Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia

I'm up early, aware that today is going to be a long, but hopefully enjoyable day. Over breakfast I watch a big rain cloud out at sea, its dark mass falling like a gauze curtain on the horizon. As I walk back to the villa the wind whips around me and worries start to raise their head over the feasibility of doing a major photoshoot in this weather.

Within moments of me making it back inside the storm hits land. Windows and doors start rattling and from the heavens is unleashed a downpour of epic proportions. The sound of the rain lashing the building and the wind howling through the garden is quite something, reminiscent of news footage of hurricanes wreaking destruction. I watch as palm trees bend in the onslaught and outdoor furniture starts shifting round. The swimming pool is roiling and bubbling like a jacuzzi as the torrents of water from above splash into it. It's an impressive display of nature's force and I remember yesterday's hurricane warnings and wonder is this it? Do we have a fully-fledged tropical storm, a Category 4, sweeping into St Lucia?

The phone goes. It's Charlotte, the fashion editor. Corinne is due over at their villa to start hair and make-up. We're told to sit tight. The possibility looms that the shoot may have to be abandoned, which would be catastrophic. We've come all this way, with days taken out of massively busy schedules and costs incurred and we can't leave tomorrow without the cover feature in the bag.

After thirty minutes the worst has subsided so Corinne and I venture out and brave the rain. Over at the magazine team's villa we discuss the options and we decide to press on with preparations in the hope that the storm has blown itself out. It has eased off substantially for the moment. So I leave Corinne to choose clothes and have the glam squad do their thing, returning to our villa to clear a couple of hours work and prepare for the week ahead back in the UK.

At 1pm I hook up with everyone again and rails of clothes, photographic equipment, supplies and computers are loaded into a van before Corinne, myself and the six magazine crew hop on board and we set off to the shoot location.

Fortunately, the sun is starting to break through the heavy clouds by the time we arrive at Five Dollar Beach, a beautiful cove with cliffs encircling it, wooden steps down to the sand and a cute little beach bar set up. There are a few tourists who idly watch as we all descend, carrying bulky bags and trailing hair tongs, flowing dresses and powder puffs in our wake.

By the time we start shooting the sun is out in full force and we're all slapping on high factor sun cream and staying in the little bits of shade in between shots.

The aim is to complete six completely different looks but these things are never simple and fast and the day drags on as each shot is set up and taken, in hundreds of permutations, to secure that one perfect moment. Corinne walks along the sand, looking fabulous with hair blowing in the breeze. Diana Ross would kill for a wind machine like this!

By now the sun is so fierce that I've taken to holding an umbrella up as a parasol to stop my pale skin from burning. I can feel the frying potential beating down. But once we get on a roll we press ahead, shooting Corinne amongst the rocks, on a hammock and in the sea itself, all with different styling choices being artfully arranged.

By 6pm we're at the end and the light is starting to fade. We've managed everything we needed to do but as Victor, the photographer, checks some of the shots back he realises sea water has got into the camera and corrupted an entire set of pictures so we have to try and redo them. Corinne changes back into the dress she was wearing when in the middle of the sea and we start again.

However within moments what starts to feel like a light drizzle suddenly turns into an intense downpour and with the heavens open all pretence at filming is abandoned while everyone runs for cover and grabs the laptop, electrics and clothes to protect them from the elements. Corinne, with carefree joy, strips off her dress and runs into the sea for a swim in the warm evening rain, as the sea rises and swells around her.

We make it back to the villas for 7.30 and all jump in showers washing off the detritus of sand, salt, suntan lotion and mosquito repellant with relief. Despite the circumstances and the vagaries of tropical weather systems, we've pulled it off and got a great shoot done.

Over dinner that evening Corinne and Lyndsey do the interview, battling with a pianist playing easy listening versions of Elton John, Chicago and Eagles hits. He seems to have been booked as for once there are other guests in the restaurant, a table of Canadians who indulge in a rousing rendition of happy birthday to one of their party.

We round off the evening with a mini party back at the magazine's villa to celebrate a cover feature completed and finished. It's all over and Corinne and I can fly home tomorrow. I can't wait to get back!