References for John at Dazzle (John Coles)

Becca Brown

I shot with John for the first - and hopefully not last! - time today. He was a pleasure to shoot with, really relaxed and professional throughout.

Thanks for a lovely afternoon John - I can't wait to see the finished edits!

Curiosity Photography Studio & Prop Hire

It was a pleasure to welcome John to our studio,he was such an easy person to speak to, very professional, new what he wanted and just got on with it.

We would love to welcome John back anytime.

Diego said...

This was my third time working with John, and over the last couple of occasions we've become good friends.

This was the second part of a trilogy of WWII inspired shoots and this time I was working alongside Jesamine who stepped in at the last minute after a very late cancellation.

We've both worked with John before and John has a great talent for making his models feel instantly relaxed.

With a detailed shot list to hand and Chris Rea on the CD player we cracked right on with it.

The effort John puts into the prep for his shoots is stunning, for this one he made his own imitation Lee Enfield rifle which was in about 2 shots!!!

I absolutely love working with John and am very much looking forward to the next time.

Awesome photographer, lovely guy and great host but most importantly a great friend

Highly highly recommended by me

Jesamine

So, John sent me a text on Friday night, asking me to step in for a late cancellation for the next day. I said yes straight away, as I'd worked with him twice before and really enjoyed doing so! He picked me up from my home and also brought me back, he fed and watered me and was as lovely as ever. The shoot flew by, getting the shots he'd planned, but as always, happy for our input as well. I had a wonderful day, and now he's moved closer to me, I look forward to shooting with him on a hopefully more frequent basis :D

Diego said...

This was my second time shooting with John (after issues arranging this shoot the first time round) and it was not a disappointment. Months of planning and effort had gone into this WW2 themed shoot from John's end, locations, costumes, story-line...the amount of effort is absolutely staggering! and it was totally worth it. Both Miss Natty (my co model) & I were able to easily take on the roles assigned to us for this shoot, Johns direction was relaxed and very good with a total willingness to explain every step and shot if required. we were both very comfortable shooting with John both in costume and out.

Since I'd shot with John solo before I kind of had an idea of what to expect, however his willingness to adapt to the suggestions from both of us and go with the flow while still pursuing the objectives of the shoot make him an absolute pleasure to work with.

He drove us all to the remote locations he'd found including a genuine spitfire, and worked tirelessly throughout the shoot, but never at any point putting any pressure on either of us as models and having a total consideration for both of our well-being (it was rather cold especially for Miss Natty).

Having seen the raw images, all of us were extremely pleased with what we'd achieved. This guy is just seriously awesome to work with, if you ever get an opportunity for gods sake take it you will not regret it. Highly highly recommended by me :)

Miss Natty

Well what can I say , i had a shoot with john yesterday and all I can say is wow ! John is a lovely guy and and extremely talented photographer , we had been discussing shoots for a couple of months when john approached me on an amazing idea he had I loved the idea and with great communication we arranged a date . I really enjoyed myself and loved working with john looking forward to seeing the final piece and can't wait to work with him again . I would highly recommend working with john :) x

The Danish girl

Well the day finally came for our shoot which had been planned for months, and don't you just know it. It snowed. Luckily not as bed as was forecast, so intrepid John made it through to our venue.

We had a great shoot, with lots of different ideas and changes of outfits, achieving some good images that I can't wait to see once edited.

John was very easy to work with and knew what he wanted and how to get it, even with his new camera.

I certainly recommend him to anyone, and hope to meet up with him again for another shoot, when we don't have to worry about the weather !

Diego said...

John is a good friend of a close mate of mine and when he approached me to shoot with him I very gladly accepted :) The original plan was to carry out a 3 part series of B/G shoots for which we planned extensively... John puts so much effort into the planning of his shoots it's mind-blowing! Communication is superb, open, detailed and frequent.

Unfortunately we were both messed around and let down by our "co-star" and as a result it looked like we'd have to abort and take it on the chin, however we agreed to make use of the location John had booked and see what we could come up with on the spot :)

We decided to do some art nude / male boudoir type shots. We worked together very well as Johns style of shooting puts the model very much at ease, and agreeing on poses and shots was very easy.

On the day John was also trying out his new Camera, and despite having a few technical difficulties getting used to it (which didn't take long to resolve at all) We were both very pleased with the shots we got :)

Thankfully we have now found a replacement "co-star" and I'm very much looking forward to working with John again on the original plan.

John is a lovely guy to work with, very professional, kind and considerate (and a wonderful guy to know)

Thank you John for a great shoot and getting the most out of our sorry situation :) I would HIGHLY recommend working with John! Do not miss the opportunity if you get it!

