LensFemmes

Girls and their cameras.

[thelensfemmes]

Model Spotlight: Kat

Our final instalment of model spotlights, and just in time as we’re all going to be back in the same city in the next few weeks! Our final model spotlight is on flame haired, multi-talented megavixen Kat of Wild Kat Photography!

Perrie <3 Kat

Here’s “The Softer Side of Wild Kat”, a broad who looks gentle and thoughtful (because she is) but there’s a strong possibility she’s also plotting world domination (because she is doing that too). She’s an incredibly hardworking photographer and progressive femmo babe, who in the same gesture will show you her beautiful bellydance costumes and then straight on to a latex sensory deprivation vacuum cube that she uses in fetish presentations. She’s a trusted ally of the worlds of burlesque, kink and fetish, and her role as a photographer within those worlds have seen her uplift and empower performers, and that’s what makes her a kickass LensFemme. BUT WAIT SHE’S ALSO A MODEL WHAT HOLD THE PHONE? Her feline ferocity is evident even in this soft dreamy capture, and those kohl-lined eyes hold a maturity and power that to be honest still intimidate me and make me feel like I’m just a bunch of domesticated cats in a trench coat by comparison. Kat, thank you so much for saying yes to this project and for using your superpowers for good. Love you!

Chayla <3 Kat

Gorgeous Kat! I don’t even have words for how great she is! Fierce photographer babes like this are what dreams are made of and I am fangirling to death over her! I didn’t get to take many photos of Kat on our last shoot day and that makes me really sad but at our next one I will make sure she is in the spotlight more. I have so much admiration for what a hard fucking worker Kat is - supporting yourself with photography is so so difficult and she works her ass off to make it her reality. I have so much respect for her hustle! I loved her cool 70s outfit and blazing red hair which complimented so gorgeously with this feature wall at The Moon cafe (try to comfort pasta mmmmm!). This image represents to me how this Wild Kat grooves to the beat of her own drum <3 

Marijke <3 Kat

Kaaat! Well, where do I start? She is one multi-talented babe! She is a hardworking and a killer photographer, a stunning model who can give you literally any look from latex and ballet heels fetish, 1950s vintage pinup to natural effortless beauty! She is also a belly dancer AND sword swallower, sharing the same stage with her has been wonderful, except for when I spilt all the spirit glue on myself. . Kat is an extremely kind, humble and beautiful person to know, I’ve especially loved working with her on the Lens Femmes project! I’m a sucker for a monochromatic shot, I chose this one of Kat because the light has created a softness in her face but with her stance and eyes show that there is this fierceness within. Much love to you Kat and until we shoot again! xx

[thelensfemmes]

Model Spotlight: Perrie

It’s our great pleasure to finally shine the spotlight on this exotic creature we call Perrie. Your our babe of the week so get ready for some lovin.

Kat <3 Perrie

Wild Kat ❤ Perrie Nothing i write will actually encompass the amazingness that is Perrie. Like an exotic bird, you cannot help but be dazzled by her pure beauty, but don’t want to disturb her in her in fear she will fly away (which she did, to Melbourne…to be more fabulous!) . She is everything i could want in a model and the camera just eats her up. Her way of looking at life, fashion, makeup, fun and performance fills me with a joyful envy :P Chayla <3 Perrie

We all adore this wonderful lady so much- she unites us and brings us together, she gives us purpose and direction. Perrie is such an inspiration, so much so that she inspired this love poem I wrote!

P is for her perfectly positioned poses, E is for her extraordinarily kind and lovely heart, R is for how ridiculously talented she is, R is for those ravishing red locks, I is for her intellectual badassery, and E is for her elegant, elongated limbs!

Silliness aside, Perrie is a fantastic model. A dream for the camera. She is very present in her own body and thinks about curves and shapes like no other. Her body is a walking art form and I adore it! She is so confident in herself and in a strange sort of way, fills herself right to her fingertips. Many people hide inside their own bodies, but I feel like Perrie permeates the very air around her, not only with her vitality and creativity, but her genuine love for others. I am so so grateful for the day that we met! I am also super grateful that I captured her unconsciously hip thrusting with photographing Marijke because it gives me such a giggle! Marijke <3 Perrie

Perrieeeeeee! I’ve known Perrie for quite a few years now and I’ve seen the amazing journey she has taken to become who she is now and I’m so excited to see what the future holds for her. Multi-talented in burlesque and performance art, costume making and design, photography and art direction! She is a powerhouse who I’m so lucky to know and work with. She’s a killer model, game for anything in order to get that amazing shot (especially standing waist deep in a muddy lake in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere for me!), not only is she beautiful to photograph she exudes this amazing confidence and attitude but has this delicacy and true authenticity of who she is. Without her this project would not have come about so thank you Perrie for being the creative genius you are! Xx

[thelensfemmes]

Model Spotlight: Chayla

The idea behind LensFemmes was to showcase babes on both side of the camera. Seeing as we have already all spoken about the photos we take and our photographic processes, it was time for us to focus on each individual as a model with a photo and blurb by each of us. Your babe of the week is Chayla!

