The last couple of months have been full of creative chaos, and I wanted to take a moment to share what I’ve been working on, what’s coming soon, and a few glimpses behind the scenes.
Working with New Models
In June and July, I organised sessions with seven amazing new models and from those shoots created ten brand-new character reference packs, including one set on location.
It was three weeks of intense creative energy, squeezed in around my regular studio work. Between organising costumes, repainting the studio floors multiple times, and juggling a dozen character ideas at once, my brain was fizzing with energy. I actually enjoy repainting the cyclorama before every session, it is a meditative part of looking after the studio and always feels like a fresh start after a busy run of shoots.
Photographing other models instead of doing self-portraits brings a totally different energy. Technically, it gives me more freedom to move around the space, try new angles, and experiment with lighting in ways that aren’t always possible when I’m the one in front of the lens.
But it’s also a challenge in a completely different way. I have to externalise the ideas in my head, finding ways to communicate the emotion, movement, and story that usually live inside my own body, and translate that for someone else to bring to life. It’s fascinating to share that process with other women and to see how they interpret these characters.
Ive been filming some behind-the-scenes content from these sessions so you can see a bit of the magic (and mess) that goes into building these packs.
New Stock Packs and Self-Portrait Experiments
So far, I’ve released six of the new model packs, and I’m currently in the thick of editing and uploading the remaining five. With thousands of images still to go through, it’s a marathon. This usually entails long nights using Lightroom and photoshop watching history documentaries in the background ( Time Team, Digging for Britain and History hit on YouTube)
Alongside the model shoots, I managed to squeeze in two self-portrait sessions, the first inspired by the Welsh myth of
Blodeuwedd, who was fashioned from flowers and transformed by fate and the second a
vibrant mermaid series where I experimented with colourful gel lighting.
Travel, Landscapes, and What’s Next
Since returning from Kenya, I’ve been itching to sort through my travel photos—and there are so many gems waiting to be shared. From hot air ballooning over the Maasai Mara plains to hiking through Tasmania’s misty mountains and waterfalls, I’ve collected some incredible landscape images that I’m hoping to turn into something special for you.
And the adventures aren’t over yet! I’ll be heading to the south of France soon to explore châteaus and ancient monasteries, camera in hand.
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Thanks as always for supporting Faestock. whether you’re here for the stock images, the fantasy escapes, or just curious about the photography behind the scenes. I love sharing this journey with you and seeing how these characters and images transform in your own artworks.
💌 I’ll leave you with that for now. More soon, from both the studio and beyond.
— Jessica Truscott / Faestock