Pirates and Russian Dolls at Imogen's Wardrobe

In October I had the pleasure of shooting for my favourite childrenswear designer, Beth, over at organic clothing company Imogen's Wardrobe. It's been an exciting month for Imogen's Wardrobe - Beth has launched a new Etsy shop and an online shop on Towards the Stars, the world's largest marketplace for empowering gifts for girls. 

All these innovations require great images and so, armed with wooden swords and pirate hats our fabulous models went forth with great good humour to pose for me.  The t-shirts belong to Beth's signature Pirate range, the dresses to her gorgeous organic dress line. 

Best thing of all? She has 10% off before Christmas. Get your orders in now! 

Fashion forward.... Imogen's Wardrobe Revisited

If you follow this blog at all, you'll know that I've been involved with various photoshoots for childrenswear designer Beth Cameron, founder of Imogen's Wardrobe.  All summer we have planned a follow up shoot based on the fantastic new collections Beth has been developing.

Unfortunately, a grazed knee curtailed this shoot... and this was all I got (the knee is all better).

Spa Spectacular for Maggie's Cancer Centres

It was manicures a go go on Wednesday at Bright Grey's Spa Spectular evening in aid of Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres. Craig Hill compered a goodie-packed raffle and most excitingly of all, Beth Cameron gave Imogen's Wardrobe its first test run. See below for the photographic evidence...

Imogen's Wardrobe - The Launch

I often think that starting a new business is a bit like having a baby - there's an incubation period with a fair bit of discomfort and a lot dreaming, anticipating and organising - and then there is the birth! Just as Beth Cameron's gorgeous girl Imogen is about to turn three, her new baby Imogen's Wardrobe is about to be launched. Imogen's Wardrobe's first collection is called Little Girl Pirate and sails with bucaneering beauty on a sea of vintage lace, handprinted cotton and organic denim. Every detail is delicious, from the upcycled silk applique through to the pretty shell buttons. There is even an adorable range of accessories, for the piratical pigtail. It was a huge pleasure shooting the photography for Beth's first collection - the images have been used in her brochure and catalogue as seen below.

Imogen's Wardrobe will launch at Bright Grey's Spa Spectacular in aid of Maggie's Cancer Centre on 6 October.

Behind the scenes at the Little Girl Pirate Shoot

I thought it might be fun to do a quick behind the scenes tour of today's Imogen's Wardrobe photoshoot. The shoot was about capturing some promotional pictures for the Imogen's Wardrobe upcoming Little Girl Pirate Collection, so the concept was... piratical! Beth (the talent behind the label) had scoured the seven seas for pirate hats and materials and fashioned some marvellous wooden cutlasses with her own fair hands. Our first two models, Imogen and Cora were very excited about being pirates and scrambled into their gorgeous little girl pirate dresses with great enthusiam. Ellie, our lovely red-head was less keen - and even the lure of wearing a pink taffeta petticoat and getting a lovely treat failed to win her over!

And then there were two...

Despite her lack of pirate fervour, Ellie stayed around to cheer us on though and chased those pirate girls round and round the promenade. Their friend Will and his mum Aly stopped by too to say hello to the little girl pirates and to try a cutlass out for size.

Portobello makes a fantastic setting for shoots like this - our merry models can run around without any restrictions, the sand acts as a great golden reflector and the sea and sky make for a gorgeous blue-streaked backdrop. Unfortunately for us, the wind picked up and the clouds rolled in and soon our pirates were shivering their timbers.

We made for a quick exit - luckily Beth had had the forethought to provide delicious hot chocolate and buttered rolls, so our pirates were able to restore themselves before returning to their rollicking ways.

The key to shoots like this is to make them into a great big game - the girls were happy to run across the beach looking for mermaids and to try to touch the sky with their swords. Had I asked them to look at the camera and smile... I don't like to imagine the consequences.

Some vital statistics:

Photographer: Margaret Clift McNulty
Creative Director: Beth Cameron
Props: Neil Cameron
Model Manager: Janet Jones
Models: Cora, Imogen (and nearly Ellie)

Equation for a successful shoot:

30 smiles - (3 bouts of tears + 3 grazed knees) x 3 hot chocolates + lots of cuddles = Little Girl Pirate photoshoot.

Here are some behind the scenes pictures from the shoot:

Cap'n Imogen (of Wardrobe fame) gets into the Pirate spirit.


"Jump! Jump!" Cora and Imogen work on staying warm between shots.


"I don't want to be a pirate!" having ducked out of being an official model in the shoot, our mischievous model Ellie feels much cheerier. Being cuddled up to her mummy is far better option.


The lovely Will pops by to check on the girls and partakes of a bit of pirate banter.


Imogen is on the lookout for any scurvy knaves who might be interrupting out photoshoot on Portobello's promenade.


Mmmmm some thick Spanish hot chocolate courtesy of the Imogen's Wardrobe kitchen helps our chilly models to warm right up. Luckily Beth, who was styling the shoot had the forethought to remove the dresses!


Woe is me! Not another picture! I want to get on with playing... and with eating that pink cake I was promised!

Little Girl Pirate at Imogen's Wardrobe

Some more beautiful designer dresses from the talent that is Beth Cameron at Imogen's Wardrobe. Beth is putting the finishing touches to her Little Girl Pirate Collection, gorgeous handmade dresses and tops each sporting a pirate theme. We had a lot of fun shooting these pictures down in Portobello with Cora and Imogen in good spirits despite a chilly wind and gathering grey clouds.

Beth will be taking her Little Girl Pirate Collection to the upcoming Spa in the City event to raise money for Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres. If you want to get your hands on a unique, handfinished piece from Beth's very first collection, get yourself down to Ghillie Dhu, 2 Rutland Place, Edinburgh on Wednesday 6 October, 6.15pm - 9.30pm. Tickets are £16.

Imogen's Wardrobe

I'm so excited to have had the privilege of photographing the first pieces of new children's clothing line Imogen's Wardrobe. Imogen's Wardrobe is the brain child of the talented and creative Beth Cameron. Her concept is to produce exquisite handmade garments from upcycled materials and beautifully, ethically produced fabrics.

Her designs are eclectic and gorgeous with adorable detailing, bringing festival chic to the toddler market. The items here are modelled by Cora and Imogen (of the wardrobe!).