The Tiki room began quite simply as a set for a Skin Deep shoot with the shapely Raylene. (first row of images. When I saw her wonderful new bamboo tattoo I recalled the cheesy dollar store bamboo wall covering, and thought it would be the perfect backdrop. My shoot with Raylene went beautifully, and as I was preparing to tear down the set I booked a shoot with uber sexy Summer Lotus, who had, to me, a very Polynesian cast about her. As it was just before Halloween, I located more dollar store props and thus the Tiki Room was resurected. (Summer is row two...)

After my highly successful shoot with Summer, I began to get requests from models who wished to be shot on the set, and began a series of nine separate photo shoots incorporating the Tiki motif. A couple of the subjects were private contract clients, and declined to be included in the Tales of Tiki gallery, but suffice it to say, fun was had as the tropical temperment washed away the massive snowfall and frigid temperatures of November in Edmonton.

My second shot with the statuesque Taunya (row three) incorporated the set, and when I shot the upcoming feature "Faster Pillowfight, Kill, KILL!" with ZsaZsa LaBitche and Jade Grenade (row four) the Tiki Room was the favoured location for our fifties pin-up approach. (I am still finding feathers...) Perenial test subject Mynxi, (row five, frame one) in for an entirely different project, begged to get naked in the Tiki and show off her new lower back tat. We had a lot of fun, but you don't get to see the best stuff...;o)

For my shoot with Cattiva Read (Aka Miss Carrie - row five, frame 2) I altered the set slightly, using the faux leopard as backdrop, a set-up I maintained for the last Tiki blast with new discovery Carolina Phoenix, who graces the last two frames. I promise, you will see more of this luscious package in future.

Please don't think for an instant that I believe the Tiki Room was a marvel of set design or construction. I do not. It was cheap, cheesy and built entirely from dollar store components, including the leopard throw. (it cost more than a dollar, but came from the dollar store, none the less.) What was interesting to me was it's popularity with models and clients, and their genuine desire to be photographed on that set. I blame too many years of Gilligan's Island re-runs. A culture full of Mary-Ann and Ginger wannabes... Worked for me.