References for Fantasy Dabblers

ChristianRed

Still smiling from yesterday.

Yesterday was the second occasion meeting Andrew and Mikki. This time they'd asked me to rig Uk Cute Girl and Caroline Pierce for a series of bondage images.

Andrew and Mikki are wonderful. They get the best out of the people they shoot with because they're so relaxed, considerate and fun to spend time with.

We did four sets and the time seemed to fly by, Andrew and Mikki have a lot of fun ideas and they were equally happy listening to myself and the models.

Their communication with both myself, Lucy and Caroline was first rate. They were very considerate towards the demands that being restrained could have on the models and built breaks in between shots without being asked.

Hopefully, I'll get to shoot with them again soon as they're such fun to work with and wonderful company.

Thank you :)

UkCuteGirl Lucy

Ahh I love working with Andrew and Mikki! Their shoots are crazy and super fun but they always have the models welfare at the top of their priorities.

They are incredibly friendly, genuine and creative people. You can really tell they absolutely love their shoots and it shows in the results.

I shot with Caroline Pierce this time and we were treated to both a delicious lunch and an amazing rigger to tie us into some brilliant knots.

Always so much fun I cannot wait to work with them again and I would highly recommend working with them if u get the chance. Thank you!

Samantha Alexandra

I had a WONDERFUL time working with Andrew & Mikki! They are both very professional and welcoming. We took some amazing pictures and also had some very interesting conversations :)

I hope I get the chance to work with them both again soon, I had such a fantastic time!

SimoneH

My second shoot with Mikki and Andrew this time being at Map Studios in Loughborough.

I love working with these guys, always full of ideas and looking to try something different. Both very easy to get along with and very creative with their work.

Highly recommended again by me

Thanks again guys

Jezebelle

I got to shoot with Mikki & Andrew for the last time this week and what a shoot it was!

They have such a cool home set up, with ever so many amazing props - the way that this shooting pair works is fun, creative and full of interesting finishing touches....so the images are always unique and really do capture how wonderful shooting with them really is!

I can't thank Andrew & Mikki enough for the shoots I've had with them over the years, they are a breath of fresh air and I absolutely love their passion for photography ♥

Therefore I cannot recommend this excellent team enough to all, what a fabulous twosome :)

Nicky Phillips

Recently had a shoot with Mikki and Andrew, what a lovely shoot it was. I have wanted to work with them for sometime.

I would recommend both of them, they're lovely. The shoot flew by and was lots of fun. Loved all the props.

Thank you x

BexWhite

I was lucky enough to recently be part of a wonderful trip to Vietnam, organised by Natalia Forrest, and Mikki was one of the photographers. I had never had the pleasure of working with the Fantasy Dabblers duo prior to this, and was sad not to be able to meet Andrew, but I have to say I was thrilled to bits to meet Mikki. I had an amazing time throughout the trip, and really enjoyed the time I spent working with Mikki. She took some absolutely beautiful images, in spite of feeling really unwell during our one to one shoot. This didn't stop her, and I am so pleased, as I loved working with her, and I love her style. I only wish that we had more time shooting together, and I really hope to get the opportunity to work together again in the future xx

Bex was one of the models on a trip to Vietnam organised by Natalia Forrest. We had not shot with her before so M was delighted to get the chance. Events conspired to try and make the shoot difficult but Bex was amazing and supportive and we ended up with some lovely shots. She is a super person and we hope to shoot with her again.

Keira Lavelle

I've worked with the Fantasy Dabblers on several occasions now (individually and as a pair) and it’s always wonderful to see their individual creative interests come to light on all these different shoots/opportunity-rich environments. This time, it was solely with Mikki - I was buzzing when she said she’d be joining on the recent photography event in Vietnam that I attended as a hired model (event organised and run by the amazing Natalia Forrest) because I respect how mad a schedule these guys have - and all the behind-the-scenes planning Mikki does to coordinate all their adventures (know EXACTLY how this mounts up with similar admin/your planning myself!) so it was magic for her to be able to join since the travel itself to get their was quite a tiring (though 100% worth it) leg just by itself! We also got the chance to visit Hong Kong for a couple of days before the photography trip itself where we had a lovely time exploring - I also popped my Disneyland cherry!!! :D Mega fun!

