New work with Fiona

Simple black and white fashion shoot from last weeks studio shoot with Fiona Meecham at LMP Models.

© Simon Ackerman Photography 2015 - All Rights Reserved

www.simonackerman.co.uk

The girl’s got style: Rachel by Simon Ackerman

There’s a particular magic that’s formed at the place where two eras collide. Or in this case, three, if you count the here-and-now.

Combining contemporary youthfulness with retro ’70s-inspired glamour is a shoot by rising photographer Simon Ackerman, working with a creative team who turned a straightforward portrait of model Rachel Validum into a picture of freshness and strong femininity.

Hairstylist Jill Schnapp added her love of the “Deco Decadence” of the 1920s into the mix, merging an edgy pompadore with a textured side braid or coaxing two twirly pigtails out from under a chic black hat to create styles that borrow from multiple eras without subscribing specifically to any.

  

Makeup artist Crystal Watkins played perfectly to Rachel’s features and colouring, contrasting her velvety dark skin with the boldest red lipstick and adding a flick of black liner and white shimmer to her eyes.

The era collision of the ’20s and ’70s comes into play again in Amelia Schussler’s flirtatious styling: Deco-inspired jewels atop plunging necklines creating an element of night-time glamour, while a perfectly on-trend black and white patterned crop top paired with high-waisted black pants is the vision of what this ultra-cool, modern-day glamazon would wear during the daytime hours.

Words by Tania Braukamper at www.fashionising.com


Photographer: Simon Ackerman

Hair: Jill Schnapp @ www.jillschnapphair.com | www.davidryansalon.com

Model: Rachel Validum @ MC2 - NYC Model Management

Make-up Artist: Crystal Watkins @ www.themakeupboo.com

Wardrobe Stylist: Amelia Schussler @ www.ameliaschussler.com



© Simon Ackerman 2013 - All Rights Reserved
www.simonackerman.co.uk

Creative Makeup with Harriet @ Source Models

This was my final shoot in the UK before setting off to New York for the 2nd time in 2012.

The main idea was Aqua makeup with a simple headshot to capture it.

Model - Harriet @ Source Models

Makeup - Emma Janine Tatchell

Photographer - Simon Ackerman

© Simon Ackerman 2012

www.simonackerman.co.uk 

Creative Makeup & Photoshop Retouching

Once the final images where all sent to press from the fashion weeks I set about organising some new beauty photoshoots. My main focus prior to this was to set about learning some new techniques in Photoshop. They say the average user only uses 33% or Photoshop's full potential and there is a whole plethora of tools in order to make images look great and the models look really pretty. The use of Photoshop in digital cosmetic enhancement has always been a subject of much controversy. A friend of mine recently sent me an image that showed a before and after image of Madonna, it revealed that post processing can easily take years of the subject and still retain the realism. Retouching in Photoshop can be compared to cosmetic surgery in the way that it can enhance the features, enlarge breasts, nip, tuck, smooth the skin even change eye colour and straighten teeth. You name it, you can probably do it in Photoshop. Here is the first shot from some of the new techniques I learnt, it's sometimes hard to retain a realistic skin texture when so many blemishes and wrinkles are taken out.

 I try to maintain skin pores but sometimes fashion magazines and websites may go for a retouch where the model looks something like a waxwork or a porcelain doll, sometimes the models can look like a CGI character from a computer game.
It's all a matter of personal preference and what the client wants the final images to look like.

Model - Megan Clarke

Makeup - Keighley Mila Valdivielso

Photographer - Simon Ackerman

© Simon Ackerman 2012 - All Rights Reserved 

www.simonackerman.co.uk