Our Koibito photo shoot took place last week. It was inspired by the film The Grand Budapest Hotel if that isn’t obvious to those that haven’t seen the film. I just thought that the whole theme of the film being set in a hotel with the Mendl’s cakes in boxes reminding me of our delicious love boxes.

The location was hard to find. I wanted to use a hotel lobby but I also wanted it to be very retro, in keeping with Grand Budapest Hotel. The amazing photographers Hannah and Sorcha from Instant Forever found a great location locally in Hove in a mansion building. With the perfect lift and gated door.

Next was the costume and the model. Luckily a very good friend of mine moved to Brighton last year, hot stuff herself Xara Xavier. Xara is the epitome of sex but also I think quite androgynous and so I felt perfect for the bell boy look. We went up to the original genius Prangsta, in New Cross and Mel created a bellboy costume especially for the shoot, with the hotel bell sewn onto the hat!

All set for action, last thing I thought we needed 2 rich looking ladies so I enrolled myself and my pal Tania – begged some posh coats for the shoot, a little powdering from Lucille the make up artist and and Hey Presto.