We then arrived in Vietnam (and at the villa) first where all the provisions were ready for us to settle in and have a snooze as we got the travelling out of our system and adjusted to the humidity. Great minds think alike! ;) We then kicked of shooting “fresh as daises” as they say, and the creative week that followed was utterly fabulous in productivity, laughs and generally enjoying a cracking time away. We became, pretty much, residents of the nearby city Hoi An where bountiful memories were created in pictures, food and also exploration in the downtime where we all we ladies were utterly disastrous at resisting the temptation to buy so many lovely things in the vibrant marketplace of the city! :,) Pretty sure that we made our mark on Vietnam anyway - and the running giggle continued from our previous trips together where pretty much everyone decided we were mother and daughter... Though I can’t let Mikki forget the one who called us sisters! ;) Lots o’ fun! And somewhere COMPLETELY different for us ticked-off on the globe!

Image wise, we had just endless yield! The villa provided fabulous scope for us both during daytime and after dark... And Mikki gets utterly stuck-into the best shot angles taking that extra step to better the shots (hopping in the pool/laying literally as low-down as is possible to achieve that “POW” with the photos). She’s down for all manner of craziness (as usual!) which always puts an epic twist of creativity into her photography. Also; she persists with such dedication in situations that might be a tad more testing for the photographer: dim lighting or pure lantern light at night for example! Keeping up with (3 of us this time too!) crazy models darting one way, and then another... Dodging mopeds speeding around in the masses - honestly, you’ve got to see it to believe it! And whilst all this is happening, Mikki’s working tirelessly with the settings and framing to seize the moment. Just so much credit, location photography doesn’t get much more hectic and challenging than this! But then when you get results that just leave you leaping with excitement, everything else can wait a moment because that ‘high five’ just has to be done. :D Love Love Love the images we produced, working solo and also trio with the other gorgeous ladies! ♥

As I’ve probably said (goodness knows) how many times? Flawless professional attitude, a really sweet person, crazy-fun-loving, awesome company and totally involved in the group socially: Mikki is a pleasure to work with individually, and as the fabulous couple we know as the Fantasy Dabblers. :D Do I recommend? Daym right! I’ve got some very exciting adventures lined up for the future too with both Mikki and Andrew (and I’m certain we’ll squeeze other little bits in between too at some point) so watch this space y’all! ;)

Until the next time!!!

Thank you for a fantabulous week (and a bit) Mikki!!! :)

Keira

Rachelle Summers

I had 3 shoots with fantasy dabblers in March and each one was utterly fab! And not only that but totally different too, they have a unique gift of making every shoot different. You’ll never be bored working with them, they have a tonne of fun props to work with and our also open to the models ideas and really collaborating together too which is lovely :D

They are a wonderful couple and look after their models incredibly well :) I’ve worked with them both together and separately for years now and look forward to every shoot! I’m sooo excited to have them on my Belles of Bedford event and both my Summers Abroad trips this year to create even more wonderful images and memories together :)

Highly recommended!!

Scarlett Fox

Whoop had yet another super fun shoot with Fantasy Dabblers at their fantastic studio space from home. :D

Had a wonderfully warm welcome to start the day over coffees and a catch up, before starting the day off working with Mikki and Andrew Appleton over some lighting tuition, where we worked on several sets of portraits, fashion, and some fashion nude, it’s just so easy working with Mikki as she works so quickly and is like a sponge for information so doing a tuition on lighting was a breeze and we got through so many set ups.

Half way through the day we stopped to have a beautiful lunch already prepared and ready to go, which is just so rare nowadays but you just don’t expect anything less than perfect hospitality when you’re with Mikki and Andrew. :D

Finishing up on the second half of the day I got to work with Andrew on a one to one basis, can’t believe how many fun sets I got to work on with Andrew and he also had a table full of props prepared for me to pick and choose from throughout the afternoon, including some vintage, art nude, ball gowns, lingerie, portraits, I particularly loved shooting the more themed sets including a captured princess and kitty cat chasing Scabbers the rat :D Andrew is a star letting me just freestyle with posing and throwing ideas out there!

All in all a bloody great day with a whole lot of laughs, fun, and great shots which just gives me more ideas for the next time I see them :) still extremely and highly recommended and looking forward to seeing you both again!

