I had the pleasure of setting some questions to Sandi Bass, Casting Director, Former Top International Model, Scout , Lecturer and Philanthropist for Models of Diversity back in October this year. There article is here below. You can download a full copy at the bottom of the page.
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You can download a full version here [download id=”38885″]
Disability in the Media – With the heighten awareness of disability through the Paralympics this year, I want to know why retailers and the media aren’t sitting up and taking notice and using more of them in their campaigns and programming.
Around 10 per cent of the world’s population, or 650 million people, live with a disability. They are the world’s largest minority. This figure is increasing through population growth, medical advances and the ageing process.
In the United Kingdom, 75% of the companies of the FTSE 100 Index on the London Stock Exchange do not meet basic levels of web accessibility, thus missing out on more than $147 million in revenue…and that’s only on the web. Can you imagine how much money that is in day-today life, because shops, restaurants, and other public places aren’t accessible?
When the websites and shops are accessible to people with disabilities they still do not feel totally included because they never see disability in their advertisement only when it’s to shock people or it’s for charity’s or government campaigns.
There are some amazing, talented and very pretty models in the UK like Shannon Murray who did a campaign for Debenhams, Sophie Morgan recently featured in the Stella McCartney London 2012 campaign and Kelly Knox winner of Britain’s Missing Top Model but for some reasons after one or two campaigns the British fashion world stopped using them.
I love the fact that some brands have used disabled models in the past and that it’s a good beginning, but we need to see it on a more regular basis!
You can see some of my images of disabled models HERE. If you are a disabled model and would like to be photographed I’d love to hear from you as I want to address the lack of Disability in the Media
Published in The Mirror UK with Models of Diversity
Published in The Mirror UK with Models of Diversity. Last week I had the pleasure of photographing Clare Brown for Models of Diversity. Clare contracted meningitis at 17, went into a coma and woke to find she’d had to have both leg amputated along with a finger. At 32 she is living testament to strength and gutsy determination. Her story can be read here in The Mirror.
My images were used to support the article and show how beautiful she is both physically but mentally too. When I photograph disabled models I am always impressed with the shear determination and confidence each one has. Clare’s disability does impact on her life, but it doesn’t stop her from trying to do the things she wants to do.
Clare is now working as a model and ambassador for the charity Models of Diversity. Clare also manages a Facebook Group ‘Aspiring Disabled Models‘ inspiring empowering others to model and do what they desire.
Special thanks to Angel Sinclair CEO of Models of Diversity and Caters. Published in The Mirror UK with Models of Diversity.
You can see more of my images regarding disability and diversity on this site. If you are interested either as a disabled model or able bodied, please get in touch.
Damian McGillicuddy shoots diversity for Models of Diversity
Damian McGillicuddy shoots diversity – Last month (July 2016) I had the pleasure to observe and learn from the renowned and multi-award winning photographer Damian McGillicuddy. Damian, who is the Principal Photographer and Educator for Olympus UK was shooting for Models of Diversity in London for TopShop and Burton Menswear. I can’t tell you how much I learnt over the two day shoot, but the experience was one which has inspired and given me a new approach to my photography. I use to photograph with Olympus cameras in the days I used film and I still have them, carefully wrapped in a nice soft dry box. The digital versions that Damian uses are very close as regards to looks as the original OM1 and the Penn with their small footprint but weighty precision feel. My role in the shoot was location scout, co-ordinator and general ‘go-fer’. I had with me a new GoPro, so I shot some behind the scenes footage of the big man at work, trying hard not to get in his way. What impressed me most about Damian’s work was the ability to control and add existing light so that the two worked in harmony so that the additional light, using Elinchrom Quadra kit, looked convincing
The videos were shot in HD and could have probably benefitted from a separate audio feed, but being a shooter and pupil would have been one process too far!
