Header photo: Leaves by photographer Mick Wells with model Kacie Belle

Mick Wells is a hobbyist photographer based in Bath, United Kingdom, with over 34 years of experience.  

After sharing his shoot with the PurplePort community (featuring model Kacie Belle), Mick Wells generously gave us his time for a quick interview, where he provided details behind the creation of these images, including the inspirations for the shoot, how it was planned, the camera gear used, and more.

Plus, check out more fabulous images from the photoshoot below!

City Lights by photographer Mick Wells with model Kacie Belle

Image by photographer Mick Wells with model Kacie Belle

SHARE A SHOOT with photographer Mick Wells

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

The initial inspiration came from Kacie’s casting on PurplePort and some of the images on her portfolio. She had posted the casting because she wanted to get as much work in the southwest as possible before moving to Brighton in March.

She also mentioned that she had previously modelled for British Retro. I took a look at some of the outfits on their site and the vintage-themed work Kacie had on here and suggested a few styles I thought would work well and be visibly distinct from each other.

Kacie confirmed she had suitable outfits in her wardrobe, so we were good to go.

Image by photographer Mick Wells with model Kacie Belle

Yesteryear by photographer Mick Wells with model Kacie Belle

What did you do to plan the shoot?

It was all very quick. I applied to Kacie’s casting on the Friday, and she replied on the Saturday afternoon.

I had the shoot outline drafted and over to her Saturday evening and she confirmed the booking for the coming Tuesday about an hour or so later.

Image by photographer Mick Wells with model Kacie Belle

Her comms couldn’t have been better. I built a concise shoot outline template a few years ago, which I use as the basis for almost all my shoots, and it doesn’t take very long to update it with the specifics for each: times and dates, meeting place, theme and moodboard, levels, fees/images, wardrobe and makeup, etc.

I take the approach that the better you set requirements and expectations up front, the less likely there will be mistakes and unwanted surprises later.

Leaves by photographer Mick Wells with model Kacie Belle

Models seem to appreciate the effort, and it gives them comfort that they are going to be working with someone who is serious about creating good photos and has thought about what they need in advance.

It’s also great to have everything in a single document rather than rely on messages and emails.

Lightning Bolt by photographer Mick Wells with model Kacie Belle

How did you arrange the shoot?

We were shooting in public places and only Suitable for Work (SFW) images. We agreed to meet in a cafe we both knew, and the first images we did were in the window of that cafe.

Home Made by photographer Mick Wells with model Kacie Belle

As we hadn’t worked together before, it also gave us an opportunity to discuss the shoot, the outfits Kacie had brought, the locations we would use for each outfit, and to get to know each other a little.

It was a cold, sunny day in January (I’d been looking at the weather forecast repeatedly from day one), so it was also important to plan where Kacie could do her changes comfortably and, critically, where we could warm up!

Around this time of year I also always make sure there are some covered locations in the plan in case it does start raining.

In a Window by photographer Mick Wells with model Kacie Belle

What was it like shooting at that location?

We shot at several locations: the cafe, a covered market, a couple of public gardens with interesting architecture, and a wide street lined with Georgian houses. 

I knew all the locations and had shot in most of them before, so the challenge for me was to create images that weren’t too similar to what I’d done previously. Thanks in no small part to Kacie’s distinctive look and modelling ability, I think we achieved that. 

Image by photographer Mick Wells with model Kacie Belle

We were mostly shooting outside and relying on natural/ambient light so watching what the sun was doing and where there were interesting areas of light and shadow was very important and helped shape the images we made.

Favourite Folly by photographer Mick Wells with model Kacie Belle

Tell us about the gear you used.

We were walking between locations, so we needed to travel light. I’d decided in advance to rely on the winter sun rather than do what I often do, which is take some portable Godox lighting and hardly use it.

I’m a Sony mirrorless user, having come to it directly from Minolta film cameras without going via Canon, Nikon or Fuji DSLRs.

I use an A7RIII and brought two lenses for this shoot: my favourite - the Zeiss 55mm f1.8 Sonnar T* and a Samyang 85mm f1.4 I won in a portrait photography competition a little while back.

Image by photographer Mick Wells with model Kacie Belle

What's your favourite image from the shoot?

I think having a favourite image is like having a favourite child, so it’s not something I’ve really thought about. Everyone sees something different in a photo and I’m sure Kacie has a preference for different ones to me.

If pushed, I’d say it was Paradiso (see below) because of the shadows and Kacie’s fabulous pose and expression that give it, I think, a real cinematic feel.

Paradiso by photographer Mick Wells with model Kacie Belle

But maybe Chasing the Sun (see below). It was the very last frame we took and Kacie is doing a fantastic job of hiding how cold she was at this point, and who doesn’t like backlit hair caught in the breeze?

Chasing the Sun by photographer Mick Wells with model Kacie Belle

Thank you, Mick Wells, for sharing your creativity, experience and images with us. We loved learning all about your photoshoot with model Kacie Belle!

We hope you all loved it, too. Don't forget to check out the links below to see more of Mick Wells' work!

Here's where you can find more of Mick Wells' work

PurplePort: Mick Wells 

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