A Level Photography student’s fashion shoot transforms Happisburgh beach

2nd June 2021 – Tags: A Levels, Fashion, Photography, Textiles

Happisburgh beach provided the backdrop for a stunning fashion shoot by A Level Photography student Annie Walter, in collaboration with NUA Fashion Design student Emily Rose.       

On a cold and breezy April afternoon, a corner of Happisburgh beach was transformed by the arrival of smoke machines, a doorway adorned with flowers and butterflies, and two models wearing the students’ striking dresses.  

The inspiration behind the shoot was the idea of life being re-set and re-starting after the period of lockdown – with one model leading the other through a vibrant doorway towards a brighter, more hopeful, future.  

The images will form part of Annie’s final project for the A Level photography course she is studying at City College Norwich, alongside A Levels in Textiles and Film. She has also entered her photographs into Vogue magazine’s 2021 New Talent Competition.  

This was not the first time Annie has done a photography shoot on Happisburgh beach. Last year, inspired by the work of fashion photographer Steven Meisel, she did a shoot highlighting the environmental harms caused by fast fashion.         

Annie is planning to develop her fashion photography skills further after she completes her A Levels this summer. She is hoping to do some work shadowing, and gain work experience, with some of the leading fashion photographers in Europe.  

Ms Walter is no stranger to making bold and ambitious decisions. At the age of 16, after meeting her boyfriend during a trip to the UK, she decided to re-locate from Hamburg in Germany to Norfolk. It was at her boyfriend’s suggestion that she then decided to study A Levels with The Sixth Form Centre at City College Norwich.  

Fashion and photography have been of interest to Annie for several years. She has been a model herself and says her own interest in fashion photography “slowly started” when she bought her first camera at the age of 12.  

Annie says that her 2 years at City College Norwich have been a revelation – helping her to become much more aware of the opportunities that exist within the fashion industry, and of her own talents and desire to pursue a career in fashion.  

She says,

I never thought it would be possible to be an artist. When I was at school in Germany, it was never mentioned that you could be a photographer or a fashion designer.  I came here and it actually opened my eyes that I am actually good at those things.”  

Annie adds

The teachers here are so helpful. They are all really kind. You are sort of on the same level with all of them.”  

Craig Osborne, Photography Course Leader, City College Norwich, comments,   

Throughout the course Annie has been incredibly driven and consistent in her attitude towards work and the quality of her images. She has developed over the last 2 years into a very talented and creative photographer. You can see from her images just how accomplished Annie is and I can see a very positive future for her. I truly believe that at City College Norwich she has had opportunities that she simply would not have had anywhere else.”