Dawn Wilkins is a photographer, designer and an amazing woman. She’s responsible for some of my most enduring promo images and has an endless ability to draw out the inner light in her subjects. As producers of The Bristol Burlesque Festival, Tiger Tiger and I were thrilled when Dawn agreed to create the promotional images for the Festival. Here, Dawn walks us through the process of creating these images.
I was asked by Tuesday Laveau and Tiger Tiger - organisers of the Bristol Burlesque Festival to produce artwork for the festival. Having photographed Tuesday and various other dancers in the past and having a background in design I jumped at the chance.
Ally Katte (c) Dawn Designs Photography
They wanted something that represented the city of Bristol as well as reflect the edgy, individual and non-traditional nature of the local burlesque scene. Banksy was something that immediately sprung to Tuesday’s mind particularly the iconic image Love is in the Air (flower thrower) and we decided to recreate that image but as a badass dancer throwing glitter – a must in any dancer’s kit!
Banksy – Love is in the Air
Tuesday kindly modelled for me and let me put her in the surprisingly unnatural and awkward pose to echo the Banksy picture. It was rather difficult and uncomfortable for her, but she was very patient and did a great job!
Banksy inspired Bristol Burlesque Festival poster. Featuring Tuesday Laveau and created by Dawn Wilkins Photography. (c) Bristol Burlesque Festival 2013 & Dawn Wilkins Photography
It was great fun to do and lovely to get my teeth into some exciting design work. And even if I say so myself, I’m pretty pleased with the result.
You can find out more about Dawn and booking her for a studio or location shoot on her website here. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook for updates on her photography work.