Credits:
Producer: Angel Sinclair for Models of Diversity
Photographer: Damian McGillicuddy
Assisted by: James Artaius
MUA/Hair: Zoe Hughes MUA
Clothes: Men – Burtons & TopMan. Suit (Imi): Ted Baker
Clothes: Women – TopShop
Designer: Fashion Is For You
Styling: Michelle Navarro
The Enchanted Garden Masquerade Ball and Fashion Show – Home House, Portman Square, London
The Enchanted Garden Masquerade Ball and Fashion Show on the 29th May 2016, Home House, 21 Portman Sqaure, London, was a magical, enchanted garden of mystery and mayhem. A unique mix of fashion, art and live entertainment were brought together to create a night of enchantment.
The interactive fashion show featured designer, Linda Blissett’s new couture collection recently shown at London and Paris Fashion weeks. The designs, inspired by bold colours and flamboyance of the art from the Pre-Raphaelite era. The dresses featured an intricate architecture of modern and traditional woven fabric worked into eclectic art, transforming the wearer and turning any event into a modern Fairy-tale. Jayne-Elizabeth Millinery present her unique collection of designer couture hats, including traditional pieces of classical beauty as well as eccentric pieces of contemporary art. LA based accessories designer to the elite Marianna Harutunian whose pieces have been worn by Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Selena Gomez and Dark Whimiscal accessories designer Metamorph Quriky Couture, showed their latest collection.
The Home House décor brought the Enchanted Garden into bloom through exotic plants provided by The Kew Gardener. Artist, Kavita-Priya Mohan with her projected display of Pre-Raphaelite inspired paintings, provided the backdrop for the interactive fashion show and live entertainment.
Singer Samantha Akasha Beck and King Bomba band will captivate the audience with music.
The Jewelled Moon Theatre company will presented Once Upon A Time – Exquisite fairy cabaret, poetry and immersive interludes laden with starspelled glamour, the creatures of the jewelled moon gracefully charm and entertained the guests of The Enchanted Garden.
Show organisers: Duccio Zambrini& Iskra Tsankova
Hosted by: Linda Blissett
Designer – Dresses: Linda Blissett
Designer – Millinery: Jayne Elizabeth Rossiter-Gill Designer – Jewellery:Marianna Harutunian
Stylist: Roxanne Chanel Murray with Lorenzo Jackson
Choreographer: Rachel Evans
MUA’s headed up by: Magdalena Mutungi with Vivien Szabo and others
Hair design headed up by: Sineadey Heritage Mma (Makeup Model Action) with Sonia Dee Taylor, Tina Hall, Alex Mary Mctaggart and Teresa Anna Opiala
There are three sets of images from the event. Behind the scenes, the fashion show itself and images I’ve pulled out as my favourites. Images may only be used on social media as long as my logo remains in the image and I am credited as the photographer.
Oxford Fashion Studio – BTS – London Collection Autumn/Winter 2016
BTS – London Collection Autumn/Winter 2016 at Devonshire Square, London 21-02-16. Designers showing included: Arantxa Morcillo Designer, Bana, Concepto, Daniel Pascal Tanner, Emanuela Giannelli Design, Giulia Bassano Fossati, Great Heart Designs, Hannah Sykes, Linda Blissett, Nicola Bacchilega, Noora Pajari, Rosie Billington Design andSabina Saga.
Below are some of the images (24) taken from BTS – London Collection Autumn/Winter 2016 at Devonshire Square. Images from there two catwalk shows can be seen HERE
In April last year I was fortunate to shoot the lovely Harnaam Kaur in Holland Park, London (see previous post). We bumped into each other last week at Royal Fashion Day Show where she walked for the first time wearing Marianna Harutunian @mariannaharutunian @usfashionsource
It seems my images have been picked up by Yahoo, Buzzfeed and Style.Mic please see links below.
The Independent http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/harnaam-kaur-bearded-model-opens-marianna-harutunian-royal-fashion-day-show-a6907786.html