Loni Hale, a good friend of mine and makeup artist for Factor teamed up with me to shoot a fashion editorial based on Light and Darkness. Using a truly talented Ford model (Emily Doyle), hair textures, strongly stylized clothing, unexpected accessories, and makeup techniques we transformed the models into different people with every look. We really had fun exploring the different ways to play with these concepts, and came up with a nice variety of images. One of the most enjoyable parts for me was designing the color palettes alongside the mood and concept. I also really enjoyed how the single model in this shoot looks like at least three different women. It speaks to Loni’s talent when she can use makeup as a tool to transform a woman. It’s amazing how much you can aesthetically control and manipulate people. Scroll down to check out all of the different results from our shoot!
There is something about the steampunk aesthetic that will always be timeless. The accents, the details, and the highlights present in the theme will always be around, and will always be just strange enough to stand out yet belong to an idea at the same time. I enjoy capturing timelessness in my work, and in such alternative and edge atmospheres I play with the many ways to bring that concept to life in a time of its own. This series focuses on the softer edges of what is considered an abrasive style. Its sensual, its delicate, yet it simultaneously exonerates strength and power.
Title: Hazy Leather
Photographer – Emily Gualdoni
Makeup and Hair – Kate Johnson
Prop Stylist – Adriana Amarei Soleim
Wadrobe/Accessory Designer – Rachel Frank
Models – Nasreen with Agency Galatea
“Hazy Leather” was published in Dark Beauty Magazine. To view the issue, please visit this link: http://bit.ly/DBM_31
I absolutely loved photographing gorgeous and unique faced, Clara Rae in this futuristic/retro Chicago fashion editorial shoot. The whole creative team had such great chemistry and a strong vision. The end result was published in two well-known fashion magazines. Keep reading to find out about all the details.
Back in September I worked on a shoot that I designed to challenge myself into going farther than I normally do. My aesthetic goal was incorporate both retro and futuristic themes without them contradicting each other. The makeup, the hats, the hair, it all alludes to the 1920’s while rocketing the look into the future with the use of edgy color, heavily textured and metallic backgrounds, dynamic lighting, alternative shooting, all with an overall gist of beauty, darkness, and strength. My model for the shoot, Clara, emotionally expressed these themes flawlessly. It was the first time I worked with her, and the way she moves was so fitting. Towards the bottom of this post I have a video that was filmed that day to give you a look of what it was like to be there. You can see for yourself this way just how well the atmosphere came together.
This was also the first time I collaborated with a nail artist. Ashley Crowe aka “Astrowifey” went above and beyond my expectations. She designed the most beautiful nails on the spot that perfectly matched our theme. Sharp, holographic, and exploding out of the box. I think this was one of the details that really helped rocket the shoot further. This was also the first time I built as many extravagant sets as I did. Using primarily metal and plastic materials, I had a blast mounting, hanging, collaging, and putting together these tiny worlds. I made 6 sets in total.
One of the best parts of this shoot was how it all came together after it was over. I enjoyed the editing process on such a dynamic look. I used a lot of alternative shooting methods so almost all of the crazy things you see in the photos are actually done in person using only in-camera editing. The biggest challenge here was balancing the light sources from a projector and standard strobes. On top of that it was published by two magazines. Glassbook featured it as one of their online editorials and Ashley Crowe had it published in Tipsy Magazine, a nail art mag that gave it a huge spread. I can’t thank my team enough for making this one such a good experience.
