A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure and honour of being asked to work with Caveboy Studios. The group are an amazing Melbourne-based photography collective with an incredible focus and energy about them. I’d admired their work on Facebook previously, so when Shami (their photographer) contacted me with a desire to shoot my Lucifer’s Wrath act, I lept at the chance to be involved.

I rocked up at Newport station, devil horns in tow, and waited for collection by Shami for the shoot. A dark van appears, and a few beeps are enough to get me inside. Suddenly, I feel like I’m stuffing myself into a clown sidecar. Shami’s in the front with Miss Nic, while Paul and Amanda (Hair Genius and Make-Up Extraordinaire, respectively) are hollering from the back seat. They’re racing the sun, determined to make it to the beach before sun-down for the final shots in Miss Nic’s photo series.

Miss Nic is a flash of electric blue – nails, fringe and make-up perfectly coordinated. I watch the sunset, as the Studio crew clamber over seaside rocks, swiftly setting up for the final set. Miss Nic is powerfully poised (skeletal crown, epic sword and all), and with the wind whipping her gown in a torrential swirl, she is every bit a valkyrie sea goddess.

We return to homebase, a backyard studio, with the warning that Shami is a crazy chair lady. And it’s true. There’s a gathering of chairs in every corner. The studio is incredible. Beautiful music, scents and collected mementos line the walls. It has the feeling of a temple, a place of worship, a sacred place of creation. I’m instantly calm and comfortable – a rare moment for me when I do photoshoot work. And I feel instantly connected to the creative team working with me.
A few hours in hair and make-up, and we’re ready to go. Thanks to the talented hands of Amanda and Paul, Lucifer’s looking better than she ever has. With a little direction from Shami, I feel confident I can stare straight down the barrel of the camera and nail the shots. I briefly meet Rob, the mastermind of Caveboy’s post production efforts. He returns just in time for the pastie-shots. Timing.

I loved everything about the experience. A truly talented and joyous crew to work with. I feel somehow changed by this shoot – it’s reaffirmed my belief in the importance of originality and the religion of creativity. I feel less jaded by the photographic shoot experience. I value the genuine in people, and found this in abundance.  I can’t wait to see the final shots and look forward to the next chance I get to work with them. Below just might be my favourite behind-the-scenes shot – a rare glimpse into a truly happy and comfortable moment in my performance skin.

Vesper xxx

Find Caveboy Studios here and here.
Find Amanda’s make-up work here.