References for Bunnie Stevens

Flick

I had booked Helen for a workshop I was giving. It was on the third floor of a building which some would describe as quite old, but compared to structures like the Pyramids and Stone Henge it seemed rather modern.

It was a hot day. It was possibly the hottest on record, providing the records started the day before this day and ended the following day. I think the Tuesday afterwards was also quite warm but as records had stopped, I have no idea if this is the case. I opened a window as a precaution.

My workshop with filled with up to several people who may or may not have been there to learn something. They were chanting for the model. "Model! Model! Model!' they shouted as one. They were chanting so loudly I could barely hear myself eating crisps. Suddenly, the level of light dropped in the room and I hit the deck fearing another NATO air strike. I haven't been in any kind of war situation before, but I have seen on the news how they are often a surprise and I know that if shit went down in Bristol they would have no issues with sending a nuke or two in that direction knowing that if it missed it would only take-out Wales and no real harm would be done as a result.

The minutes passed and I slowly peeled myself from the floor. I looked towards the window. There was a basket slowly descending from the sky. It wasn't the kind of basket you get on the front of a vicar's bike, or even the kind you sometimes get chips in at a country pub. It was a similar basket to the ones used by hot air balloonists to prevent them being left on the floor looking sheepish when their balloon rises. What puzzled me was there was none of the roaring sound of the fire-making bit, but the loud shrill of a squark. I ran to the window. I ran so fast I almost tripped on the flip flops I was wearing. I was also wearing other clothes, but they are not integral to the reference so I doubt they will get a mention.

I looked-up and the basket was being carried by 120 or even as many as 123 white birds. There was a serene ginger-haired woman inside the basket. Helen pointed at me and I took her ice-cold hand. I thought she was going to rip my arm off, but instead she simply hopped through the open window and into the studio. "I've never seen a basket being carried by seagulls before," I quipped. Helen looked me in the eye. I could see she was seething. I could feel the acidic burn of her saliva as she spat the reply. "There are herring gulls, black-headed gulls, little gulls, common gulls, but no 'seagulls'. Why do you keep disappointing me?" I knew I was stupid. I should have checked my question using Google or another search engine before I opened my mouth, but I didn't. Helen had every reason to hate me. The workshop attendees started chucking. It was quiet at first, but a steady crescendo of tittering followed until one predictably wet himself. Helen must have predicted this as she had a spare pair of silk trousers which fitted I'm perfectly.

It's unusual for a third-floor studio above a camera shop to have a hot tub, which is probably why this one didn't have one either. What it did have was a floor, which was very convenient as almost none of us knew how to hover in thin air and we would have fallen into the space below, which was probably like a volcano or snake pit.

I took a photo of Helen. Then I took another picture. Then another and one after that. Afterwards I took another picture, a slightly different one and then some more. I think there were several in total. Some other people took pictures too, but not as many as me. Ha! I'm the picture taking king. Worship me because I filled my memory card more than you*

*unless you had one of a smaller capacity in which case you probably filled a greater percentage of available space and therefore have every right to my throne. Please apply officially if you would like me to abdicate with proof of memory card usage and the relevant forms filled, signed and witnessed.

It was time to replace my lens cap as I was done for the day. I told Helen she could go home but she was too busy humming a jaunty tune about goldfish. I waited until she had finished and told her again. She looked upwards and a light fitting loosened from the ceiling. It fell onto my head and this made her laugh. I was in pain, but I laughed too. I thought it was only polite. Helen didn't leave the building using stairs like the rest of us. First she turned into a liquid. The liquid boiled and in turn turned into a gas. A cloud rose from the puddle of the floor, made a few shapes which we all tried to guess then flew out of the window. What a great day!

Slight Exposure

Helen very kindly fitted In a last minute shoot, had a great couple of hours shooting at her home,

She is a very talented Model and a very nice person. Really enjoyed our shoot, and can't wait to shoot again.

Kind regards Paul

Silver-Studios

I had the pleasure and fun of shooting with Annie and Helen this morning. Annie is a delightful lady, not put off at all by me being a hopeless photographer (mind you, I was careful not to show her the images!). Her port gives you an idea of how much the camera loves her. Very intuitive, creative and totally at ease with herself. Definitely highly recommended and I hope she will shoot with me again (even if it's just out of pity - oh a "pity shoot"!).

And then there was Helen. Words fail me lol. But let me try. Completely bonkers - fine as long as you follow Health&Safety guidelines and keep sharp knives locked away. Oh and I suppose I should mention that she's quite amazingly perfect, gives 110% and will work her socks off to capture the best possible image.

