References for The Mad Hatter

Artemis Fauna

A couple of years after our last shoot we managed to meet up again just before lock down at NLS!

This time is was a duo shoot with Carla and we got some beautiful images!!

The two hours we had flew by as they always do but we got quite a lot done. I look forward to seeing more lovely images from the day :D

Hope to work with you again Mike in 2021! Thank you for booking on with us! :)

2W Location

Different day, different (but still terrific) model but the same Mike - and we can now say he’s consistent in being an excellent photographer and house guest who strives to create exceptional images.

We had another wonderful time hosting his day and even had chance to assist with one set because it wasn’t raining enough ;)

We’ve no hesitation in recommending Mike to any studio or model and hope to see him again in the future.

Keira Lavelle

“Does explosive cheers of joy with incoming yabbering-crazy reference!”

Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy... YEP! That was moi right after our latest colossally good shoot! :D And indeed the last shoot of my tour! I simply cannot think of a better finale for a trip that: I was potentially anticipating not to happen with the madness that has given 2020 a beasting already. *FORTUNATELY* all was cool as cucumber to go ahead and Mikey-fantastic-P and I could fulfil our super-duper-electric shoot safely at the brilliant place that is Two Wei location. :) :) :)

I was soooo ecstatic about Mike shooting me here because he is the messiah of natural light. He basically makes it dance... And WOWEE what good a place to shoot natural light shenani-bobs in charismatically beautiful environments than this terrific venue! We honoured our duty to make lush-nomenal photigraffs and ensured that not a single pebble was left unturned. We basically took over the world in 4 hours. 🤷‍♀️

Starting with eloquent and wistful portraits gazing gentility out the window (thinking of all the manic mischief that was to be had next!) and Mike just slayed every shot. He takes careful time and puts bountiful energy into making sure his images are perfect down to the eyelash. Accounting for all the surroundings in the composition, small details and a models every pose change. He’s always looking to give each pose all the photographic quality he can and never misses a trick. We’d bagged sublime-ness even after that first set! Move along, move along... And ooh: shall we descend on the kitchen? Be rude not to! Using ambient light from the light fittings this time (living dangerously) what shall we get from that? Well nothing less than atmospheric/emotive profiles and alluring bodyscapes of course! Works of art! ‘Twas then that temptation to venture outdoors became TOO strong! Autumnal colours and exciting unique ornaments around the place... Don’t mind if we do! So I got with the seasonal vibe and went to go hibernate in Wendy and Carl’s extraordinary big garden pot... When a photographer just came out of nowhere and started taking my picture! Woulda believe it! S’not Nat Geo y’know Mike! :P Mike will snigger when he reads this... But for all the confused models doing reference checks: we got SOME BLOODY GOOD PICTURES at this moment. And have already made the front page with such! :D It’s a rapport thing... We wrapped the session up by checking me out in the rain (all for the art y’understand!) And in everyone’s defence: it was more like a lovely hot shower in my very own outdoor studio stage. Ingenious if I may: one of the shots on both our pages has gone partially wild with appreciation so it’s a bit nice to see when others like the bonkersness we manage to do each time we shoot. :P But I’ll tell you firmly: the predominant reasons for wanting to shoot with this man again and again is the buckets of fun and creativity that happen repeatedly without failure.

Yep! I think the ole working relationship just gets better and better and I’ve reached the stage where I feel just about comfortable suggesting an atrociously nuts idea to Mike and I won’t get the funny looks. I mean I might get them, but they don’t wash anymore haha! :') Poor Mike! He’s a legend of legends: uber respectful and just full of courtesy. Literally: don’t even take my word for it - see what the other models say as I can second guess without looking. :) We never miss a marathon of chit-chat and good banter - it’s a full package of goodness.

And y’know what? I’m already excited about the next shoot - whenever and wherever that may be!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you Mike!!!!!

Stay safe and stand by for the next series of Keira-Mike madness!

Big recommended-ness.

2W Location

We're still coming down from the visit Mike and Natasha paid us last Friday. Mike is such a pleasant and polite gentleman, extremely professional and respectful of his model whom he worked with so well that we couldn't believe it was their first shoot together.

Mike is really easy to talk to and it was extremely insightful listening to him and picking up on some of his photography techniques. A browse through Mike's port clearly displays his talent in capturing a moment but should you get to shoot with him you'll also discover a great person behind the lens.

Thoroughly recommended by us without reservation.