Nats a model

Working with John was an absolute pleasure! I cannot even begin to say say how brilliant and talented he is but I'll have a go any way! He had a specific vision in his head about what he wanted to create, was brilliant at giving direction and works with real passion and enthusiasm. He is a real joy to be around and makes you want to give the best you can as he is so marvellous and amazing at what he does. He is such a genuinely nice person that he not only picked me up and took me back to the train station, made me a really yummy lunch but he even let me make friends with his lovely puppy dog :-)

Once again I cannot sing his praises enough and I not only recommend him but look forward to working with him again in the future.

Rara Goes Roar said...

John is an absolutely lovely man and I thoroughly enjoyed shooting with him. He was lovely enough to give me a lift to and from the shoot as well as hell provided the perfect Santa suit for my sexy Santa themed shoot. He made me feel at ease and I would advise anyone to work with john :)

Dirty Rob

Well what can I say about John Cole. Well first he dodge what I expected a photographer at all, and that's not what I mean by his quirky appearance. John really is an absolute pleasure to work with, he nailed down the brief for our shoot down to a T, really picking out details and bring a narrative to the whole shoot.

But he doesn't use a rigid construct, or forces an expectation on models. He gives general freedom of creativity and allows for ideas to merge and form organically, and he really cares for models input on the day. His skills in theatrical lighting really does show in his work, what might not be obvious is his knowledge and studio of the human form, and his know how to put you in an exact pose he has in mind.

Overall if you get an invite to shoot with this man, don't over look it. He has fantastic passion for his craft and a wealth of knowledge where mean can learn something from. I will have to some how find a way to shoot with John again in this lifetime, maybe if I promise to get a reference back to him sooner he might consider it ;)

luscious lemons

i shot with John and another model- Rob on the 30/9 and totally enjoyed my time with them both.

John gave me a story and after much discussion before hand the shoot when down as planned. We managed to achieve the images with ease. the location was perfect (few weather issues) didnt stop us and i felt comfortable and confident in his company at all time. John gives great direction and knows the set up needed to get what he wants. had alot of fun start to finished. loved his crazy dog. highly recommended. thanks John.

Andy Filth

Working with John is always an amazing experience and you know that you will always get amazing quality, and creative images. John collected me from the backwaters of Swansea with no qualms as we made the arduous trek to the other end of Wales, and even provided lunch. Johns pre shoot preps and correspondence is second-to-none and I always know exactly what I am going to be doing, what outfits I need and even a story board.

John is a very down to earth, happy person which makes it very easy to work with him and understand the concepts that are planned.

I would also like to say that his wife is also very lovely, and I look forward to meeting/working with them both again in the future.

Cloudy

I have agonized over this ref wanting to get it just right, composing it and then re composing it for days now, but I could never quite capture the true essence of how startlingly awe inspiring working with John was, so I am reduced to just writing what comes into my head as I stare at this blank box and reminisce about what a day we had and hope the emotion shows!

John is an astoundingly intelligent and passionate man who seeks understanding in everything he puts his heart into, which in turn seems to be everything! It was pure serendipity that we gravitated into each others spheres of artistic existence (with the help of some lovely references from those we trust) and the creative sparks flew from the get go. John is great with pre shoot communications, taking them to a level I have never encountered before, I was allowed to get to know John as a person and understand what drives him in regards to his work and where the well spring of his artistic nature is hidden. We exchanged "letters" over an extended period of time, discussed themes so thoroughly it became a wonderfully personal experience, John constructed not just a theme for this work but a storyline complete with storyboard so intent is he on starring his vision and making it easy for his models to really embody what it is we are all trying to accomplish.

After such excitement and anticipation was generated through countless emails the day finally arrived and just so happened to be the summer solstice! John not only drove all the way up to my middle of nowhere farm in the dark regions of Mid Wales but he even brought me and Andy Filthy from Swansea and his wonderful wife to complete the set! They arrived on time and full of smiles and where more than rearing to go! Due to the exemplary pre coms I didn't need tobe made tofeelrelaxed by John as I felt very much like I was meeting up with a friend I had simply lost touch with for a while. John had quite a bit of pre shoot set up to do including wiring electricity down to an old barn on the other side of the farm. But he did this with astonishing efficiency with the cool calm air of a pro... even when I nagged him for something to do to help like a parent deflecting an obnoxious child he put me to work where I wouldn't interfere with the process! Once John had worked his magic with lighting our set and adding his personal flare, which included the worlds dinkiest but very effective smoke machine, we got down to work.

John's way of working is very new to me, he has a plan! He knows what he wants, how to get it and how to get you where he needs you. He is happy to jump into the pose he wants if needs be and gives such good direction that includes the emotions he wants from you to! It is a really treat when a photographer has a good understanding of what they're models need in the way of help to create beautiful images. And John does, he gets it on a level I have only encountered once before, with another photographer who is also a model. We worked away at a pace that suited us all, with mounting excitement as we played out a story we had all put a bit of our souls into. Stopping to devour a lunch John had bought for us to enjoy... even though really I should have been a better hostess and provided said sustenance... and we all sat round the table in the summer sun with Johns wife Anna and chatted away like old friends about everything from dogs to the Cornish language! the second part of our day followed on in very much the same manner with laughing and stimulating conversation as well as some mighty fine photography!