I really let them both get on with it and occasionally press that shutter thing.

will white

More of what I said 4 days ago.

Great model to work with, so I grabbed the chance to shoot with her again and not disappointed.

Very funny.

Weird.

Chatty.

And works her butt off to get the right images.

Thank you Helen.

Thoroughly recommended.

Amazeballs

My second shoot with Helen today. Re-booking should tell you all you need to know - Helen is a personable, photogenic professional. Just as with our first shoot Helen was awesome to work with, both in terms of results produced and entertainment value! Additional kudos to Helen for flagging up a potential product placement issue with one concept we worked on. I look forward to finding an opportunity to work with her again. Recommended!

Neeve Kelly

Helen is a nutter, in a good way! :p

She is truly fabulous in every way, fun to be around and an excellent model. (she is one of the best!)

I spent a few days away with her touring and I have to say that I felt at ease with her. I definitely would do it all again.

Its safe to say that she comes highly recommended!!

Sensual Art

Shoot number 4 for me with Helen, and the third duo shoot (this time with Annie Moya, the others having been with Dan Maccer).

Seemingly overflowing with ideas, but always eager to take on some new idea that's thrown into the mix and make it work, Helen is also fantastic fun to work with.

And utterly bonkers with it!

As before, thoroughly recommended!

Helen Diaz

I worked with the gorgeous Helen alongside photographer griffinontherock (Will) at Wills beautiful home in London. Myself and Helen had been in touch a few times meaning to shoot, so it was so lovely to finally meet and work together!

I met Helen at an apartment I had booked for the evening before our shoot as we had to be up quite early the next morning- and she is such a lovely, down to earth person to know and work with! On the day of the shoot we shot a mixture of polaroid, film and digital working together to art nude. Helen is super photogenic, has absolutely beautiful glowing skin and a flawless complexion. She is a beautiful person to work with, with no airs and graces. She is a very talented model and was very easy and graceful to pose with, a photographers dream.

I loved her company and would love to shoot together again, hopefully very soon! Highly recommended, thankyou for a lovely end to my week in London :) Helen xx

will white

I had the very great pleasure of working with Helen and what a woman.

Extremely easy to work with, she models with ease and poise.

Cheeky, intelligent with a nice sense of fun and professionalism. I had a great session with her (and Helen Diaz at the same time) Models who can model!

I look forward to working with her again very soon.

Highly recommended

AnnaRose

Modelled at an event set up and hosted by Helen and Lucy at Talliston House. I had an awesome time shooting and Helen was a perfect host. She was very welcoming, organised, professional, great sense of humour and just a nice person to be around:). Thank you once again Helen:). Anna x

TNR

I had a shoot with Helen in a 4 star hotel room arranged at the last moment and I wasn't disappointed , she is a talented model who can pose without any direction and always manages to get the perfect look for every shot .

Helen is so much fun to be around and is very friendly and easy to get along with , I will certainly be working with her again in the very near future.

I am so happy with how the shoot went

Highly recommend to all :-)

sean121

Had a great shot with Helen and Lucy Lu at a hotel. Pre-comms was excellent, and we managed to get some great images for a Sin City themed shoot.

Unfortunately Helen hurt her eye just prior to the shoot, but she was an absolute trooper. I managed to get her an eye patch from the pound shop which she used to great effect during the shoot :-)

Brilliant!

Sean

x

Quane

Had a fantastic shoot with Helen at the Talliston House group shoot last week. She really was a delight to work with and her organising of the day from the communications beforehand and on the day were spot on and it was a great success - so many awesome models in an amazing location. Oh, and Helen models too :) we got to shoot in the office which was an amazing room but a little limiting in terms of what we could do. Still, we got some fantastic pictures in our short time together and she was wonderful to work with. Highly recommend her as both a model and as someone organising shoots. Thank you Helen for a fantastic day.

Tarmoo

I attended the Talliston Group event which was organised by Helen and Lucy Lu. This was the third time I have done a shoot with Helen, the other two being at Studland and the Palace Shoot in London. As usual, it was a great pleasure working with Helen as she is very talented and has a dry sense of humour and a lovely personality.

Stephanie Dubois

I finally got to meet the lovely Helen on a shoot day arranged by herself and Lucy Lu a few weeks back. Helen is great - friendly, approachable, zany but also professional and well organised. The day went very smoothly and although i didn't get to see her model, I can thoroughly recommend her as a person!

