As highlighted in a previous post, Portugal is a production paradise. Production of goods, and also production of images? “A temperate climate, gorgeous landscapes and beaches, plus a relatively low cost of living make it a rather attractive location”, explains Helena Barnard, founder of model agency Levant Models and of Team Production Portugal.
Helena Barnard spent 15 years working in the fashion industry in London, before deciding 7 years ago to move with her husband and 2 young children to the Algarve in Portugal, in search of a warmer climate and outdoors lifestyle by the sea.
Having visited the Algarve on numerous occasions, she realised what potential the area had as a location to shoot in. The great lighting conditions throughout the year, diverse landscapes, fantastic contemporary architecture and close proximity to the U.K and most northern European countries.
Initially Helena set up www.levantmodels.com, a model agency that mainly specialised in kids from all over Europe. “The Algarve has many families from different nations, the U.K , Germany, Russia, Holland and France often mixed with Portuguese, to make for some of the most beautiful children in Europe! The kids are very relaxed due to spending much of the time on the beach and really enjoy taking part in the shoots. They often have English as their first language, making easy communication with the photographers” explains Helena. Levant Models has provided kids for clients from U.K, Denmark, Holland, Switzerland and as far a field as Canada flying over to photograph the children.
Following the success of the model agency, came www.teamproductionsportugal.com to provide fashion clients a one stop service, allowing to produce a whole kids fashion shoot from start to finish, including top kids fashion photographers, locations and location houses, set buildings, hair makeup transport and catering. Team Productions Portugal represents Gerard Harten, Ian Boddy, Julia Bostock and Nina W Melton, all highly respected names in the fashion world, who have worked for magazines such as Vogue Bambini, Luna or Babiekins.
The Behind the scenes photography below shows some of the most recent work with Noppies and photographer Fiona Ruhe, also for Cherokee, with photographer Darren Taylor, in association with PhotoLink Creative.
From the Cherokee photoshoot :
From the Noppies Photoshoot :
Helena and family in the Algarve :
Charlotte Bradbury at www.photolinkstudios.co.uk and photographer Darren Taylor for the Cherokee shoot
Photographer www.fionaruhe.com for Noppies.
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