Positive vibes with a Mancunian beefcake

I’ve known Elliot for over ten years, we constantly bump into each other around different parts of Manchester and Tameside. I always appreciate how wholesome Elliot is, he’s full of positive vibes. On the surface, with a satanic tattoo on his forehead and various facial piercings, you’d expect Elliot to be a mean mf’r, but he’s quite the opposite. Elliot messaged me for a shoot as he said he’d never done it before and wanted a new experience. Fortunately, directing amateur models is my bread and butter, so he was in safe hands.

Planning the shoot

As soon as he contacted me I had an image in my head. I want to show Elliot’s progress and growth in an urban environment with a strong contrast of light and dark, to match the duality of his appearance and personality. I’d pictured high-contrast images in a tunnel in the centre of Manchester. He’s a product of his environment, and I want the observer to see that. It would have been easy for me to paint him styled as an ex-con, a mean bastard with an agenda for violence. But knowing Elliot and who he really is and what he stands for, it felt important to portray the relaxed, happy disposition he routinely evokes.

Plans for the future

After our shoot Elliot is now really keen to start a journey into modelling, he’s already looking for people to collaborate with and said his experience shooting with me gave him a huge boost in confidence. He’s already found a glamour model he wants us both to work with.