Which bring me to my final statement. Johns abilities with a camera are flawless, he has mastered is art in a way which others can only dream of and his portfolio screams it's affirmation of my words. He is technically brilliant and has that all important dazzel that makes every image sing.

I can not recommend John enough, I can not articulate praise high enough to do him justice, even if I allowed myself to prattle on all day about him you still would be unable to perceive the true extent of how blindingly awesome John is as a person to work with and what a joy he is to count as a friend. Thank you so much John from way down, much deeper than, the bottom of my heart.

Highly recommended is the most laughable understatement but I have no other words so it will have to do.

Jesamine

I got to work with John for a second time, after he responsed to my casting call. We set a date very quickly, but we didn't plan too much. In fact, we pretty much winged it to be honest, which I'm not usually keen on doing. But I just knew we'd get good results anyway... and we did! We got a good amount of great images, which we were both very pleased with.

I love how he works quite fast, so there's no boring waiting around twiddling thumbs. We get on great, on the same wavelength I think and this was very much a joint effort. We had a laugh, but as I say, got some awesome images too. I'm sure we will work together again and again!

Akasha

Yet another brilliant shoot with this awesome photographer and wonderful man. John is such a joy to work with. Ideas just flow and because of our great understanding almost come simultaneously.

As me, John is a great perfectionist who see’s photography as an art and shooting a time that include lots of fun and laughter’s. He will give you just that right instruction to move that little bit to get the best shoot.

John is a great inspiration and his kind and easy going nature make working with him so special. Time with him goes so quick. It felt like we had just started when our time in the studio he booked had run out. Not only did John create beautiful images he also looked very well after me and brought some lunch :).

I absolutely love working with John as he is not only a brilliant photographer but has also became a very dear friend. I can’t wait for our next shoot as I never get bored with shooting with him. John is just such an amazing person to work with. So if you’re a model you should try and get a shoot with him as he is simply one of the best. 1000 % recommended :)

Kalygulina

Even though it was a horrible day and a last minute shoot I managed to work with John on a quick location shoot. His pre coms were excellent and his personality is just brilliant. He came prepared with lots of ideas and several things to help keep a model warm.....I fell in love with the dressing gown he bought along! I cant wait to organise another shoot with him for when the weather is warmer though. I will highly recommend him to anyone!

Jesamine

Working with John was an absolute pleasure. It was only my second shoot after a 3 month break, but I felt completely at ease from the start. His communication was spot on and he is quite possibly the most organised person I've ever come across! He travelled a long way to shoot with me and a co-model and brought an array of clothing and props with him. He knew exactly what he wanted, but was also happy for our input. I enjoyed the shoot thoroughly, am pleased with the images I've had back and would love to work with John in the future.

Andy Filth

Working with John was a fantastic experience,his communication and professionalism were both infallible and his personality/creativity were second to none. John really thought out the whole process of the photoshoot, from the poses he wanted to the outfits with great ease, creativity and artistic merit.

As a person John makes you feel at ease, has a cracking sense of humour and is incredibly learned as a photographer which really makes you relax and know that your going to get the best shots (even if some things don't go to plan)

I would not hesitate to work with this photographer again, and treats his models with impeccable respect. I look forward to further collaborations.

Aurelie Anais

Yet another amazing shoot with John, this time alongside another model Alisa Rae. It was another shoot for John's upcoming book and as always pre-shoot communications were fantastic. John really went the extra mile to act as a go between and find a suitable date for us all to shoot on. This time it was an erotic G/G series and we were going to be shooting in John's well-equipped studio in Exeter. John arrived on time, collected me and my bits and pieces and we were on the road again! After what seemed like a short drive (compared to Google's silly estimate!) we were arriving at Sainsbury's to pick up Alisa Rae. Once she was there we had a quick chat and then we were off again. Conversation flowed easily and I was so pleased to be working with Alisa as she was someone I'd admired for a while. Once we arrived at the studio it was a quick chance to unpack and get ready and we were good to go! We dealt with the paperwork before shooting, as always, and then John showed us a series of images that were along the same lines as what we were looking for so we had some inspiration and something to work with.

John was really good at reviewing the images after every variant of each scene had been shot so we could review and pick our favourites or tweak whatever we weren't 100% happy with. The decision process was as rigorous as usual as this series will also be printed in John's book and it was great to work with someone who discussed with you the placement of each shot so we could have our own input before setting them up.

John is a true gentleman, always polite and respectful and went the extra mile to ensure that Alisa and I were comfortable and happy, he even provided us with a lovely lunch! I will be working with John yet again very soon on a separate project and am really looking forward to it.

Highly recommended by me (again!) :)

♥