Regeneration

Some nudes by the lovely Tim Pile, who I have had some fantastic shoots with over the last year or so, and more to post from our collaborations together soon.
These were taken looking down from the mezzanine of a gorgeous quaint cottage. It's very liberating posing on the floor and being able to stretch out and arch in different ways not possible when standing, similar to when modelling underwater, there's a beautiful freedom. I really love the tones and lighting on these, my pale skin against the textured flooring, and the poses and closed eyes give these a quality I think works so well.

I'm feeling much better this week after finishing my tax return, and then getting up to date with this years records too, it can be such a stress to have hanging over you, so I'm really gonna try and make sure I finish 2011-2011's records in April so I am ahead of myself, and keep up with them often thereon. If there's any of you self employed peeps still struggling through yours, my spirit is with you, rise above the guilt of not doing it sooner and there is light at the end of the tunnel, just do it piece by piece :-) It proves the notion you hear so often though, that starting something is always the hardest part. Whenever you have a daunting task ahead of you it's so easy to try to avoid it altogther but just sitting down and forcing yourself to start, no matter how much you're battling not to, it is true that the rest just flows. Maybe not without hard work, but so much easier than you had imagined. As one of the things I have pinned on the big montage I have above my desk reads...

'Most obstacles melt away when we make up our minds to walk boldly through them' (Orison Swett Marden)

I guess tax isn't the deepest thing in life that can apply to but it's a good place to start.


I'm looking forward to my first modelling trip of the year this weekend... up to Chester via Birmingham, for a few days, then over to the Peak District, then Chesterfield. One of the hotels I'm staying in has a pool which will be good as I've been getting into swimming lengths again recently. It has a steam room too, love those :-) (and a very good price too despite sounding quite posh)

I also have trips planned to the Northwest (1st-5th March), Gloucestershire & Wiltshire (9th-11th March) and Scotland (23rd March - 2nd April)... and 2 bookings abroad - Portugal, and possibly Spain also. Exciting times!! So get in touch if you're in those places, or fancy a shoot in general... other trips will be created :-)

Included are a few Studio Days (keep your eye on my travels tab at the top of my blog for new ones too)

Immortal Eye Studio, Aylesbury - Sat 25th February
Hallam Mill Studios, Stockport - Sun 4th March
Film Photo Studios (new bigger place!) Cheltenham - Sat 10th March
Elgin Studio, Scotland - Sat 24th March
Pavillion Studios, Bathgate, Scotland - Sat 31st March

I just recently heard some more music by artist Lana Del Rey, since she was in the news because of her apparent bad performance on Saturday Night Live in the US (I personally didn't think it was that bad considering her whole style and the mood of the lyrics) but basically it made me download her new song, and I really love the video too. That building featured is incredible and I love her styling and lofty attitude. It's all quite unsettling but so evocative and hauntingly beautiful.