Behind the Shoot for Sand Copenhagen and The Book Magazine

This is an Editorial for The Book Magazine with all clothing by Sand Copenhagen.

I was in Copenhagen for two weeks with my dear friend Lena Lademann (blogger from Hamburg- http://lenalademann.com/) and between the fashion week schedule i thought i would squeeze a fashion shoot in. 

Its so amazing to be away from home and plan a shoot as you have to find new locations where you would want to shoot. When i shoot at home in Cape Town i have "comfort zone locations" like the beach or on the streets but when going to Copenhagen i literally went onto Google Maps and went up and down all the streets and wrote down some street names. After being there for a few days i knew i would prefer to do the shoot inside as it was just way too cold and i would feel bad complaining about the cold in 3 jackets when the models would be in a suit with bare skin. I decided we would do the shoot at the hotel we were staying in as the room was modern with decent furniture.

One hour before the shoot i decided it would be a good idea to walk 2km to get the clothing from the Sand store instead of just going on the train..really a stupid idea. My hands were literally like claws from the cold. So i made my mission back to the hotel carrying all the clothing over my shoulders.

The team arrived and i put some music on and we got everything ready to start the shoot. Of course my external flash was not working, it would work about 30% of the time otherwise it wouldn't fire..the joys of technology.

I am happy with the results of the shoot but wish i picked out some more clothing to choose from as we were quite limited.. i think the 4km walk with claws for hands made me just get 4 outfits for each model and nothing more.

Photos from the shoot are now on my website www.tornevelk.com

MY ADVICE TO BEGINNER PHOTOGRAPHERS

So this post is dedicated to talking about how i started and what I recommend for beginner photographers. 

I started taking photo's in my gran's back garden with two friends because we couldn't pay a photographer to do a "friendship" shoot for us. I used my brothers camera (which became my camera i used for 4 years until it literally broke) just taking pictures of my friends and then getting a make up artist and a local designer involved. From there i went into the modelling agencies where i would get the fresh/new models and sometimes if i was lucky i got a more experienced model (which makes a worlds difference).

After some time i was very excited to hear other more experienced photographers opinions and stories..but little did i know that asking them for advice would end up changing my work. I had some one tell me i did a great shoot but i shot at midday which was bad..so from then i never shot at midday ever again and even staying away from shooting in the sunlight. I had another photographer tell me what would make a good photo and what would make a bad photo and because i was so excited to learn and take better photos i would listen and think too hard about what i was told and made myself so confused.. i was listening to everyones opinions too much and not doing what worked for ME. Everyone has their own style and their own way of working and what works/worked best for them.

If i look at my photography when i started in 2011 and now i can really see how my work has changed of course but also i feel like my creativity changed too. Almost like now i am scared of being wrong.. scared of taking a bad photos that i would limit myself so much. Looking back i wish i didn't allow everyones opinions to effect me as much as i feel they did. I think it's important to take advice but not let it mould your style or way of seeing things.

I think i used to think too much on a shoot. I would think "what would be a good photo" and "what will others think of this shoot or photo".

Right now i am trying to meditate...yes, meditate to get my mind more calm on shoots and just..SHOOT.. shoot what i want and what i feel works. For so long i would shoot in fear and now i am trying to just shoot with my own creativity and no limits.

So... dont listen to everyones advice on your work and what is the "best photo" and DONT let anyone shut you down or make you feel like your work is not good enough.. Keep shooting with a strong mindset in the direction of success.

Also to forget what everyone else is doing and that this will take time. I can be very impatient but i learnt that over time all aspects of your photography start to improve. From understand your camera, to problem solving to post production to dealing with clients. When you are feeling down about your work, remember why you started in the first place and be your own support system..with some chocolate

WEST COAST ROAD TRIP

Some of our photos from the West Coast on the way to Langebaan and back trying not to get blown away..
Nothing better than the sunset on the West-Coast and the feeling of being free

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Ibiza

More photos from Ibiza staying at the Me Hotel Ibiza which is right on the beach. Capturing some moments on our way from Sol Beach House to Me Hotel in a colourful van.  Couldn't be more grateful for the incredible people i met here from all over the world.