We're loving the images that you're posting up Mike - Thanks for coming and hopefully see you again soon.

Natasha J Bella

It was wonderful working with Mike at Two Wei, a fabulous location he chose for us to shoot. Mike was instantly friendly and respectful, we worked at a steady pace achieving lots of variety throughout the shoot, throwing in ideas and experimenting here and there we collaborated well. We had a good natter, Mike is excellent to work with and very respectful.

I have no hesitiation recommending him.

Thanks for a fab day Mike :)

Ariel Taylor

First shoot with the lovely Mike at Image Red and OH MY WORD, what a guy!!!!!

Couldn't have asked more from a first shoot. Mike was super chatty and friendly from the get go. As soon as I walked in the door, cup of tea was in hand and we were chatting chatting chatting away :)! I felt very relaxed going into this shoot from here out and just knew we would get some splendid images together, as Mike had made me feel that comfortable already :)

We started off with some pole work. Mike was very happy to let me choose what to wear and do my thing on the pole :)! Mike was very patient throughout, he let me warm up properly and let me take good breaks in-between strenuous poses. While Mike let me direct movement, he was absolutely fabulous with communicating back to me about any small tweaks needed, especially as we were playing about with some side lights and shadows. And holy moly were these pictures just FABULOUSSS!!!! Mike was getting THE best shots and capturing my shapes just perfectly :) We also did more static 'fitness' images with the pole which turned out an utter treat!! We finished off with some posing in pointe shoes, implied work and portraits/headshots. These were just so beautiful too and Mike's experience with different lenses shone through. I am always interested to learn more about photography, Mike was only too happy to explain the use of different lenses for different types of photography (you learn something new everyday)!

Mike was awesome with communication and encouragement throughout. Our 4 hours flew by far too quickly. Mike is incredibly respectful at all times. Openly chatting and having a laugh throughout the shoot ultimately shone through in the images we were creating. Getting to know eachother and Mike having such an easy-going personality had me posing at my best :)!

I would jump at the chance to work with Mike again and hope we get the opportunity to do so again soon!

thanks so much Mike :)

100% recommended

Angel Black UK

Mike's pre shoot communications right through to the shoot day and beyond have always been exceptional, and this shoot was no different. He was very precise and thorough, making my job so much easier when it came to packing! Mike is a very easy person to get along with and conversation easily flowed. We had a precise shoot plan in our heads so we could make the most of the time we had. Although this is only our second shoot, it feels like we've had many, we worked together very easily and were able to change set and clothing very quickly.

Mike is a professional throughout every shoot, making sure you as the model, are entirely comfortable, he's very polite and courteous and realistically there isn't anything else you could ask for. He has a great eye for detail and pays exquisite attention to every shot.

Thankyou for an amazing shoot on Team Black's West Midlands Tour!

Angel x

Georgia Brown

not one, but two wonderfully fantastic shoots with Mike at my home we worked through a range of poses and styles and use the space around us very well, natural light was just wonderful and Mike just like last time was amazing to work with! always highly recommended the images are just stunning!

A Scorpion Residence said...

Very happy to have Mike shooting here again and this time with the lovely Tash Brownie.

As always, Mike is friendly, with plenty of upbeat conversation and positive energy. Gets along well with all his models and is an excellent photographer.

Highly respectful of model, studio spaces and facilities on offer and is certainly welcome to return! – Lee :-)

Keira Lavelle

Squeeeeeeeeeeee!

I mean - studios are finally allowed to open for the first time in MONTHS post pandemic lockdown... Let me think: which superbly gifted lover of natural light, pretty sets and outdoorsy scenes (yes, all in the same breath/shoot!) could I think would be thee perfect person to enjoy an extraordinary photo shoot with in an epic comeback to making lush images... Mikeyyyyy! :D

When his email popped up in my inbox, I didn’t even need to read it. The answer was already a big fat YES!!!! I mean; this gent is a pure legend to shoot with any time of the year - even when you’re not emerging from a global pandemic having had to hang up the creative urges for so long. But in terms of being so excited to simply get some one-to-one quality human rapport and interaction on that ever lovable innovative team unit that you get on a creative shoot... He brought all the right usual Mikey cheeriness, his awesome fellow scientist intelligence and deep-convo goodness, that signature photographic eye for beauty (and willingness for utter madness too! :P) and quite simply: a half day of joy that was just what the doctor ordered! Yes world: we’re back from hibernation... In the grandest way possible. :) :D

