Fashion photography is about going deeper from what is expected. If you're given a task or theme, you cannot just stick to it. Somehow, within yourself you've got to build it bigger and better. It's not about following the book but creating an individual story that interests you and the audience. A story is the key to a successful outcome. You have to get it right because if it gets too complex for the audience to realise what's going on then people lose interest and the whole collection of pictures becomes a confusion.
We tried to create a story of two housewives mimicking our theme by using different locations that could as a whole represent different parts of a house. The title of the editorial was Disturban. Two words: distressed and suburbia mixed together to create a unique title to the story. We wanted to emphasis the 60's fashion which we spent a good amount of time styling but also correspond this with a sense of sadness and secrets.
This first picture below was decided to be the front cover of our 6 page spread. It seems to be the most powerful with the very sinister looking face and the action of her kicking down the door. This picture was also the first part of the story where we photographed the model acting as if she was kicking the door open instead of walking in. The idea that this photo is the beginning and she is already acting destructive, something a housewife would never do, shows that through the door lies more secrets. The quote behind closed doors really stands out in this image.
This three page spread of the housewife in the bins is another part of the story where she's taking out the trash yet her sitting down on the chair acting as if she doesn't care about her duties to serve as a housewife emphasises the theme. We edited the photo so the background became very blurred leaving just the body a lot brighter. This is to show the beautiful 60's dress she's wearing along with massive sunglasses and a red handbag since it's not only about the shot but the styling and clothes too.
Another photo of the collection with the housewife standing on the chair holding the rubbish bag in the same sort of careless way.
The next two photos of the second house wife are quite clearly a distressed look. We smudged her makeup and tasseled her hair along with styling the model in a massive skirt.
The second picture is again the same outfit but her standing next to a bucket and holding a mop. The picture is in black and white but we left the strip of purple in colour to emphasis the skirt. The idea of a housewife's job to clean is used by the mop but knocked down by the smudged mascara and stern look on her face.
One of my favourite pictures, we tried to capture it looking like some sort of office. We found this location in the basement where most of the other photographs were taken. We got her to look as destructive as possible by having a cigarette in her mouth and acting as if she was about to set the files on fire.
The photo of both models / housewives together really capture the 60's fashion. We chose to use the two brightest and boldest dresses together because this way the photo looks more as one. Both have messy hair and smudged makeup with a very sad and destructive look on their faces. This is one of my favourite photos because the faces really fit with the theme and story of our shoot and the clothes are so eccentric. Everything clashes together in the right way creating what I would say, one of the best photos.
This last photo is also one of my favourites. The outfit was incredible, as soon as we put then on Cece (the model) we couldn't not photograph them. We tried to stick with the 60's outfits but as we weren't trying to create an actual housewife we realised we could twist the clothes a bit and turn it a little modern. We asked some builders to borrow a bit of paint and a paintbrush while we took the photos. The idea that she is doing work that would be considered a mans job shadows the whole theme.
Over all I am so pleased with what we produced as a team. It's odd how things just come together so easily and so quickly. I think this course is not only going to really help me with my portfolio but also taught me a lot about myself and the fashion industry. You find new skills you never thought you'd have. You learn so many new things about yourself, how confident you are, how independent you can be, photography, sketching and thinking beyond average. Although it was only a short course it was honestly one of the best things I've done all summer. I began to really imagine myself in this sort of life. I wouldn't necessarily work in fashion styling but something along those lines, connected with
communication and the media.
It's always sad when something ends but I'm trying to look at it in the most positive way. I've had such an amazing experience, something a lot of people dream of doing. Being part of the Central Saint Martins University even if it was just for a few days makes me appreciate the opportunity I was given (by my auntie who got me half price). I want to make more opportunities for me and living in London is the perfect way to create them. I've promised to myself that I need to make more of the fact I'm living in one of the biggest fashion cities in the world.
So this is it for CSM but maybe I'll be back in a couple years studying there fo'real! Who knows?Now I've got one more week of summer before I start the dreaded school but... I'm moving to a new school so I've still got that to be excited about. Now I GTG since I've done no summer assignments and I've got four to complete...
M x
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