Ema and Itsuko - some studio portraits

July 26, 2007

Ema on a motorbike shot at the Models Studio in Bury by Jonathan Ryan

From the name of the site and the pictures that are often posted here, you might think that all my work is weddings. That’s close to the truth (especially in the “season”) but I find time for all kinds of photography. I particularly love working in studios where I get the chance to control and play with light.

My niece Ema (that’s the correct spelling - her father’s English and her mother’s Japanese) has just turned 18 and was in the UK with her friend Itsuko. I jumped at the chance to book a studio and take some pictures of them both as a belated birthday present.

By chance, I found a great studio literally down the road from where we were all staying. Model Studio in Bury has everything the traveling pro could possibly need. Obviously there are plenty of lights but how many studios do you find that have not only a motorbike (above) but also hay bales…

Ema and Itsuko on hay bales in the studio

Ema in her favourite red dress ("a bargain!")

We had a great time - but I think I wore the girls out. I really can’t reveal just how early they went to bed after 5 hours shooting. Must have been all the efforts of putting on their Yukatas…

Ema and Itsuko wearing traditional Japanese yucatas