Sooooooooo what did we do? Well... Mike had me plonked on a coffee table, being a glamorous curtain-twitcher, taking a bath with mi’ favourite shoes (rubber ducks are soooo last year!), fondling the furniture and rolling aboot’ the garden and patio like; well... Like a Keira would? AND OH MY GOSH PEOPLE OF PURPLEWORLD - Where those pictures the business or were they the business?!?! ;) Mike and I could go to tackle anything - anything at all. I guarantee you he would utterly slay it with a mighty fine photograph in every scenario of challenges presented before him. I don’t know what he does, but if the suns be like “now I’m gonna do this” then Mike be like: “aha! Well have a bit o’ this then!” And the next thing I know there’s just this gorgeous photo! I’m just there in awe at the witchcraft every time - though one should never be surprised really with the quality portfolio clearly bestowed by this chap. :)

Mike owes me a new chattering throat box. Mine needed an MOT after our shoot and was virtually a goner with all the non-stop nattering and wonderful catching up we did. Oh it was so nice to just laugh away and put the world to rights again: just like old times! The time just evaporates into nowhere working with Mike; you blink and it’s just gone! He’s such a truly divine character to spend in the company of, and someone who just amplifies the light-hearted and fun vibes of an otherwise extremely productive shoot to the next level. :) An inspired person to the core who I could cut away to all bloomin’ day if I wasn’t careful haha. We managed all the safety elements of the given time with social distancing etc. by means of virtual hugs/high-fives... But nothing could inhibit the squeals of excitement when the shots were coming in like magic, or the bellowing banter that I always enjoy from Mike. :) He’s just a shining star!

Professional, by-the-book and etiquette of gold - as per usual! I’d never expect anything else. This is one photographer I’d rave about time and time again: almost being able to predict future references before they happen! :P Nothing will change - COLOSSALLY RECOMMENDABLE!

Thank you Mike, you ledge you!

The Keira one.

Ayla

I worked with the wonderful Mikey again for the 4th/5th?! time recently at The New Scorpion residence for 3 hours. We covered lots in our time together from portraits to art nude and Mike had some great ideas. I love working with Mike as he has a great understanding of the light and always makes me look beautiful! He is so friendly, relaxed and easy to get on with!

Highly recommended

A Scorpion Residence said...

Really great to have Mike shooting here again today, this time with the lovely Aurora.

Like before, Mike is really easy going, friendly, with good conversation and sense of humour, highly respectful of model, studio spaces and facilities on offer.

He takes great looking images and is happy to show them on back of his camera, which is always a nice bonus, especially when models can help choose the best shots for editing etc.

Certainly welcome to return and is once again, highly recommended! – Lee :-)

Rachelle Summers

I've done numerous shoots with Mike now over the last few years and I always look forward to them :)

Our most recent shoot was last week on my tour of Birmingham. Mike had a bit of a stressful time prior to arriving thanks to the joys of parking, but he got there in the end and once he settled he was his usual lovely self :D

Mike is so friendly and so easy to talk to, as usual we put the worlds to rights whilst creating some beautiful images too haha! I honestly can't recommend Mike enough, he is a true gentleman and such a kind soul too!

Hopefully we can catch up next time I visit (with better parking :P haha)

Aurora.

Mike booked be for a shoot at the Scorpion Residence while I was in the area.

The shoot went really well he was fun, polite, open for my ideas but also had loads on his own!

We shot for 4 hours which went by so quickly, we both could have carried on for longer I think!

I really enjoyed our shoot, and the images so far look brilliant!

Can't wait to work with Mike again x

Highly recommended!

Thanks,

A x

Carla Monaco

Mike booked me at my model day at image red yesterday for a 2hr session.

Mike is always super professional, friendly, fun and a super photographer t work with on a shoot.

We have shot together lots now over the years and I always enjoy my shoots with Mike.

100% professional and respectable photographer.

I look forward to the next time.

Best

Carla

Ivory Flame

I had my second shoot with Mikey this week at Image Red Studio and had a brilliant time. I first shot with him quite a long time ago, and have been enjoying seeing the wealth of great work he's been producing since, so was thrilled he booked on during my model day.

Mikey is totally professional, friendly, considerate, respectful and fun! He communicated so well prior to the shoot and on the day, letting me know what looks he was inspired by and what he wanted to achieve.

We made many gorgeous images, and I throughly enjoyed the 2 hours. Many thanks Mikey, hope to shoot again in the not too distance future :-) Highly recommended!