Perrie <3 Chayla

LOOK AT THAT PORCELAIN BABE! Aesthetically, Chayla is dark, villainous, whimsical, overtly feminine and exudes confidence. On the inside, she is bright, kind and giving, whimsical, overtly feminine and exudes confidence! She’s a badass feminist, artist, businessperson, body positivity role model, and mother, filling all roles with boundless energy, honesty and inspiring dedication. The times that we’ve spent together eating cake, drinking tea or taking photos have always left me with a fullness in my heart and a deep gratitude for her presence in my life. I can’t wait to shoot with her again because it means we will be hanging out and that will be AWESOME! xx

Wild Kat <3 Chayla

Chayla is like a human care bear because she is just so damn delightful and giggly! she beams with a smile and laugh that even in your baddest mood will make you crack your own goofy mouth hole :P She’s a retro Mumma thats got it all! i love her foxy curves and fabulous ink. I adored getting a shot of those pouty red lips that i am so jealous of and those gorgeous green eyes.  Marijke <3 Chayla

Chaaayla! I adore Chayla from the bottom of my heart, she exudes such kindness and warmth that can be rare in this world! A stunning beauty who is honest, raw, strong-willed, extremely talented and super hilarious with yes, that adorable giggle/laugh! I’m super proud to call her my friend and especially to see how badass and passionate mother she is!  Working with Chayla was wonderful, from behind the lens and in front of it! Looking forward to working with her again soon! ;) Xx 

[thelensfemmes]

Happy Birthday Marijke!

This talented lady had a birthday yesterday!

We want to celebrate her and her beautiful work by spotlighting her as a model and saying lovely things about her

Chayla <3 Marijke

I think true artists reveal their soul to the world; their thoughts and their feelings laid bare for all to see. I first encountered Marijke’s art online, through her sister’s business Red Dusk, and have followed her work since that time. I feel like I knew her from then, and I can’t remember when we actually met in person… but I probably creeped her out by knowing her name haha! Every time I see her though, I am reminded that she is unbelievably humble and gracious, and so gorgeous it almost hurts!

I love how dark she can go with her work and tap into that place inside our minds most of us are too afraid to examine. I have always believed that each of us are all so much more than a beautiful face. In Marijke’s case it makes it all the more fascinating; I think knowing the ocean is so deep is what makes the sparkle on the surface even more hypnotic.

. . .

Perrie <3 Marijke

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Marijke over a variety of platforms, which is testament to her versatility and desire to push herself creatively. This broad love of visual art has extended to her using her body as a medium, through burlesque performance, an art form in which she has been succeeding in leaps and bounds! We have worked together as client/designer, student/teacher, photographer/model and now model/muse/photographer through the majestic sparkly power of #LensFemmes!

One of my favourite memories with Marijke was modelling for a concept shoot (photoset here) that garnered some incredibly glamorous results! The steps we had to take to get these results involved driving down a remote country road at dusk to an unmarked gate, walking to a friends friends dam on their property, and me standing thigh deep in dam sludge in a variety of ensembles. Marijke used a blue flash gel on her camera whilst her partner Shaun (an excellent photographer in his own right) acted as assistant with a red gel over a flashlight (it was all so lo-tech but amazing to witness!), both perched precariously on the crumbling muddy dam edge. We packed up amongst the mosquitos and mud after night had well and truly fallen and traipsed back to the car, muddy and a bit cold but feeling elated and elevated.

She’s an artist with a strong vision and will work hard to do what she needs to achieve it, and it’s always a pleasure to go along for the ride and celebrate the amazing results. Happy birthday, beautiful! xx

. . .

Wild Kat <3 Marijke

My admiration for this woman as a performer and artist is sky high! but as a person even more so. Not only is she the most elegant creature i have ever come across she is also the kindest. There are just some people in this world that enter the room and everyone stops and soaks in that aura of beauty that is clearly coming from inside and spilling outward. i am glad I can now call Marijke a friend of mine and hope to get to know her so much more and work with her many more times !

