Next on my docket after Kayla’s project, was another project that came my way all the way from Holland. 
She came in the form of Nathaly Pater. She’s a designer from Holland that wanted to shoot a new collection on the island. She had a hard time getting a photographer to help her out at first. She wanted to bring her regular photographer down for the project, but he had other engagements to tend to, then she tried hiring one from St.Marten to come down to the island and do it for her. Everything bought and paid for for this photographer, ticket and all. Last minute she bails. So she was in a bind and decided to wing it and try out a local photographer.
I’m it.
So we got together a bunch of girls from the island which we thought would be good for the project. And we got started.
The theme she had in mind was a very adventurous diva shoot. I mean think Crocodile Dundee meets couture. It was supposed to be boots, cowboy hats, whips, knives, maps, compasses and wranglers.
We get to our first shoot.
The model in question was very very exotic. At least to me. I hadn’t seen her before the shoot, but she turned out to be great. I mean she reminded me of Grace Jones!
Her wardrobe was done, and it was time for makeup. When she was sitting there having make up applied to her wonderful liquorish skin. I had an epiphany. One of my infamous epiphanies where something blows my mind, and I start cursing uncontrollably.
She needed African make up. Not just any African make up. But something very special. Tribe specific. I knew what I wanted. Did some quick googling on the blackberry, and came up with an example for the makeup artists, she did it. It looked like what magic should look like. It looked perfect. The designer concurred. She scuttled about, grabbing twigs and corals, and she made some head gear for the sister, and she was golden. It was done.
In that one moment, the new look for the series was born. It was to be more aboriginal. So we tweaked it and we did it. 
We were met with shit weather throughout, but we got the job done, and if you ask me it was a job well done. I had a good time on the project, and I intend on going back to work with some of these girls again.
On the second photoshoot, we were at Kanoa. As you may or may not know, this is both one of the premiere surf locations on the island, and also Natoma Alley. In other words, people go back there to bury murder victims, or to rape future rape victims. So it has it’s stories.
I was there, and there were some abandoned houses. I opened one up, as the door was shut, so I could go inside and see what it’s like, see if we can use the spot.
It was dark. The model and I walk in. I hear this crying. Like a baby crying in there. Scares the Grey Poupon out of me! I look around, I see nothing. It’s too dark to make too much. I feel something tugging at my blue jeans. I look down to my surprise, to find a baby goat! I was instantly in love. I pick her up. She’s ravenous. Hungry. Skinny. She’d been there for a while. My heart melted.
I couldn’t even concentrate on the job at hand for quite a bit. I’m the biggest animal lover in case you didn’t know. Huge on animals. So naturally I wanted to feed her, and take care of her. I could not, as I don’t have the authority to get my own pet or whatever. So one of the models took her home.
For the remainder of the day she only wanted to be with me. I think she thought I was her mom. Which is cool by me. I’d gladly mother, nurture and breast feed, little Bartholomew. Yes, I named her Bartholomew. This was before I knew he was a she. I was too polity to look between her legs. I didn’t think it was fair, I mean…we’d just met, and I’m a gentleman. Someone else, with more Moxy than I, did the dirty work for me, and found out he was a girl. 
We had a fainting model, but she got back in tip top shape in no time, and we did good work.
And so my time with this project was well spend, we got great images, and another happy Robert Volkerts Photography client.
All smiles.
I hope you’ll enjoy this series, as I feel it should be given a little bit of your attention.
Voila && if you’d like to see more from this series or Kayla’s simply click HERE!
