New work with Kelly Gray

As promised here is another image from my location shoot with Kelly Gray in Echo Park, Downtown LA to start off my first blog entry for 2015. Happy New Year everyone!!

© Simon Ackerman 2014 - All Rights Reserved

www.simonackerman.co.uk

Creative makeup with Shelby

My last blog entry for 2014 wrapping things up with another shoot I shot at the Makeup Forever Academy in Soho, NYC a few months back. 

The first look kind of lent itself to a more classic almost epic fantasy kind of look. The rouge coloured top our model Shelby from MC2 matched her lip perfectly. 

The 2nd look was an implied nude look with a mermaid inspiration. The amazing makeup and fake lashes complemented the hair and the lighting helped to give a nice soft glow on the skin. Another great image to work with in post production.

Model - Shelby Red Model Management - RED NYC

Makeup - Jen Evans 

Hair - Jill Schnapp 

© Simon Ackerman Photography 2014 - All Rights Reserved

www.simonackerman.co.uk

Creative Beauty with Marissa

Wrapping up my creative beauty work this year at the Makeup Forever Academy in Soho, here is a very vibrant spectrum of colours by makeup artist Jen Evans.

It's always nice to have work like this in Photoshop when you are retouching and can give the colours a nice boost. I find it's best not to overdue any colour enhancements as the image can end up looking a bit garish especially with bright reds.

This was one of the last looks we experimented with. It's great to start a shoot with a look that requires more natural makeup and the some goes for the hair, it's easier to build up on the looks as we go along. Depending on the type of story we're shooting the last look can end up quite crazy and in this instance Marissa our model was invited to trash the makeup.

© Simon Ackerman Photography 2014 - All Rights Reserved

www.simonackerman.co.uk

Tribal photoshoot in Central Park

At the end of the summer, I shot a tribal makeup inspired editorial in Central Park. Abby Stahlschmidt from Silent Models was our model and had flown in all the way from Nashville, Tennessee to work with us.

We caught the golden hour for some beautiful natural light portraits and here are some of the results.

Hair - Jill Schnapp 

Model - Abby Stahlschmidt @ Silent Model Management and Factor Women

Makeup - Laura Natalie Gattini 

Stylist - MC Lab 

© Simon Ackerman 2014 - All Rights Reserved 

www.simonackerman.co.uk

Backstage beauty with Josephine Skriver

Another favourite backstage to shoot in 2014, also at New York Fashion Week was the Zimmermann where I shot this portrait of Danish beauty Josephine Skriver. I loved the gold makeup look and the super big hooped earrings she was wearing as first look. Originally from Copenhagen, Denmark Josephine Skriver is one of the most stunning models I've shot to date. I originally took some backstage beauty shots of her at London Fashion Week in February 2011 when she was walking in the Jaeger London show. 

© Simon Ackerman Photography - All Rights Reserved

www.simonackerman.co.uk 

Backstage beauty with Adriana Lima

Looking back at some of my favourite shoots of 2014 brought me back to backstage at the Desigual show at New York Fashion Week for their Spring show. I photographed a series of beauty poses with arguably the best Victoria's Secret Brazilian supermodel Adrian Lima.

 I've been in similar situations in the past where you're booked for a show and it happens to be a big designer and you're not entirely sure which big names will be there. Adriana Lima is one of those extremely talented models like Cara Delevingne who doesn't need a great deal of direction, she just gave me lots of nice shapes and poses and we nailed the shots with little ease. This was definitely up there with one of my favourite moments shooting fashion as since the start I've always been a big fan.

© Simon Ackerman Photography 2014 - All Rights Reserved

www.simonackerman.co.uk 

Playing it wild in New York City - Wild New York for Fashionsing.com

Heavy cat-eyes, lace-up boots and the all-black look that so perfectly captures the core of New York’s wild spirit:  Michelle Hicks rocks the cool-girl aesthetic for Simon Ackerman, her attitude a suitable match for the burst of energy describing the city’s busiest streets.

With countless yellow cabs rushing through in the background, and the big screens lighting up the scene, the photo shoot puts forth the real New York experience, as well as the authentic expression of effortless style.

Written by Nicoleta Parascan

Photographer: Simon Ackerman @ www.simonackerman.co.uk
Model: Michelle Hicks @ New York Model Management
Makeup: Clarissa Montenegro