Archingaimee

First shoot with mike and I absolutely loved working with him

Pre coms were good

Mike is a very professional, friendly guy and great to talk to

Me and Mike worked with natural light and the photos looked stunning, the art nude window shots were definitely a favourite of mine

I enjoyed our shoot so much and we got lots of great images together

Thanks you for a great afternoon

Would recommend!!!

Aimee x

Thurston Lodge

Great to see Mike at Thurston Lodge. A friendly nice guy who has a good way with the model. Some great photos on the day. I very much look forward to Mike's return

Thenediel

I had the pleasure of meeting Mike today during our first shoot together at Image Red.

Arranging our shoot together was a dream; His messages were prompt and precise and we organised the shoot with ease.

Mike arrived on time and met me with a warm and friendly welcome.

We had a fun and productive shoot together and, even from the back of cams he allowed me to see through out the shoot, I know we got some amazing work together.

He is very respectful and a delight to be around. I’d definitely recommend him to anyone, and I hope he’d like to work together again!

Keira Lavelle

Okay, so Mike is basically a philosopher of awesomeness. That’s who Mike is. :) In fact; he’s the one philosopher that you ever need to speak to with regards to any levels of bottled awesomeness that you should require for your shoot.

We have been on-it like a car bonnet with our latest two shoots ey Mike?! :D And of course every shoot nailed beforehand as well... But the guru of magically soft natural light and EXPLOSIVE creative enthusiasm can certainly throw out a not-too-shoddy picture for sure. I mean several dozens have appeared on his port as of recent times for anyone that cares to look: he’s got a cracking eye for the shenanigans. He knows how to produce a digitally-assorted bundle of little pixel thingies and he knows how to produce it with quality. Mike is someone whom I could never tire of working with... And in the hours/days after a shoot when I am probably collapsed with bags half-in-half-out of the door of my accommodation as my tour progresses: the necessary admin checks to see who and what craziness is going down almost certainly turns into a buzz of excitement as one can view the fruits of labour of a very EPIC, team-driven session. Mike knows what he strives for in his work, he can create an aesthetically pleasing photograph simply effortlessly (ignore the fact that he may or may not be battling mischievous sunshine poking its mug in-and-out of the clouds whilst all this ingenious-ness is going down!) ...But he also holds phenomenal value and respect for the input that a model brings to the shoot as an individual creative source. Therefore the whole shoot, down to every last biscuit-crumb (oooh did I say that? I meant the juicy nutritious grapes that Mikey brings! ;) ) devoured is the greatest legacy of mutual-bounce and ideas-spinning the world over! From elegant to dramatic shapes in a classical sense, to the absolute shambles of madness that I rock-up with on the day. I visualise Mike at home mentally preparing himself for the insanity to come each time we shoot... But then he keeps making it look bloomin’ outta this world so I keep letting my brain out for a few hours! :P But all silliness aside: Mike will leap at any opportunity before him and with a little-ole tinker with the settings and a super-fast assessment of the angles of view... Just a few clicks later and this man has framed a whole set of stunning photographs. When you talk about having all the resources (we shot at Natural Light Spaces this time so there were obviously plenty!) but it still being a case of what those involved bring to the shoot personally; Mike is the perfect living example of this! It truly does give a model a real buzz when working with photographers so passionate and so “get-up-and-go” about getting the very best from a shooting session. :) Maybe it just sounds daft/OTT and I should have wrapped this reference up a long time ago - meh. Face bovered? ‘Tis ALLLLLLL true. :)

Annnnnndddd the award for the most fun-natured and easy-going human goes to... Well we certainly wouldn’t miss an opportunity to laugh/chat/ramble non stop now would we? :D The standard procedure basically; making good use of the vocal chords to catch up and put-to-rights everything that requires as such. These wondrous working relationships that you get to form with people are such a leading reason to do this job. You don’t have typical “colleagues” like you do in a... ahem: “normal job” so it really is the icing on the cake when you are blessed with working with such lovely people as Mike and actually have a great time at work. :) I have so many thanks to give Mike for this aspect of our shoots alone. He’s the maaaaaaan! And of course: unquestionably kind, courteous and decent in every way. :) Any model just needs to look through blogs references for just a little way and I probably bet that we’re all saying the same thing in our own little way. But Mike is someone that I would recommend again and again and again and again.

Thinking cap is on for next time Mike! ;) Get the hard hat ready!

Thank you dude!

That Keira bird.