New Zealand's Next Top Model winner turns the tables

Kawerau model turned photographer Danielle Hayes. PHOTO/PLENTY MAGAZINE

Since becoming New Zealand's Next Top Model in 2010 Kawerau's Danielle Hayes has spent a lot of time in front of a camera.

Her modelling career has seen Hayes grace the pages of Elle South Africa, the New York Times Style Magazine, Harper's Bazaar and Vogue Italia. She has walked runways at Paris Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week and the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in South Africa.

But her most recent fashion shoot turned tables.

Working for Whakatane-based Plenty magazine, Hayes found the model, the hair stylist and the make-up artist, and shot the photos herself - including the cover.

Ironically issue 07 of Plenty featured Hayes on the cover and detailed her modelling career inside.

"So, while Plenty editor Andy Taylor was taking photos of me for issue 07, he got wind of the fact I had studied photography at Rotorua's Waiariki campus when I was disillusioned with modelling," Hayes said.

"To cut a long story short, he then asked if I would organise and photograph a fashion shoot."

Using her public Facebook account, Hayes asked potential models, stylists and artists to get in touch.

"My inbox went nuts for two days but eventually I selected one of each and all ended up coming from Kawerau."

Hoping for great weather to capture the Kate Sylvester garments, Hayes and her team spent the day ducking for cover every time the heavens opened.

"But we managed to bang off a few good shots over four-and-a-half hours. It's probably fair to say I knew what I was looking for after spending so many hours on the other side of the lens."

Model Akeylah Wade is photographed by Danielle Hayes for the cover of Plenty. PHOTO/PLENTY MAGAZINE

Plenty co-founder Sarah Travers described Hayes as great to work with.

"She has a keen visual sense, an eye for a perfectly framed photo and also great local connections. We are really happy we got to do our first fashion spread with her as we'll probably never be able to afford her again."

Ms Travers said everyone on set was "freaking out" about the weather except for Hayes who told them to just roll with it as most fashion shoots went belly up within 10 minutes.

While still travelling overseas with modelling commitments, Hayes is also ticking off things on her "to-do" list.

Earlier this year she was at the opening of Ghost in the Shell, the Hollywood movie filmed in Wellington in which she had six non-speaking roles.

In addition, and to complement her photography skills, she is currently taking a writing course, with a long-term goal of writing a book.

She is also working on expanding her YY Express T-shirt line.