Header photo: Image by photographer Simon Carter, model Gem and studio beltcraft

Simon Carter is a part-time photographer with more than 10 years of experience who is based in Essex, United Kingdom. 

Following their photoshoot in London, United Kingdom, with model Gem at beltcraft studio, Simon 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!).

Image by photographer Simon Carter, model Gem and studio beltcraft

SHARE A SHOOT with PurplePort photographer Simon Carter

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

The concept, planning and arrangements were largely forced on us by the speed at which we organised the shoot.

Gem and I had chatted on PurplePort briefly about doing something together - something editorial and vaguely commercial but a little bit different for both of us.

Soon after that, we met at one of Tabitha Boydell's events (where Gem was modelling and I was on lighting duty) and chatted some more.

Image by photographer Simon Carter, model Gem and studio beltcraft

What did you do to plan the shoot?

The coronation weekend happened unexpectedly with the extra bank holiday. We were both free, so needed to come up with a plan.

I'd long wanted to do something inspired by a Maison Close advertising campaign.

Gem wanted to do something which was high-end and quirky but still definitely fashion. Her friend SybanSyban makes epic couture costumes and was happy to lend a few pieces. And Gem acquired a few lingerie pieces from Bluebella.

Image by photographer Simon Carter, model Gem and studio beltcraft

How did you arrange the shoot?

That was about all the plan we had, so we needed somewhere quirky with a strong atmosphere to tie the whole lot together and which was available at short notice.

Beltcraft was free and partway between us both.

It was probably less than 2 weeks from first meeting to shooting. 

Once we were actually in the space, I waited for inspiration to strike rather than having a firm plan. It can be a slightly alarming way to work, but it does leave room for interesting surprises.

Consequently, I didn't really know what lighting to take. I still had my location kits loaded from Tabitha's event, so I just bunged most of that in the car and then carried it up the stairs at Beltcraft. I'd have taken less if I'd realised how steep they were.

Image by photographer Simon Carter, model Gem and studio beltcraft

What was it like shooting at that location?

Gem suggested a warm-up set to kick things off using some of the other pieces she'd brought while I started trying to come up with an idea.

I like to add a back story to my editorial stuff, even if no one else ever gets it.

The potted plants and suitcases suggested a bizarre airport departure lounge. So I asked Gem to wear her teal boots and moved all the teal and orange props in the studio into one corner. I wanted the lighting to be flattering but quirky, too and ended up with something which is almost uplighting.

Image by photographer Simon Carter, model Gem and studio beltcraft

The second set evolved similarly. There was something about the circular headdress, which went well with the strong lines of a window corner, emphasised by a wide-angle lens. I added all of the circular props I could find to the scene to see if I could make something which hung together while Gem changed.

Beltcraft is stuffed with an ever-changing range of curiosities. I spent a lot of the day moving furniture, building little sets, lighting them and striking them again. In most cases, I tried to keep the lighting looking plausibly natural, even if unusual.

I did want to use lots of the unusual vintage lighting gear which Beltcraft has, but most of it wasn't working, so I had to improvise with hidden speedlights. At the end, I went a bit off-piste with gels; I seem to default to red. 

There are so many more things we could have done that day; the combination of the model & location really encourages creativity.

Image by photographer Simon Carter, model Gem and studio beltcraft

Tell us about the gear you used.

I use a Nikon D750. It's an old camera now, but it does everything I need without making files which are stupidly large. I thought seriously about upgrading, but in the end just bought another body.

On this shoot, the lenses were mainly the Tamron 24-70 f2.8 or the Nikon 85mm f1.8G.

For location lighting, my go-to is an AD600Pro. I typically use it in a gridded stripbox for precision work or in a 7" dish combined with a large white v flat for a larger light source & flags or cutters to direct the light.

For one set, I used a Godox optical snoot & gobo kit. The speedlites were just cheap Yongnuo jobs, nothing special.

Image by photographer Simon Carter, model Gem and studio beltcraft

What's your favourite image from the shoot?

Tricky! Probably this one below from the final set because it feels like it's both very me and very Gem.

Image by photographer Simon Carter, model Gem and studio beltcraft

Thank you for sharing your creativity, experience and images with us, Simon Carter. We loved learning all about your photoshoot with model Gem!

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

Here's where you can find more of Simon Carter's work

PurplePort: Simon Carter

Instagram: simonbalancer

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