Alva Leigh | Musician, Mother & Badass | Portraiture/Personal Branding
Alva Leigh Musician | Personal Branding and Portraiture Day Shoots
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Alva couple of times now. Being a musician, business woman and general strong amazing lady, we had two fascinating journeys together exploring her personal brand and how we illustrate it through portrait and brand photography. The balance between how we want to represent her brand whilst still reflecting a very genuine, unposed and uncringe version of herself remains a topic I’m interested in.
After me asking lots of questions, swapping imagery and creating mood boards we refined outfit ideas and pulled in the wonderful Make-up By Harper to collaborate with us, to create our first slightly surreal series of imagery.
Alva found a quirky house with a range of structures on the property that had been abandoned or have grown into disrepair which were a perfect playground for the shoot providing surreal and interesting backdrops. There was an overgrown tennis court, a run-down glasshouse, a sauna/steam room that was so bizarre! There was also a lovely lawn and lots of nice greenery around and some 70s vibes to the house - interesting wallpaper and decor.
What story are we telling?: Listen here: Alva Leigh On Spotify
”The music is pretty classic pop songwriting in a modern, minimal, electronic background so I think it could be interesting for the images to mimic that - a little bit left of classic. Having some images that read quite vintage, feminine, dreamy but with some sort of modern element - whether it be a prop or a backdrop, then the opposite - modern styling on a vintage 70s backdrop. Playing the contrast a bit. When I say 'a little bit left of classic' I don't necessarily mean a pretty, feminine dress with trainers but something a bit more grown-up. Some images could read almost campy - like a kooky outfit with a serious face. I don't know if it'll be possible to pull off!”
Words that describe the vibe?: A bit feminine, romantic, dreamy
By the time we shot again, Alva was heavily pregnant with her second child. Embarking on this epic exciting and intimidating life change, we were able to revisit her personal brand and how she navigates this as mother and pregnant.
We were clear that we wanted to avoid the 'earth mother' stereotype in the styling that is sometimes given to pregnant women, we struggled to find imagery that we loved to inspire us - we wanted to keep it soft & playful & feminine but also strong & dramatic.
We kept things simple and contrasting from the first shoot and shot in a studio in The Custard Factory in Digbeth. Again the talented Harper joined us to work her magic in natural and radient make up artistry, she really is the best and also uses all vegan products. ABSOLUTE babe.
What are you writing/thinking a lot about at the moment?
“This EP continues from the last - caught in the emotional tumble dryer of new motherhood - the anticipation, the fear of doing it wrong, the relentlessness, the exhaustion, the loneliness, but also the joy and the sheer exhilaration of it all! Coming into it the second time around I feel like having/raising children is this wild and uncontainable process that I sometimes feel really daunted by but also really honoured to take on.”
What are you listening to? Your current 3 desert islands discs? Albums or singles.....
“Hmm the Moana soundtrack! Ha!”
Follow Alva
INSTAGRAM @Alvaleigh
SPOTIFY @AlvaLeigh