Scarlett x

Keira Lavelle

After all the adventurous globe-trotting we do to various places around the globe - it’s still so lovely to pop down to Fantasy Dabblers HQ and enjoy a cracking day of the same crazy and fun... And routinely genius ideas that occurs on every single one of our wonderful encounters! :D

This time; it was myself, the beautiful Rachelle Summers and Andrew of this fabulous twosome who spun off a whole collection of inspired duo ideas in the studio and around the house! Oh the creative chaos was splendid - pyjama parties/pillow fights, models bending into shapes/bundles, the most snazzy jewelled cuffs that look like they are straight out of Aladdin’s cave of wonders... It was brilliant, in so many ways! Teamwork took it’s usual mould with one ‘light bulb’ moment turning to another; and of course the usual AMAZEBALLS choice of cool props to really leave our minds torn with excitement as to where to begin! We took a few shots, had a mooch at the fabulous piccies... Took a few more ifvthe ideas developed and then nailed the next set! Prolific was most certainly defining our work all together, but then that’s standard routine! What’s so lovely specially about working with the Fantasy Dabblers is the great range of shoot styles that will get covered in a session; as a model you can really get into a repertoire of mood and creativity this way because you’ll chat, as a valued group/contributors to the shoot process and discuss together the look/feel you’re aiming for and then get chance to really get into that moment and portray the suitable expressions/shapes. Duo work is undoubtedly challenging (a little more so than solo) with any style, but it literally was effortlessly working between us all and generating some genuinely beautiful results in the back of the camera.

We enjoyed endless chatter/bellows of laughter at an incredibly relaxed pace... At lunch time this was no different as we all sat down for a cuppa and tasty nibbles. Andrew prepared a delicious hot lunch for us. BUT WATCH OUT FOR THE ENCHANTED RASPBERRY JAFFA CAKES!!! These deliciously more-ish mysterious foodstuffs cause models to lose their minds and mindlessly demolish a whole packet! :P As any model and/or photographers reading this can tell: visiting models are met with the best levels of wonderful hospitality from arrival to when they depart. Professionalism and kind/generous touches are of the highest level and there is also safe and comfortable guest rooms available at their lovely home for travelling models to stay the night which we gladly accepted. These are amazing people that I obviously think the world of... But don’t take it from me; read Rachelle’s, and indeed many other models comments on their shoots with the famous Fantasy Dabblers. :)

I will most certainly be back - I don’t get down to Newark enough in fact! But that said: we also have several exciting adventures to look forward to in the future that will creep up in no time at all!

Thank you so much Andrew! Say hi to B.B. for me... I hope he’s not too traumatised from the pillow fight shoot! X-D

Keira

Scarlot Rose

I'm not sure what I can say about the Fantasy Dabblers that hasn't been said already, but they are both fabulous!

I have a "shooting shibari" workshop set up next month to which the Fantasy Dabblers couldn't attend but wanted to so between us (and the rigger, Christian_Red) we managed to come up with a day tailor made to suit their requirements. I can't thank them enough for putting the effort into arranging this and being patient with me whilst organising. Their communications are always spot on!

The shoot its self was great, a mixture of photography and rope tuition. We had loads to discuss and a lot of practical time teaching/practicing rope ties. Most ties were demonstrated on my by Christian and then practiced by the Fantasy Dabblers on me. It can often be hard to do bondage style shoots because there is a level of interaction required and personal space can be a tricky boundary to navigate, however I felt entirely comfortable throughout, they were both very respectful and I was especially impressed at how quickly they picked things up, in particular a chest harness learnt and practiced by A that was immediately neat and comfortable enough to photograph and stay in!

As well as a very hands on approach myself and christian also did a suspension sequence at the end which the Fantasy Dabblers photographed. This can again be tough trying to get into a certain headspace and pain processing whilst posing for a camera but both made me feel totally at ease and ensured I was well looked after, fed and watered and a very happy model!

I love working the Fantasy Dabblers and am excited to be doing so again later in the year!

Happy to recommend them to others,

Thank you!!

Scarlot :)

ChristianRed

Andrew and Mikki couldn't attend the recent 'Shooting Shibari' workshop Scarlot and I ran, so they requested that we run a separate session on a more convenient date.

