10 reasons I love working with Yollanda Musa

Yollanda Musa is a young model based in Hertfordshire. I was lucky enough to meet Yolly several years ago at at PortraitX photo shoot, and we have worked together several times. I jokingly say she is my “photographic Muse, er…”

Very funny, what.

I am going to put down in black and white 10 reasons why I love shooting Yollanda.

1. This is a soft look. Yollanda’s hair has been tied in a traditional style by Cheynie Majik Fingas.

2. One of the things I love about photographing people is that very small changes create different images. They show the same thing slightly differently. And then we interpret what we see. Usually quite unconsiously.

3. A simple elegant profile.

4.

5. Now Yolly has been given a new hair style and stronger make up (by @paintedbyrupz). She was wearing her puffer jacket for warmth when not in front of the camera, and I decided to include the jacket for some shots. So here she is with the jacket and a subtle smile…

6. And here she is without the jacket looking serious.

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10. Well toned body! Just right for athletic modelling.

11. Yes… I figured it would be hard keeping the number of reasons to just ten!

beauty photo shoot in Kingston with Yollanda Musa

The creative team

I can recommend the model, the make up artist and the hair stylist for professional work.

The model is Yollanda Musa.

The hair stylist was Cheynie Majik Fingas.

Eyelashes were by lolo lashes whom I have not met (the lashes were done earlier). But I did notice how good they are without anyone having to point them out to me! Whatever magic this is, it looks like Yolly’s own eyelashes, as opposed to large lashes above natural lashes, which sometimes gives me problems in post production. These lashes were perfect.

Make up was by Rupam Patel @paintedbyrupz. Rupam will have every right to throttle me if I don’t include a colour photo that shows the quality of her work!