My 31 Before-And-After Pics Reveal How Much These Beautiful Images Are Photoshopped To Look Surreal

I'm a 30-something female creative from Wales, UK obsessed with all things creative. I used to make a living as a model and photographer, but these days, I just do it for fun because I enjoy the creative process. Doing it for a living took all of the fun right out of it for me, so I thought it was more important to take a step back from professional work.

I focus on fantasy, horror, conceptual, and surreal photography because, to me, digital artistry is an opportunity to live in ways we'd never truly be able to; to experience and think about things we otherwise might not have. Half the appeal for me is that it doesn't look like reality. Life is often predictable or boring, and creating images like these allows me to explore ideas and themes that don't quite fit inside the box (until they create a device that allows me to go live inside my dreams anyway).

I'd always been interested in photography but had only ever taken pictures of animals or landscapes until I quit modeling myself. I transitioned from model to photographer because although I worked with some amazing creatives, I always found myself thinking 'That's not how I would've done it' and wondering just how they'd missed a chance to try X, Y, Z. Where I live, photographers are already a rarity but fantasy and horror photographers (the type I was desperate to work with) were few and far between, so I started to think that if I wanted certain images, maybe it'd just be easier to do them myself. It sounds stupid but I first began learning how to use Photoshop because some of my regular photographer clients didn't always know how to remove any spots (yup, I had spots but I still got booked somehow!), and I was concerned that if the images were posted of me with a zitty face, it might not look too good for my modeling work. So combine some know-how with an absolutely desperate desire to do something a bit more 'out there', and before I knew it, I was behind the camera instead of in front of it - and I wouldn't change a thing!

I don't think I could do what I do without editing. With the right enhancements, a composite image can go from a hodge-podge of craziness to a fully-fledged fantasy fable that keeps you coming back to look a second time. I usually approach my photo editing with a very specific goal in mind: does it look like it came out of a fairytale storybook? I think the editing portion of my work is where its soul lives; I love giving my images an almost otherwordly, old feel, as I want them to feel like they each have a story to tell. To me, editing is the most enjoyable (and surprisingly relaxing) aspect of the creative process; some of my edits can take anywhere up to 8 hours at a time to finish. 

I work primarily with amateur models and non-models - I've even asked strangers on the street to pose for me before. You don't need to be experienced to work with me, as I think everyone has a look that works for something. You're unequivocally, unapologetically you, and you're wonderful, exactly as you are, so don't let anyone tell you that you have to be a size 0 and look like Kim Kardashian to feel beautiful in front of the camera! When I look for a model to work with, I want to find someone who is easygoing and concerned with one thing - enjoying themselves. I have a motto I live by: 'If you're not having fun, why bother?' and this is the first thing I tell people when they work with me. The best images are taken when someone isn't hyper-focused on what they look like but when they're laughing, joking, and having fun. Seeing someone's confidence skyrocket because they're enjoying themselves more than they thought they would is a wonderful feeling and even more so when they see the images afterward. If you want to look amazing on a photo shoot, the best advice I can give you is to just be yourself and be silly with it. You only live once, right?

If there are any aspiring models (of any orientation) reading this who want to know how to get into the scene and start putting themselves out there to photographers around the UK, why not try the websites I got started on? Both Purpleport.co.uk and Modelfolio.io are great places to start. It's a great, fun hobby that I highly recommend to anyone. Just remember, don't take it too seriously, and have fun with it!