The day consisted of learning a few floor ties followed by a couple of portfolio building segments of Scarlot and I tying together.

Despite Mikki being under the weather, they threw themselves into both elements - by the end of the practical class they'd understood the ties well and were reproducing them smoothly. Throughout the practical element they were incredibly respectful of myself and Scarlot. They engaged with the subject matter, asked thoughtful questions and collaborated well with Scarlot and myself.

Scarlett Fox

Eeek had such a brilliant shoot with Mikki and Andrew last week from their awesome home studio :)

Pre comms were on point, and they even listened to my crazy ideas for the day, I was very warmly welcomed in to their home with coffee and a beautiful light lunch to kick start the day.

They already had the lights and backdrop set up and ready to shoot before I arrived so besides a little minor tweaking we were ready to go! :D

Throughout the day we shot a mixture of portraits, ballet, some kinky boots, cat ears, mermaid like dresses, dragon warrior princess, and throw in a little Star Wars, it was a blast!

One of the most fun shoots I had had all year, and truly can’t wait for the next one!

Both Mikki and Andrew are so laid back and easy to work with, had so many giggles throughout the day, and a good chat on Doctor Who half way through. I’m certainly going to up my game for our next shoot and go mental :)

Thank you so much for such a lovely day, so looking forward to the next time I see you both!

Scarlett x

Rachelle Summers

Yet another fantastic shoot with Mikki and Andrew! It's becoming a little tradition for us to do our yearly Christmas shoot :P

It is always an absolutely pleasure working with them and also getting to catch up with them too!

We had another wonderful day and they looked after me incredibly well - as I was unfortunately very poorly with a cold!

Already have my next shoot booked in with Andrew and will be seeing both of them on my Summers Abroad trips next year which I'm super excited for :D

Highly recommended!!

Bad Dolly

I've just come back from a week in Faro with this dynamic duo, and we had such a blast! I've worked with Mikki and Andrew many times before and they never fail to produce fun, high quality images often with a wacky twist which is right up my street!

We shot for 2 full days solo, then Penny Lee came out to make us a foursome and the fun just continued! In 6 shoot days we covered a huge range from cosplay, to street fashion, classic boudoir and even some swimwear when the weather was on our side.

Mikki and Andrew are fun, respectful and creative. They know when they have got what they want and don't overshoot sets. They give great direction if they have a look in mind but they also let us free pose and go with the flow which creates a great shooting atmosphere and results in us all getting the best out of ourselves.

I've already arranged another 2 days shooting with these guys, and if you get the chance to be part of their jam packed schedule I suggest you grab it :)

Thank you so much!! xx

Ivory Flame

Andrew and Mikki were booked on to Artemis Fauna & Iain T's luxury photo holidays this October, where I was thrilled to be modelling!

I had a truly wonderful time on this amazing trip, and it was a real joy to spend more time with this lovely pair, get to know them better and of course create tons of epic pictures :-)

We had loads of variation, incredible themes, locations and outfits to play with, and had so much fun getting creative around the villa too, as that in itself offered so many options which we took advantage of.

Sometimes shooting together and other times working separately on their own ideas, they were both full of enthusiasm and wonderfully collaborative. I was so pleased with what I saw on the back of their cameras (so much that I regularly had to steal them to take some sneak-peeks of) - amazing results!!! :-D

Thank you Andrew & Mikki for a brilliant time!!

Zara Liore

I had a fantastic time shooting with Mikki & Andrew this past weekend in Munich! They are both a magnificent team, and leave you a lot of freedom while still being able to make great shots. The shoot was very friendly and relaxed, and super fun! I would love to work with both of them again, and I'll likely be seeing them next year! :D

Keira Lavelle

Mikki and Andrew of the world famous (and loved!) Fantasy Dabblers; I have worked with this wonderful pair now goodness knows how many times in total - especially if you count the multi-day trips as individual shoots! Last year we worked it out that it had actually totalled to a whole months worth of shooting time together in 2018 alone! A week of which was made up from a thoroughly enjoyable slot on the latest Arts Voyage event whereby, on this occasion; we embarked to the gorgeous island of Crete with my fellow model host; the lovely Renaissance. Just how good was this week?? Are the words even available to describe the level of awesomeness? I’m not sure! :D But I’ll do my best to describe just how much of a blast we did have...

