Keir Alexa

Last year, I was invited to shoot with world-renowned photographer, Russell James, one of the exclusive photographers for Victoria’s Secret. Our first session was in Miami the day before the Victoria’s Secret summer campaign shoot. A few days later we traveled to Necker Island to shoot at the home of Richard Branson.

This experience was a dream come true as every aspiring model hopes to, one day, shoot with a photographer of Russell’s caliber. Little did I know that this shoot would result in me being included in Russell’s new book, “ANGELS” which is comprised of some of the world’s top models and celebrities. I was incredibly excited and felt truly honored that Russell would include me in such lofty company.

You can learn more about “Angels” as well as read my exclusive interview with Russell at MODELINA.COM

Victoria’s Secret sponsored the launch of “Angels” during New York Fashion week. It was a huge success. The launch was held at the renowned Stephan Weiss Studio in New York. Many of the ANGELS from the book were at the event including Adriana Lima, Candice Swanepoel and Lily Aldridge.

Here is a sneak peak of the Angels event and below is my personal interview with Russell!

Graff Diamonds dressing me in their gorgeous diamond earrings and heart shape bracelet! Getting hair and makeup ready with the talented Donald Mikula. If you are ever looking for a hair and makeup stylist in New York – he is the best! You can view his website HERE.En route to the event with my mom. I am so happy she came to New York to support me!Thank you Jaimie Murray for coming to celebrate!Rihanna looking hot on the wall!! Posing next to my portraits! I am wearing a Barbara Bui dress, Jimmy Choo shoes, Graff Diamonds, and a Chanel purse. 

MY INTERVIEW WITH RUSSELL: 

1. What happened in your career path that lead you to become the Victoria’s Secret photographer? 

The path for me to Victorias Secret was more like a maze. I can’t say I set off with a plan to arrive as a photographer for Victorias Secret. In fact, being an Australian who grew up the remote North West, I didn’t know there was a company called ‘Victorias Secret.’ I didn’t even know there was something called the fashion business. I started out as a metal worker making trashcans, a dog trainer, I had a business cleaning offices and the list goes on. It was not until I was 30 and found myself in Sweden and was introduced to photography. It was love at first sight. That was the year 1989. I worked in Europe (well I think it was work, I shot lots of images, however I didn’t get paid). Eventually though, in 1996, I received an offer to shoot in New York for Sports Illustrated Swimweat Edition and W magazine in the same week. The Sports Illustrated turned out to be the cover of Tyra Banks and theW magazine gave me some street creds as a ‘fashion guy.’ Victorias Secret President Ed Razek eventually saw some of my published works a couple of years later and that was my first shoot for Victorias Secret.

2. I know your book is full of beautiful woman. Is there any other inspiration behind the book? 

It is a significant book to me because I have always had trouble ‘picking a lane.’ I love so many genres of photography and in fact was the one reason I was constantly rejected by agents in New York. However, one incredible agent, Palma Driscoll at Bryan Bantry, eventually saw the vision I did; that it is possible to love shooting landscapes, indigenous culture, fashion, nudes and many other things and not have to say I am just known for one genre. I have previously published books on my love of nature (Nomad Two Worlds), my first book covered many areas I loved to shoot (Russell James 2009) and several other books. However, ’the nude’ is a delicate area and I wanted to wait until I could create a collection that would not just be gratuitous nudes. I wanted it to be a series of expressions from the most subtle sensual to the overtly sexual – because that is the complexity and mystery of women that I admire. It was important to me that I finally paid this genre of photography the respect of a full book. The nude has long been the artistic fascination for so many going back to the time man learned to etch or paint.

3. What are your top three favorite locations to shoot at and why? 

Having traveled so far and so often I have love affairs with many locations around the world. However, three standouts are Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands, home of Richard Branson, The Kimberlie Ranges in North West Australia that defy description and are beautiful beyond words, and Bali.

4. You shoot so many beautiful woman from around the world. How did you select your models for the book? 

Part of the book is models I met through Victorias Secret, or through similar type shoots. Then over time I think (and this I find humbling) I found I had developed something of a trust with women that I would always treat their nude form with great respect, that I would partner with them and that I would NEVER publish a nude they themselves didn’t love. So now I seem to be approached by models, celebrities and people in general who would like to capture their own beauty, but not feel bad about it afterwards.

5. How do you make girls feel comfortable in their birthday suits? 

[Laughs] Well, no matter how gently I prepare to make sure it is as comfortable an environment as possible, there inevitably comes the time where I am standing there with a camera and the subject is standing there naked. It’s the 500 pound gorilla in the room.  However, I usually start by shooting a portrait and not a full figure nude. The conversation is important, I talk about anything from food to family – and not the fact we are doing a nude shoot. At some stage I relax, they relax and then we get absorbed in the art of making images.

6. What inspired you to shoot the book with all nudes? 

I finally felt I had the confidence to shoot an entire book on the subject that would be respectful, provocative, tasteful and above all else, that the people in the photographs would be proud to be in the book.