Header photo: Golden Goddess by photographer Raj K with model Jade Lyon taken at studio TankSpace

We love shining the limelight on fabulous creatives in the PurplePort community, sharing their unique journeys and creative processes.

In this episode of FEATURED, we interviewed Jade Lyon, a full-time PurplePort model with more than 16 years of experience based in Northampton, United Kingdom. 

Lady of the Lake by photographer Nick G with model Jade Lyon

Teal and Red by photographer LRM Photography with model Jade Lyon

About PurplePort model Jade Lyon

Jade has been modelling for 16 years - mostly in fashion, portrait, lifestyle, stock imagery, wedding and underwater - and is often featured in YouTube videos and at camera store demo days and events. 

Over the years, she has been with several commercial agencies and has been lucky enough to model overseas, including Venice, Fuerteventura, Morrocco and India. 

The Aviator by photographer GavinPhoto with model Jade Lyon

Jade started modelling part-time alongside other work, but for the past eight years she has fully focused on working full-time as a model (whilst juggling many different other creative jobs!).

Since joining PurplePort, Jade has acquired an impressive collection of well over 400 positive references on PurplePort, and her outstanding work has been featured more than 100 times in the Front Page Image (FPI) Collection.

Image by photographer Steve Spurgin with model Jade Lyon taken at Fareham Studio

FEATURED Interview with PurplePort model Jade Lyon

How did you get into modelling?

While still in school, I studied photography for A-levels, so my friends and I would photograph each other. My friend would put her work on one of the model/photography portfolio sites, and she started getting photographers asking who the model was in her photos - me!

So I thought I'd give it a go, create my model profile, and my friend would come along to shoots as my make-up artist, which I think was a fantastic way to start out as it felt like an extra bit of safety.

My friend also helped massively with my posing as she would give honest advice on what looked good and what didn't. Her fave line was "gentle hands, not claw hands"! 

What did you do before becoming a model?

It's hard to say what I did before modelling as I've modelled for most of my life!

However, I had a time when I worked for a nature reserve both in this country and in South Africa.

On my second trip to South Africa, I was there for four months, which has probably been my longest gap from modelling. It was after coming back from South Africa that I decided to work for myself full-time and focus on modelling.

Now I juggle modelling, photography, work alongside my friend and fellow model Ella Rose Muse for her skincare brand, Leafology and the occasional film extra work (being in Bohemia Rhapsody and Rocketman gave me a love for 70s styling!)

Call me Joni by photographer jhphotography with model Jade Lyon

Do you have a health or fitness regime?

I tried running once upon a time and didn't enjoy it! So certainly, no strenuous fitness regime. However, I go to yoga sessions once or twice a week.

I spend a lot of time in Devon and Cornwall, where I love walking and swimming.

I eat well as I'm veggie and like freshly prepared food instead of ready meals. Don't get me wrong, though, I also love cake! My fave dessert at the moment is whiskey liquor (from the Scottish Old Pulteney Distillery) poured over a chocolate pot. Yum! 

Roman Baths by photographer GavinPhoto with model Jade Lyon

How do you prepare for photoshoots?

I have a Pinterest board showing outfits that I have so photographers can choose specific looks if they want to. Otherwise, I'll go with any theme, colours or mood they've suggested and bring a selection of outfits along.

If I do my own make-up, I often go for a natural look, but I love a bold red lip!

What style of photoshoot do you enjoy working on the most?

My fave photoshoots are outdoor ones, especially in flower fields in the summer or near water, in water such as a lake or the sea and of course underwater photoshoots!

But I also love to do something a bit different, such as when Gothic Image asked me if I wanted to do a post-apocalyptic look! It's not my usual style (despite being into rock and metal music, I dress like a hippy), but… challenge accepted!

I loved it so much that I still occasionally do apocalyptic looks.

Catching a Ride to the Apocalypse by photographer Gothic Image with model Jade Lyon

Also, I visit Scotland once a year every winter and have done tribal women of the forest type looks. 

The latest image from last month is below by Jay Jay Oz Photography(Jono)_. 

Frosty Heather by photographer Jay Jay Oz Photography(Jono)_ with model Jade Lyon

What's the most interesting photoshoot you've ever worked on?

I have too many answers for this question as I've been modelling for so long - there are so many!

Underwater photoshoots are some of my fave photoshoots as they're so magical and unique. I've modelled in swimming pools and tanks (TankSpace, of course), and for the first time last year, I was in the River Dart, which was very cold!

