My first ever commercial model shoot

During the last week of March 2025, I really started getting into doing photoshoots with professional and semi professional models. Before then, I had mostly done shots with friends and family, and some other local people in Doncaster. I had done a recent shoot with a male model/actor, and I was totally hooked after that experience.

I knew this was what I wanted to do as the perfect counter balance to my day job as a pharmacist in the NHS.

On the Saturday of that week, I had my first ever shoot with an out and out commercial model, Zsanett Kukucska. We decided to do a shoot along the river Thames. The weather that week was incredible to say it was March, it was sunny and not too warm, essentially, perfect shooting conditions.

I was so exited for the shoot, it had been planned for about a month. I had already done 3 shoots that week, but this was the one that I was really looking forward to. The mere chance to work with a commercial model (and also actress) was to me, the stuff of dreams. I never thought I would have this opportunity in my life, yet here I was, about to do it for real.

I got the train early Saturday morning from Doncaster to Kings Cross, we were to meet at Monument station for about ten. I had not been to that part of London for a while, and got a bit lost in the underground, but luckily, still managed to get there early.

My heart was racing, I was so nervous, I had no idea what to expect, even though I had already done a few shoots, this shoot was with an actual out and out model, who did it for a living. For me, the stakes were pretty high.

ZZ (as I like to call her) turned up with a big smile and gave me a hug....I thought to myself, this a good start!

We started walking towards the River Thames and we got talking. It soon became apparent that ZZ was a really nice, easy going person. We started taking some test shots, and the creative energy just flowed. We took some fantastic photos, and the three hour shoot flew by. We started around the River Thames and ended up in Borough Market where we took some more great pics.

I can honestly say, that even to this day, having done quite a few other shoots since then, that day, that shoot, will forever hold a special place in my heart. We had such an amazing time, such artistic chemistry between us, and I think the results (when I end up finishing all the edits) will speak for themselves.

In fact, we had such a great time, we organised another shoot, that we recently did a few weeks ago. We are hopefully planning a third shoot in a few months time.

There are certain occasions in life that sear in the memory, sometimes in a good way, sometimes a bad way. This was certainly one of the good ones.

I could not have wished for a better start to the world of commercial model photography.