[thelensfemmes]

Set 4 - Photographer: Wild Kat (Perth)

Image of Wild Kat by Marijke Loosjes

Location: The Moon Café (Perth, Western Australia) Date: February 20th, 2017

Ahoy Hoy, most people know me as Wild Kat. I am a self taught photographer with a love for the human form and alternative lifestyle and fashion. I have no shame in admitting I am a total control freak when it comes to lighting which is probably why I was the only one so determined to lug around a big old beauty dish and bowen at our shoot at the Moon Cafe.

Being one of the very few female photographers in the industry, I jumped at the chance to be apart of the Lens Femmes. Nowadays its very rare I get to do artistic projects with subjects I adore! Shooting theses lovely ladies made my veins flush with passion for photography again, and for that I thank them.

Model: Perrie Taylor

This woman is one of my idols. I’ve said before if I could get inside that head and cuddle her brain I would! Perrie astounds me, she is so very photogenic and is like some human chameleon. Perrie has a style all of her own and I absolutely admire her veracity and creativity. I envy her abilities with natural light and film photography, and hope I have been able to showcase some of the amazing personality she oozes in the shots I have taken of her.

Model: Chayla Taylor

I have never giggled so much at a shoot as I have with Chayla. This woman beams in real life and in pictures. I have for many years been a huge fan of Chayla’s photography. So much of a fan infact I was nervous just to be around her, thats until she started talking and I realised she actually the bubbliest and loveliest ladies I’ve ever met! Chaylas work in the pin-up and burlesque community is astounding, her style is breathtaking, clean and gorgeous. I love her quirky sense of humour and relished getting to bring out a bit of sexyness in the shots of her.

Model: Marijke Loosjes

This statuesque beauty is an artist’s dream. There was not a single image I took of Marijke that did not scream effortless elegance. Much like a vintage starlet, Marijke demands attention without a single word, she is grace, she is glamour! Another Photographer who admire, especially with her use of natural light. Marijke has an eye for location and pose when she photographs that if I could tap into her talent and sell it I would be very rich! I could drape her in a potato sack and suddenly they would be high fashion just because of her.

[thelensfemmes]

Set 3- Photographer:  Chayla Taylor (Perth)

Image of Chayla by Marijke Loosjes

Location: The Moon Café (Perth, Western Australia) Date: February 20th, 2017

Hi everyone!

My name is Chayla and I have been photographing for 11 years now. I was drawn to photography because it is a blending of science and creativity. The processes involved very much appeal to both sides of my personality; I love the technical aspects and the expressive nature of capturing images.

Both reality and unreality.

I have worked extensively with both Film and Digital, but mostly shoot digital now. I miss the darkroom with an indescribable ache... I always felt like a great sorceress, pouring over her potions, until both shadow and light revealed themselves to me.

Our LensFemmes project is a very important to me - I consider myself a feminist and supporting other women, especially within my own industry, is close to my heart.

Model:  Marijke Loosjes

Marijke is a goddess walking among us. She carries herself with an effortless elegance and I loved photographing her!

She is a visual artist, performer and photographer, and I always find her work thought provoking and inspiring. I love the shapes she can create with her slender form and how her classic features look in this mixture of eclectic surroundings. This is natural lighting with gradient colour overlays applied in Lightroom.

Model:  Kat Wild

Her very name indicates the fierceness of this red haired vixen! Kat is a woman of many talents - photographer, belly dancer, fire breather and model! I have had the pleasure of knowing her for a very long time and have such respect for her.

I love how such a tiny person can light up a room (and my camera)! I used the large ceiling bulb for this image and converted it to a split toned black and white using Lightroom.

Model: Perrie Taylor

This gorgeous lady is an icon of style. From burritos to burlesque, there is nothing Perrie can’t do! She is so in tune with her body and I adore the way she knows how to work her shape for the camera. This is natural lighting with some gradient colour overlays applied in Lightroom.

Perrie shines so brightly among the many stars in my life; everyone speaks of her with such respect and love. I think you would be hard pressed to find anyone more supportive and encouraging of others! LensFemmes was her brainchild and I feel so privileged to be apart of it.

Thank you all for reading and looking!

Chayla x

[thelensfemmes]

Set 2- Photographer: Marijke Loosjes (Perth)

Image of Marijke by Perrie Taylor Location: The Moon Café (Perth, Western Australia)

Date: February 20th, 2017

Camera: Canon 6D

Hello! I am Marijke Loosjes, a Visual Artist and Photographer from Perth, Australia. I work with both film and digital photography, I love the grain and warmth you achieve with film but the precision, immediacy and flow of digital.  I’ve photographed on film since I was a child and will always have a love of the medium and the darkroom process, for this Lens Femme set I shot with my recently acquired Canon 6D. I loved the idea behind this project as these ladies are all so talented with their unique styles and visions. To work alongside one another and to capture each other was an absolute pleasure!