Her portfolio speaks for itself - book her!

DrFitness

I met Helen at a recent event she organised at Talliston House, kept in touch with me regularly in the weeks leading up to the event and was not on only the consummate host but also the perfect model incredibly happy with my images and look forward to working with Helen again..highly recommended especially to new photographers

Flick

"Splodge, Splodge, Splodge." I heard it across the room above the chanting crowds as Helen strode towards me. She was wearing a cape and eye mask and a large pair of wellies. "Aren't they too big for your feet?" I asked. "Yes," she said. "That's why I fill them wit custard first to ensure they are a tight fit." I didn't dare ask if it was instant custard or the premium variety purchased in up-market supermarkets such as Waitress or Marks & Spencer. I hedged my bets and winked, 'Sainsbury Taste The Difference?" "No, you utter moron. I make it from scratch. I'm not having any impurities seeping into my bunion." That was me told!

I noticed the cape had an internal pocket with a velcro fastening. "What do you keep in there?" I thought maybe I was asking too many questions, but Helen must have practiced her answers as she could quickly reply "Newts. Some are endangered now, so I keep them in my pocket for safe-keeping."

It was time to shoot. Helen produced a folding washing-up bowl (the kind readily available in camping shops) and filled it with spit. After gently scooping the newts from her pocket and lowering them into the bowl, Helen spoke softly to the amphibious creatures. "I'll be back soon, my darlings. If anyone tries to touch you, make a note of the time and their actions. A chronological record is incredibly powerful should it need to go to court." The newts nodded and Helen strode towards the shooting area.

With a yank of the ribbon around her neck, the cape was off. We had an audience and she requested a volunteer. "Put your hand in that bag of make-up and pull something out." she commanded. The elderly man reached his doddery hand into the black velvet bag and pulled-out a Tupperware-style box. It wasn't Tupperware, as nobody buys them any longer and the term Tupperware is now associated with any small-medium sized food-safe plastic container. "Remove the lid and throw it at me," she told the man. His elderly arm swing in an arc and he released the box. It flew high into the air and tipped. The opening was now facing downwards. We all gasped. The room fell silent as we braced-ourselves for the worst. Wasted make-up is something none of us want to see. It sounded like a hurricane, but wasn't coming from outside. I looked towards Helen and she was sucking the air out of the room. The curtains were barely being held to the rails and the carpet started to roll from the edges of the room towards her. We all watched as the make-up was dragged towards her face. It landed perfectly on her skin. She clicked her fingers. "Shoot now." I lifted my camera to my eye and pressed the shutter. I took a picture. I looked at the back of the screen. I had no idea how easy the process of taking a photograph would be. It was the first time I had ever held a camera, but it was going to be something I would never forget.

"You done?" Helen asked. "Yes. Yes, I think I am." I replied. The crowd erupted into cheers and whoops. like annoying Americans. Some even high-fived each other. Helen summoned a lady to bring her cape. The lady did as she was asked before shuffling away. Helen reached into the bowl and a newt walked out onto her open palm. In a split second, she threw the newt at the wall and I watched as it's lifeless body started to slowly drip down the freshly-painted surface. "But, but, but I thought they were endangered," I stammered, still not daring to look her in the eye. "Even more so now, the slimy mother f**kers," she laughed. We all laughed, as it was the funniest thing anyone had ever said and she moon walked out of the room. What a great day!

Haywain Photography

"Wonderful Eyes"

Helen came to Farnborough to a workshop for myself and three others. We ended the night with some fantastic images, all thanks to Helen.

Helen is very patient, hard working and helpful; she takes direction very well, and posed on her own initiative when our own ideas dried up. She is friendly and chatty; and knows her way round a camera, so can offer advice to beginners all while posing for shots as if it is second nature. She has a very expressive face and her eyes draw you into the image so much.

I have to say that, given the chance, I would work with Helen again. Anyone reading this page, need look no further ;-)

IanClive

I worked with Helen today at her Hotel whist she was in the London area , Helen was hard working very friendly and chatty , she was quite happy to pose as I asked but had no problem posing her self and was quite happy to try things out.

Pre shot communication was brilliant , and I would work with Helen again and am looking forward to doing so again , I highly recommend Helen

Ian

Luci Alice

I worked with Helen on Sunday. Pre-shoot communications were prompt and she showed up to the studio on time! She can pose using her own initiative but can also take direction well too. I am very pleased with the photos as they reflect the direction I want to take my work in. Helen is a nice person to talk too as well :) Thanks Helen! X