hour-glass figures of that bygone era and document how we achieve that look. To do retro-fitness properly, one really needs models who can carry themselves well and who "look the part". One also needs authentic looking costumes that hug and enhance the model's figure.

Over the years we have amassed a large and fairly valuable collection of vintage costumes in a range of sizes between UK 4 up to UK 12. And I'm happy to mix our outfits with yours, if you have items of your own, of a suitable genre, that you particularly want to try.

• More info:  waist.it/about/costumes  
  

  Studio...  

I work mainly from a small but well equipped studio in South East Hampshire, UK. It's about 25 square metres (270 square feet) It has electrically-driven remote-control backdrop system, studio-flash as-well-as continuous lighting, and a separate private changing room.

My wife is normally present during the shoot to assist the model, organise the studio, to fix the scenery and to dig-out the various outfits and props we require. She is also a very competent stylist, and is excellent at spotting loose threads and labels sticking out!

• More info: waist.it/about/studio
  

 Lighting and props... 

In addition to conventional studio flash, I also enjoy unusual or unorthodox lighting (including constant-lighting sources such as daylight-CFL, LED, UV and flat-panel). I like including iconic pieces of technology, e.g. mannequins, vintage radios, film cameras, dial-type telephones, sports cars, optical disks, maps, mixer-desks, hard disk innards, and steam engines (to name but a few) with my shoots. I'm also rather keen on animal-print fabrics, expensive-looking shapewear, shockingly-vibrant colours and seriously chunky jewellery - though not all at the same time, obviously! :-)

 General...  

Whilst I have a great love for "retro", I'm also a bit of a geek - I'm not irretrievably locked in the past. I particularly enjoy mixing old-fashioned looks with very modern ones, unashamedly creating what a friend sometimes describes as "quirky photographic anachronisms". I particularly enjoy working with intelligent, hard-working models that know how to inject some humour and a sense of fun into the shoot. After all, if shooting stops being fun, then what's the point of doing it?

 Finally, six important things that models should be aware of... 

1. We take the risk of COVID19 very seriously. Myself and anyone who assists me are all fully vaccinated. We also all take lateral flow tests before mixing with other people. Currently we are only permitting models who are fully vaccinated to enter the premises. We may also ask you to take a lateral flow test prior to the shoot. 
   
2. I do not work with under 18's. You must be 18 years old, or over and have valid photo ID.
3. I understand that models must ensure their own safety. Therefore chaperones are welcome to my shoots. However, you and your chaperone must firstly read and agree to the terms of our Chaperone Policy: waist.it/about/chaperone-policy
   
4. My modelling site ( waist.it ) is a strictly no-nudity site. I also have a career outside model photography. Therefore I have no interest in undertaking any topless, nude or adult work with you.
5. Model photography is an expensive, non-profit pastime that I undertake primarily for fun and recreation. Setting up the studio and maintaining it along with all the costumes and props is a very expensive undertaking. So I offer collaborative shoots on a strict "time for pictures" basis to models who I believe will enjoy the shoot and who will make the necessary effort to create good-quality images for their portfolios or projects. No money will change hands either way and each party assumes responsibility for their own expenses.
6. My time and resources are valuable. Models who book a shoot and then fail to turn up without a valid explanation may be charged for the time and resources they waste.

 OK, that's enough chat - let's look at some more pictures...