Header photo: Hattie Grace - Jul 08 by photographer Starglider Photography, model Hattie Grace and studio Burford Manor KENT

Starglider Photography is a hobbyist photographer based in Kent, United Kingdom, who has over 16 years of experience.

Following their recent photoshoot (see more here) at studio Burford Manor KENT with model Hattie Grace, Starglider Photography generously gave their time for a quick interview to share their shoot with us.

Check out the interview below and find out what preparation was needed for the shoot, the camera gear they used and more (and, of course, images from their photoshoot!).

SHARE A SHOOT with PurplePort photographer Starglider Photography

How did you come up with the concept? Did anything inspire you?

I had no concept! No, really!

I knew about Burford Manor for a while and had seen other amazing photos taken by others at the location, but as I had not been there before, and photoshoot images usually only show a tiny fraction of the place (or even just a corner of a room), I didn't have any concept in place at all.

I suppose if I was at gunpoint and had to give some sort of answer, I guess my concept would be mostly natural light and try to get different angles and try to get images that Hattie didn't have before. Emphasis on the word 'try'.

Hattie Grace - Jul 02 by photographer Starglider Photography, model Hattie Grace and studio Burford Manor KENT

Hattie Grace - Jul 05 by photographer Starglider Photography, model Hattie Grace and studio Burford Manor KENT

What did you do to plan the shoot?

I followed my usual plan for this shoot as I do with all my previous shoots. Make no plans.

Now there is a logic behind this one. As I have no idea what the place is like (beyond again seeing previous photos from others), I don't actually like to make plans. 

Occasionally in the past, I have sent idea pictures to models but never with the intention of outright copying them, more to get the feel or style of the photo without just mimicking exactly the reference photo. But usually, when I do that, I end up not using the reference photos at all.

So when I go into the shoot, I don't even have a full look around the location. Once I arrive, I get my camera out and lighting set up but more ready to plug in and use should I need to, and basically move with the model from room to room. If I see something that immediately jumps out at me or causes an idea to form in my head, I quite literally say, "Right! Let's shoot here for a bit".

My style of shooting has always worked best on the principle of spontaneity.

Hattie Grace - Jul 08 by photographer Starglider Photography, model Hattie Grace and studio Burford Manor KENT

Hattie Grace - Jul 09 by photographer Starglider Photography, model Hattie Grace and studio Burford Manor KENT

How did you arrange the shoot?

Hattie and I have been close friends now for many, many years, and ever since our first shoot way back in June 2016, we both just clicked, both with her modelling abilities and my shooting style.

When we first started shooting together, I did suggest loads of outfit ideas, loads of pre-shoot communications and lots of discussions prior to ensure that we had everything prepared.

On this shoot, it was a case of:

"Shall we shoot at Burford Manor?"

"Sure, on this date?"

"Cool, see you there!"

I made no suggestions for clothing, looks or anything. There is total and complete trust in each other that whatever we bring or do will be perfect for the shoot. When you find that certain someone who you have that working bond with, it makes for an absolute dream when prepping for any shoot together.

Hattie Grace - Jul 12 by photographer Starglider Photography, model Hattie Grace and studio Burford Manor KENT

Hattie Grace - Jul 20 by photographer Starglider Photography, model Hattie Grace and studio Burford Manor KENT

What was it like shooting at that location?

Wow. I mean, wow. Hattie had told me on the way there that the place was huge (as she had been there before), but nothing she could've said prepared me for the sheer size and shooting opportunities that are available at that place. The moment I entered the front door, the main hallway goes deep into the building, and when you think you've covered every room, there's a door, with another hallway, with another 4 rooms you can shoot in.

I know for a fact that I didn't shoot in every location within the place, and I didn't even touch the gardens outside (partially because I was having such an amazing time indoors, and the sun was very harsh and high up and not my preferred conditions for outside shooting). Each room had its own style, almost forcing you to come up with different styles or attitudes from Hattie to match the room you were in. I ended up mostly shooting in natural light, too, as almost every room had large windows that let in so much light.

Because the place is so huge, there were more than one group of photographers/models working there. I completely understand the reasons behind this from a business perspective, but never was it an issue because, again, the place is so huge you almost never saw the other groups while you work.

Hattie Grace - Jul 21 by photographer Starglider Photography, model Hattie Grace and studio Burford Manor KENT

Tell us about the gear you used.

Time for all the photographers to be shocked/amazed/bemused (delete as applicable)...

So I used a Nikon D3200 camera, usually with a Nikon 35mm Prime lens, or at times the stock 18-55mm lens. Yup, that's it.

I used to be a little embarrassed when I was with other photographers who pulled out kit that had a camera 4 times larger with a lens as long as my arm, and I whipped out my little baby. But then I came to appreciate that what I have works for me, gets the shots I need and that you don't need an epic four-grand camera kit to create an amazing photo.

I brought along one of my Lencarta Smartflash II lights with softbox. They are light, easy to use and can pack away into a bag quite nicely. This time I brought Iris. The one I didn't bring was Reii. Yes, I named them. I won't explain why.

What's your favourite image from the shoot?

I am so very changeable when it comes to my favourite image, and I can guarantee you that what I say now might not be my favourite image in a month's time, but right now, it is this one:

Hattie Grace - Jul 22 by photographer Starglider Photography, model Hattie Grace and studio Burford Manor KENT

I absolutely adore all the edits I did from the shoot (if I didn't, why did I edit it?), but right now, the attitude Hattie brought to the image, the lighting, the look of the corner of the room, and the boots just worked. I knew it the moment I saw the image on the back of the camera at the time.

Photographers will know what I mean. You take a few shots, have a quick look at the back, and immediately you think, "Woah, that's a good photo!" and it makes you consider stopping the set there and then and moving on.

Hattie Grace - Jul 27 by photographer Starglider Photography, model Hattie Grace and studio Burford Manor KENT

Thank you for sharing your creativity, experience and images with us, Starglider Photography. We loved learning all about your photoshoot with Hattie Grace at Burford Manor KENT!

We hope you all loved it too. Don't forget to check out the links below to see more of Starglider Photography's work!

Here's where you can find more of Starglider's work

PurplePort: Starglider Photography 

Website: www.starglider.co.uk

Instagram: starglider_photo

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