art + photography by Helen McLean

Woo! What a day!!!! It was a total success, both Jo and I had so much fun.

I didn’t think we could have topped last weeks photo shoot but I am confident that we have!

With the call-out for a hoover vacuum cleaner (thanks Anne van Alkemade) and studio lighting (thanks Peter Kelly), the creation of an apron and headscarf, the hiring of a pale blue dress, a visit to the hairdresser and quite a few location scouting sessions - we were set.

We started out in my studio using Peter Kelly’s studio lighting, but not long after had decided to get out and try some location shots.

This time around we had plenty of time to get me in front of the camera as well, which was just as fun as being behind the camera. And we made sure the red phone came with us on our travels as well - just in case ;o) Well, it came in handy as a car phone!

Stay tuned for our next collaboration - there will be many more!

Jo and I have already planned for a second photo shoot and the theme we are going to work with.

Jo is getting the dress from a costume shop, getting her hair done the morning of the photo shoot, items for the shoot have been borrowed from fellow RedBubblers and I am making an apron and headscarf for Jo to wear.

Jo’s dress will be a pale blue, and I have the perfect fabric to make an apron for it! Last year I bought loads of blue + white gingham fabric with strawberries and cherries all over it..

So cute - so kitsch!

Recently I met Jo O’Brien at a RedBubble get together - and asked her if she’d be interested in collaborating with me on a retro pin-up photo shoot. Jo was open to being a pin-up model for me (actually, she was really keen!) I was so looking forward to this, I even had a dream about it before the day…

So Jo arrives at my place and we nut out the costumes and lighting situation. Unhappy with the available lighting, we decide it’s time to drive into the city (with EVERYTHING) and do the photo shoot in Hosier Lane, Melbourne.

When I say EVERYTHING, we even carried my red vinyl chair through the city, getting quite a few looks along the way!

See images from this shoot my photography portfolio.

Purchase cards & prints through my RedBubble portfolio.