Hannah Clare

I quite often feel that the first four photographs in this album may deserve a special place of their own as they are from my very first shoot with Hannah Clare.

She was not only the first professional model whom I had been privileged to work with, but these also marked the first time I shot nude.

It truly amazes me to see how she has changed her appearance during our subsequent shoots, having first shot with her as a brunette, then later with long blonde hair and then with shorter lighter blonde hair.

During our third collaboration, I had a flashback which I shared with her. She and I reflected with amusement upon our very first get together, when I opted to use my then recently acquisitioned Mamiya 645. At the time, I was only just learning about portraiture and I wasn't very confident about shooting manual. Luckily however, assistance was on hand in the presence of Chris Waite whose studio I had booked for the day. Needless to say, Hannah did everything to make sure that we were both comfortable with each other during the shoot.

The realisation dawned on me three shoots later that not not only did I feel much more relaxed with Hannah, but that of course the Mamiya 645 has now become a somewhat inextricable part of me.

I would like to thank Chris Waite for his greatly appreciated input and encouragement during the shoot which produced those four black and white portraits at the top of this album.

I also want to thank both Loz Williams and Zoe Rebecca John at Express Imaging whose feedback on my work is always welcome and whose contribution during the final editing stages can never be over estimated.

Like Loz, Zoe and Chris, who have always had faith in me and have helped me grow as a photographer, I also want to express my undying gratitude towards Hannah.

I had initially intended to keep the first four photographs in this album without any further additions. However, I had been encouraged by Hannah herself to in fact augment it with our subsequent work and I have to agree with her that this does tell a magical story.

I owe her so much as I have become much more confident as a portrait photographer since I took those first four shots of this highly talented model whom, although may have regularly changed her appearance since we first got in touch with regards to a shoot, still remains a truly wonderful and genuinely caring friend who has so much to give.