I want to try out more underwater river sessions this year, as it was certainly an experience. Holding your breath in cold water is very different and challenging compared to warm water!

Another fave experience was probably with ilus photography in Fuerteventura, who asked if anyone was up for a sunrise photo on the (non-active!) volcano…. Yes!

We got up at 5 am. I think I had to borrow Charlieemodel's trainers as I only had sandals, and we hiked up the volcano (I may have taken a wrong turn or two), but wow, what an image we got in the end!

The photographers were all really helpful as the ground was very harsh rocks so I had to take my shoes off and they took my shoes for me so I didn't have to move and helped me with all the long swishy fabric so I didn't get tangled as it was also very windy!

We didn't have to spend too much time shooting; we just needed that perfect light, and that was the shot! 

Sunrise in Fuerteventura by photographer ilus photography with model Jade Lyon

Another fave shoot was in India. I was visiting with my partner Raj K (also a photographer), and we met up with Gaurav Khapekar Photography, who had been working in the UK for many years, so we had many photoshoots together in the UK. It was fantastic to meet up in India! We all spent the day together.

We started at the Red Fort in Dehli, then had some delicious Cashew Parathas in Paranthe Wali Gali (a tiny old street packed with Parantha stalls and lots and lots of people!). We then managed to find perhaps the quietest place in Delhi, which was really lucky and took another one of my fave images of all time. 

Delhi Golden Hour by photographer Gaurav Khapekar Photography with model Jade Lyon

What do you most enjoy about being a model?

It's a fabulous creative outlet. It's wonderful to spend time prancing around in nature and great meeting other creatives. It's really rewarding when you both have a certain vision in mind, and the results look epic. It's just the sort of thing you were both going for!

On the other hand, sometimes you go off-topic and experiment and come out with some equally awesome results! 

I enjoy the flexible lifestyle as I really enjoy travelling. It's a fantastic way to see the country and sometimes even other countries (I'm just a bohemian hippy!).

Need to dive in the water! by photographer Raj K with model Jade Lyon

What would you describe as your main strengths as a model?

My main strength is my styling, as I've accumulated such a variety of outfits. I can do 50s and 70s looks, ballgowns, feather shawls, amazing shell crown headpieces from Rouge Pony (particularly good for underwater looks!), and I even have a wedding dress in my collection!

Photoshoots are sometimes like becoming a character, and I think I can portray expressions and moods quite well.

Underwater modelling is a big, very niche strength, which I have a lot of experience in now, as my first underwater shoot was in a swimming pool about six years ago.

Oh, I'd also say reliability! It's pretty basic but essential! 

Offered Light- Remote Shoot by photographer Adrian Court with model Jade Lyon

What's your absolute favourite photo?

I can't pick one absolute favourite photo! That's like asking what your favourite band is! Impossible! 

My most recent favourite is by a female duo, The Liberty Ladies, who are all about portraying the subject just how you want to be portrayed and body positivity. Fantastic women!

Shooting in a glasshouse is also up there as one of my fave locations.

Also, I love being in lingerie in an environment. I think having some context to it, even if it's a beautiful rustic studio with wooden floors and a sofa, creates a scene. I'd love to do more lingerie on location or bikinis in the sea!

The Glasshouse by photographers The Liberty Ladies (not on PurplePort) with model Jade Lyon

My current fave underwater one is the one in the golden dress by Raj K.

I just feel like I look like I'm dancing through the water! I love it! 

Golden Goddess by photographer Raj K with model Jade Lyon taken at studio TankSpace

A bridal one by NK Photography. I think she captured the smiley me really well.

Although I usually much prefer my hair down, the image feels very me yet glamorous at the same time!

Stars and Sparkles by photographer NK Photography (not on PurplePort) with model Jade Lyon

My fave studio photo is by ElenaBrownPortraits.co.uk in all the drapey fabric.

Lost in Fabric by photographer ElenaBrownPortraits.co.uk with model Jade Lyon

For something different… A retro one at Neon Dreams with Abstract Reality, as I LOVE a retro look. Also, I'm pretending to live out my teenage dream of being a rockstar, haha!

I've been watching Daisy Jones and The Six, and I'd love to do a shoot based on that! 

"Hey girl stop what you're doin'! Hey girl you'll drive me to ruin!" by photographer Abstract Reality with model Jade Lyon taken at Neon Dreams Studio

Oh, I can't forget The Bohemian Garden by Toulouki Orsini! What a dreamy day, and what phenomenal results!

