Meet Susie

and my Artists Statement:

I'm a Canadian photographer based in Brighton,  UK, and this year,  I celebrate my 24 year career showing everyday people a whole new way to see themselves. 

I see photography as a vehicle to create art.   For me it is more than just taking photos, it is making images that make you feel something.  The process of my shoots is about it is empowering individuals to find confidence in their skin, but also learn that beauty isn't skin deep, but instead it exists when they step into their power and feel it.  Helping my clients to feeling beautiful is as important to me as making beautiful images that they will treasure forever.

My STYLE:

I've never  really felt my work fit into the  pigeon hole of “boudoir" photography, but there isn't really another word for it that I can think of that describes what I do.  I shoot people who aren't wearing much in the way of clothes- Sometimes beautiful lingerie, jewelry, sometimes fitness wear and other times nothing but a bedsheet and a smile.  It's sometimes glamourous, other times natural, but always powerful and strong.  It could be called modern "Pin Up" except I don't like to make my clients look too cutesy or kitsch. I feel it's sometimes more fine art, sometimes inspired by pop culture, fashion magazines or old masters paintings.     

 My INSPIRATION:

 My inspiration comes from many things. I have a deep love for fashion photography and grew up pouring over fashion editorials.  I love the vivid colour palettes, textures,  and storylines as well as the references to pop culture, art history of and vintage fashion and makeup.   Where I fall out of love with mainstream fashion imagery  is with it's unrealistic beauty standards and the sizest, ageist, and cisgendered body, photo manipulated image it promotes.   I would say my work is a fusion of elements of fashion  with subtle erotica and a much more body positive, inclusive and available to all.  While I do sometimes photograph models who are looking to update their portfolios most of the people I photograph are everyday people: uniquely beautiful individuals from all walks of life.  I love photographing humans of all ages, shapes, sizes and genders.  I believe we are all beautiful and worthy and deserving of  being photographed.

Art history and historical and vintage fashion and makeup also are big influences to me. I love elements of Pin Up photography although I don't feel that word sums up my work these days either. In the beginning of my career I opened a "Burlesque Pin UP Parlour at my commercial studio on the high-streets in Brighton at the beginning of my career, but I found the emphasis only on the 40s and 50s limiting. I love Rococo, the twenties, dreamy boho of the sixties and seventies, the mods, the punks, the gothic and Victorian fashions too.  These themes weave into my work and are always just on the surface of our connection with our visual history.

About the FEMALE GAZE:

I  want to let the people I photograph shine with more than just sex appeal,  I want their light and their personalities shine through.  I want them to look intelligent, fun ,sassy, playful and powerful as well as sexy and sometimes provocative.  I want their sense of style and taste to influence the shoot.  I am a female photographer and I think that that influences how I portray women. I don't want to objectify them.   Much more like fashion photography than glamour even if they aren't wearing much.  I want them to be subtly subversive. Strong and in their power. 

My background in SCULPTURE:

I studied sculpture at York University in Toronto many moons ago and it still influences my work. 

I love photographing the body, the texture of skin.  I feel that the absence of clothing in my work is more about the removal of inhibitions and accepting the body.  I am equally happy to photograph you with your clothes on.  I never pressure anyone to wear less than they are comfortable.  My background in sculpture is one of the reasons I took so well to this style of photography is that manipulating the body to create beautiful shapes and to carve it out with shadows is like sculpting with light.  Posing all body types is my superpower. I very much enjoy photographing curvy and plus sized bodies and equally working with bodybuilders and dancers and athletes.

Why I love tattoos and alternative culture:

I love photographing people with tattoos who decorate their skin like lace because they are all about self expression.  I love the stories that are drawn across the skin. Again I love how it is something fashion forgets... The individuality of skin and bodies that tell as story. 

Why I love the Brighton Burlesque Community:

Like what I do, burlesque is all about loving yourself, empowering the body and letting go of limiting self beliefs.    Not only does burlesque involve beautiful costumes, rhinestones, and fabulous styling, I also love the Burlesque communities as their ethos is all about confidence, body acceptance, and dressing up. Whether you are a seasoned performer or just trying it out, I'd love to help you create and develop your character and stage persona.

I am LGBTQ+ friendly and my studio is open to everyone.

I believe all of us, cis trans or non binary are equally deserving of feeling beautiful and  comfortable in their bodies.  I welcome people of all genders and preferences.