Before all else: full credit to this, clearly, super-power yielding couple who literally have as mad (if not crazier) a schedule as many of the busy travelling models in this industry! Around the time of our week in Crete, they had several other events to attend to at virtually every corner of the globe that one can imagine... Sometimes with barely 24 hours to switch over! There really aren’t many people that could do that and then still rock with style a full week on a shoot-packed week-long photography trip in Crete - and seriously, I don’t actually need to say much really. The images that both Mikki and Andrew create as individual photographers with their own visions and creative shoot interests pretty much speak enough.

They always aim to make their shooting experiences fun, always bring the best collection of props (I’m just straight in there with excitement these days seeing what new additions they have! :D), always treat their models with a great deal of respect and value a mutually like-minded and positive working atmosphere and open their horizons to try different creative ideas and styles. Some days on the trip, we all shot together as a group... Then when solo model opportunities arose, we would split up and produce totally different works within the environment from which we were working. The one-to-one nature of the trips really gives us fabulous independence to do our own thing; the ideas of which could be completely crackers sometimes but just work! :D We have the flexibility to pick our locations and ideas as we see fit on the day/if we’re feeling a particular idea/location... Mikki and Andrew are never pushing to work at full pressure pace though so our shoots with them on the trip brought a great deal of innovative and varied productivity, yet a relaxed work place focusing on quality of the work we produced together. From dreamy and atmospheric... Impromptu craziness... Sassy and stylised... Unicorn invasions... I could go on and on about how many different looks were captured! I really could! They’ll take on, with open arms, totally new concepts; whether opportunistic photographically with the conditions at a given time/place, or pre-planned. They are genuinely good photographers in their own individual rights and every time we work together it’s a new rush of enjoyable brilliance. :) No shoot we’ve had is ever the same and this is what always makes the next time an exciting new event to look forward to. I think when you’ve worked with a photographer so much you do begin automatically clicking into a prolific flow too; whether it’s Mikki framing to get a cool angle relative to the landscape/city scape that she nails effortlessly or the wonderfully encouraging feedback and subsequent emotion captured by Andrew in an expressive/story telling shot with or without a prop! In all honesty - they both crossover with their shooting styles but still have their own visions which just ignites superb bounce when a moment or look just works. I obviously speak from experience when they’re photographing me, but also through sitting back for a moment and seeing them rock it with Renaissance solo.

We enjoyed one memorable evening after another too with the meals out and lunch-time sit-downs. Mikki and Andrew are always super social and chat away to models and photographers alike! The topics of conversation over dinner would range from “techy” stuff to just everyone being light hearted and silly! Good vibes and good memories. :) Banter, giggles and a generally nice family-like atmosphere. You just couldn’t beat it! The daytime was no different; it certainly meant that our week flew by at what seemed like crazy speed!

It’s certainly safe to say that I’m buzzing for our next event together (not to mention the events to follow) and already envisaging the fabulous imagery that we’ll get the chance to create together with brand new location options.

Their communications are always spot on, their preparations as photographers just pristine, their professionalism and courtesy shown to the models that they work alongside, their determination to get the best out of each shooting situation overcoming the challenges bountifully to create art, their unquestionably enthusiastic approach... Truly passionate photographers who I will recommend again and again. :)

Thank you so much Mikki and Andrew!

Keira

Wendy Louise Howard

Another week with the Awesome Fantasy Dabblers. This time in Crete on mine and Keira's Arts Voyage Photographic Holiday.

I love working with Mikki and Andrew. They are just Beautiful people.

After working with them in Portugal earlier in the year, I came up with all kinds of whacky ideas for Crete that I knew they would be willing to give a try and able to pull off. They just magically went inside my brain and pulled the ideas out and put them in to the Camera and the results are just Stunning.

Im still finding it difficult to pick my faves a couple of weeks after the trip haha.

Perfect Images and Perfect memories made yet again.

Thank you so much for a fab time and I'm really looking forward to Malta next year already :D

As always, Highly recommended by me with 5 stars *****

Jump at the chance to work with the Awesome Fantasy Dabblers if you get the chance. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you very much again :D

Renaissance xx