It was fab getting together with a bunch of models for the day. As models, we love to work with other models as sometimes you can go for years without crossing paths with some models. 

The Bohemians by photographer Toulouki Orsini with models Jade Lyon, Chiara Elisabetta, Natural Happy Woman, Nicole Rayner, Roisin Marie, and Soria

One from the archives is probably the balloon dress on Brighton Pier (before someone asks, yes, we got permission!).

This was by a uni friend, and a couple of years later, I moved to Brighton (which I miss as it's so open and friendly, and anything can happen in your day in Brighton, haha!). 

Impractical Fashion by photographer Amie Mcallister Photography (not on PurplePort) with model Jade Lyon

I should probably stop there! 

Is there anyone in particular who inspires you?

I looooove Bella Kotak's beautiful fantasy work, usually with lots of flowers involved. 

I'm inspired by fellow models who I've been lucky to meet, model with, be photographed by and have been around for quite some time like me (that's not supposed to be an insult by the way, haha!). Many of them are also modelographers, such as Ivory Flame, Sinopa Rin, Natasha ПΣӨП, Chiara Elisabetta, and Ella Rose Muse.

Inspirational underwater movers are definitely Halo Haynes (the TankSpace manager). We were both modelling at TankSpace recently, and I got to see her do her thing!

Also, Missmermaidkkiss (Danica) freediver and mermaid (see us together below).

Dreamy Duo with models Jade Lyon and Missmermaidkkiss (not on PurplePort)

Fellow friends and photographers such as Bee Wilde studio as we have such a similar aesthetic taste, which is basically dreamy boho looks, especially in flower fields.

What advice would you give to a model just starting out?

I'm going to start with the most important thing: safety. I was really lucky when I started out modelling. As mentioned above, I took my friend with me, who was very skilled at make-up and was my make-up artist.

I highly recommend taking someone with you at the beginning. Safety has to be the number one priority, and dodgy photographers will try to book new models, especially young ones. I've been incredibly lucky in my 16 years of modelling and haven't ever had a dodgy experience, which is incredibly rare, unfortunately.

Of course, I've worked with people that I thought were weird/unusual and wouldn't work with again as I'm unsure of them and their reasons for doing photography, but I've always trusted my instinct and had plenty of safety precautions in place that have kept me safe.

I always let someone know where I am. If communication seems off or they haven't provided me with all the information (such as where we're meeting, where we're shooting, time, what the style is, etc.), then I won't go ahead.

Sometimes, this could be as innocent as the photographer not being great with organisation or communication, but for example, I'm never going to get into a photographer's car and not know where we're shooting. NOPE.

Watch out for fake agencies as well. This is becoming increasingly common, especially with social media. A lot of studios claim to be agencies but they're charging you for a photoshoot. Agencies will NOT do this.

Spring Bloom by photographer Jade Lyon Photography with model Jade Lyon

On a more positive note, make sure you find a style you enjoy! Don't feel the need to sway from it because you think other genres are more popular/better money earners. Stay true to yourself - always! You should enjoy it. Being a model is a fantastic opportunity to have.

Talk to other models to ask them for advice, their experiences or questions about a photographer who is asking to work with you if you feel like this would help. We're all in this together, and most people are all about the community and helping each other out rather than seeing each other as competition.

Find people to work with on a TF basis to build your portfolio. No matter how long you've been modelling, you will always need this. Just be selective. I have worked with photographers who have paid me to model for them, we've worked together on a TF basis, and I've paid them. What goes around comes around.

Waiting for her man by photographer Nick S with model Jade Lyon taken at studio Prodel Photographic

One final question. Pineapple on pizza, yes or no?

YES, pineapple! I also love Marmite (ok, not on pizza)! I love most food, to be fair!

We have a local wood-fired pizza van that visits all our local villages, and it's the best pizza I've ever had! If you want pineapple on your pizza, you have to pay an extra 50p as a fine. 

The Crown by photographer OriginalSin with model Jade Lyon

Thanks again for speaking with us and sharing your creative journey, Jade Lyon. 

We hope you all enjoyed this interview. Check out the links below for more of Jade Lyon's beautiful work!

Here's where you can find more of Jade Lyon's work

PurplePort: Jade Lyon

Instagram: jadelyon

Facebook: Jade Lyon Fashion Model

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