Here is Lens Femmes: Volume 2!

Model: Chayla Taylor Chayla is an incredibly talented photographer who’s skilled work can be seen all over Perth, in these images you see that she creates this unique bond with the people she photographs. 

Incredibly photogenic to work with, I loved the lighting in this area of The Moon and depth created. I’m a sucker for monochromatic photography and the beautiful peace and silence it can create.

Model: Perrie Taylor Perrie has many talents, not limited to photography, burlesque performer and costume designer/burrito empress. She exudes such a fierceness within herself in everything she does, I’ve had the privilege to photograph her both on and off the stage. I love natural lighting, especially dappled lighting! The sun was quick to come and go this day but I was able to capture this shot. I like to work with minimal colours and enjoy the coolness of the metal against the red of her hair and mouth.

Model: Wild Kat Wild Kat is a strong force in the photography scene who's also models and is a belly dancer/sword swallower!  I loved being able to work with Kat on this as we’ve performed alongside one another but not photographed each other yet, her presence is so captivating!  Again I am a sucker for the monochrome, especially when working with textures. I like a high contrast when working in black and white, a personal aesthetic attributed to my love of old Vogue fashion photographers. I always aspire to have a blend of documentation and beauty within my photographs. Thank you for taking the time to check us Lens Femmes out! Each week we will update with a new set of images from one of our photographers! Also we would love to feature any other lens femme gangs out there too so send us a message! xx

[thelensfemmes]

Set 1 - Photographer: Perrie Taylor (Melbourne)

Image of Perrie by Chayla Taylor

Location: The Moon Café (Perth, Western Australia)

Date: February 20th, 2017

Camera: Pentax MZ-5N

Stock: Hillvale Sunny 16 400, pushed two stops

My name is Perrie Taylor and I’m a film photography hobbyist, originally from Perth but now residing in Melbourne. I pitched the idea of babes shooting babes to three Perth based photographers, whose work I had admired both in front of and behind the camera. They said yes, our friends at The Moon Café said yes, and so with the stars and moon aligned, we set about this project. Lens Femmes is a non-exclusive gang for anyone who wants to be one (we’re still working on getting patches made), and is all about celebrating the craft of photography, direction, modelling, and the strength of friendship and femmeship!

I love shooting on film. I ditched my digital SLR in favour of the magic of film. Am I romanticising this clunky, inefficient, outdated art form? Absolutely. Should I learn more digital techniques? Maybe. Is film dead? Heck to the no. Film teaches you to be frugal with your frames, film is a chemical reaction that gives images an eternal quality, film just has this… feel. With that, let me present to you my first set of images from Lens Femmes: Volume 1

Model: Chayla Taylor

Chayla is absolute porcelain. Her skin is perfect, which is ideal because my image editing skills are very poor. This was my first time shooting her, but I’ve modelled for her several times previously as she’s a very well regarded photographer amongst the Perth (and beyond) burlesque scene! She glowed in the natural light and I loved capturing her like a laissez-faire pulp queen amongst the glorious divey textures provided by our location. I don’t usually like my subjects to stare down the barrel of the camera, I imagine they’ve got far more important things on their mind.

Model: Kat Wild

Kat is well known as both a photographer and model and is incredibly prolific with her work. She has an incredible way of looking calm and casual and also like she has the ability to throw daggers out of her eyeballs. So I’m glad we’re in the same girl gang. It was a treat to capture her in a really eclectic and bohemian setting.

But look at that death stare though.

Model: Marijke Loosjes

So by now you’ve guessed that none of us are really into spending time outdoors during daylight hours. Marijke is an established visual artist and performer, and incredible to photograph. The laws of foreshortening do not apply to her limbs! I have such respect for her as a creator, so to collaborate in this way was really lovely. Here she is serving you Margot Tenenbaum realness with Wes Anderson inspired framing.

Thanks for reading/viewing, we’re aiming to update weekly with new images from each photographer featured here (and would love to feature any other lens femme gangs out there too!)

xx

[thelensfemmes]

COMING SOON

A new project started by four babes who love to take photos and have their photo taken. We’ll be debuting our collaborations soon as a celebration of our craft and the power of femme friendship!

Are you a total #lensfemme ? We 10/10 recommend getting a crew together and having a beautiful time creating images together.