Photo-Shoot with Min

As Well as directing my own photo-shoot I also want to work as a stylist on other photo-shoots. Many students have asked me to do their styling for their projects but because of my own work I can only take on a few projects. I have therefore, only chosen to take on work that I think will add to my current project.

MinSeok Kim contacted me regarding and upcoming photo-shoot

Hi Vicky. My name is MinSeok Kim. I am 2 year in FdA commercial photography. I am mainly into fashion photography even though it has been only a year doing fashion photography. I found you on facebook and saw your blog. I just loved your style. I really want to work with you. The thing is that I would love you to do styling for my fashion project. I know you are 3 year and must be busy but the shoot is going to be great. You could have a look at my blog where all my works from last year are. It's minseokkim.blogspot.com. And this is my phone number /. Please give me a text or a call if you are interested. I really hope that you could help me. and of course I will help you for return. Thank you. Min
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Hiya Min,
Would love some more information about the shoot and when you would want to do it. Have quite a few on at the moment but if I can fit it in and it looks like it will add something to my portfolio then I'd defiantly be up for collaborating!
Thanks Vicky
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Hi Vicky
First of all, thank you for the reply. I am sure the quality of your work must be high-level. To be honest, I am a fashion beginner. My previous work might disappoint your expectation. But I want to be better as a fashion photographer and I will be. So I need someone like you who know fashion and has a strong style in fashion. Anyway, my project is 'Narrative' which means the project must have a questionary story in it. Mine is about a kidnapped girl who wakes up on the bed and can't remember where she is and why she is there. She is dressed up like a human doll. I guess the kidnapper might want to keep her as a his personal doll. And the things she finds in the room starts reminding her of what happened before. This idea is inspired by a Japanese film called 'Perfect Education'. I have a model and a make-up/hairdresser. The location would be a house near Southampton. I want to create a dim atmosphere with lighting. I could send you some examples of images if you want. Anyway, It would also be totally understandable that you pick up clothes for the project and cannot be in the shoot if you are too busy and have no time because the shoot is going to take a half day. I really hope you could help me and also want to keep working with you. Thank you for your time. Min

Because of all the workload I currently have I will be unable to be on the actual shoot with Min, however I have organised with him to go shopping to choose the clothing for him.

The images he wanted were very creative and I think if I had more time I would be able to create something similar to these images, however because of the late notice and the fact that he wants the photo-shoot done within the next two weeks, I have suggested that we go shopping together to try and get some similar pieces to what Min is after.
I'm thinking these last images that he sent me would be more accessible in the short amount of time that we have.

Synopsis

For my ‘Major Project Preparation’ I want to look towards art directing my own photo-shoot. I want to take inspiration from my own personal philosophy and also my childhood experiences and memories. I will also look into stories and films that have influenced me as a child and held my imagination.

I therefore, hope to create a final body of work for portfolio which is influenced by the above.

I hope to submit my final photographs to a live magazine that will hopefully be published. By doing this I will gain acknowledgement within the fashion industry.

In the future I would ideally like to work as a stylist alongside a photographer or for magazine/television/advertising.

I am inspired by photographers such as Tim Walker who works alongside Shona Heath, producing imagery that is inspired by fantasy and has dreamlike qualities.

Another photographer who inspires me is Annie Leibovitz who also uses childhood stories to influence her work with a historical reference.

From looking at these photographers I hope to develop my own work, particularly focusing on set design which plays a major role towards presenting the narrative of these photo-shoots.

Alongside the photography I also hope to make a short film showing the behind the scenes process of a shoot. I would like this video to be shown on my own website which I will hopefully be developing next year. This film will act as a promotional film, showcasing my roles and art direction on a shoot.

During this project I hope to work with free-lance photographers, make-up artists, hairstylists, models, film makers and editors. By collaborating with other people I am hoping this will develop my own ideas which I had not originally initiated and also mean that I will have contacts with whom I can work with in the future.

I also hope to work with independent retailers in the hope of gaining contacts to source from and to also promote their products. By doing this I will need to consider the consumer when applying the styling and narrative to my own photo-shoot.

For a basis of research I want to combine first and secondary primary research. My research will also include visits to museums and locations whilst incorporating a mixture of books, articles, magazines, internet and video study.

I will be using a PDP online blog to document and evaluate my findings alongside a tactile scrapbook to document texture and clippings. By having an online blog it will help me to communicate my work quickly and clearly with the people I will be collaborating with.

This unit will enable me to develop my understanding of the fashion industry through submission of photo-shoot/s and working with people from the fashion business. I would like to eventually look into branding myself as an art director/stylist. By doing this project I also hope to add something new and original to my portfolio and to also prepare me for my ‘Extended Major Project’ and to be shown at graduate fashion week.

Loot - Men's Store

One of the Boutiques I will be using for my clothes is Loot Menswear Boutique in Brighton. I worked on a stall outside the shop this Summer so got to know the manager quite well and he has always been really enthusiastic about my photo-shoots.
When I told him I was looking to do a Men's wear shoot he jumped at the chance for his clothes to be used. This was really beneficial for me as well as him as it meant I could use clothing for free from a source I also could promote.
Loot Clothing is mainly aimed towards the young man aged 18-25 with an individual style. He has a big following from a lot of guys looking for that slightly Indie Alternative clothing.
As well as current brands such as Monkee Genes he also sells vintage Levi's which are very popular.
When I asked him what high street store he would like to be thought of he said Jack Will's. I think you can clearly link together the pieces he is selling at the moment with the current stock at Jack Wills. He just has affordable prices to the younger student whereas Jack Wills is more expensive aimed at the Private Schools.

Stanmer Park Visit

After my visit to The Blue Pool I decided that I really liked the use of light through the trees. I felt that it would fit well with my slightly darker but enchanted theme.
Although The Blue Pool would have been a good location for photographs, in reality it would be very hard to get to the location as it takes quite a while to get there from Bournemouth. Also with the location, make-up and equipment would be hard to do and transport. I also need to take into account that the clock times will change soon, meaning that it will start to get darker earlier.
This photo was taken in the same location for the Vintage Boutique Shoot that I did earlier this year. Although it is the same location I think taken by different photographers and with different styling it could have a completely different feel. I don't think because you have used one location before that it means you cannot re-use it. Think how many times a plain studio is used for different styling and yet the photographs are different every time.
I like the idea of the models intertwining between the trees, very similar to the story of the story of the Twelve Dancing Princesses and the silver beech trees they ran through.
In Stanmer woods there are a lot of fallen trees that fell during the storm of 1987, rather then these trees being moved they were cut into to create seats or left to be overgrown. I think these could add interesting elements in taking my inside out theme forward.
Like at The Blue Pool, the trees also curve round the paths. This is one of my favourite walks in the woods as I love the trees. I think this could be interesting in trying to incorporate a red riding hood type look.I also want to look at building tents so was thinking that if blankets were thrown over this leaning tree it could give the idea of an incorporated tent.
I like the broken tree stumps found around the woods, these could have the models stood on top of them.
The rotting tree stump could be a great backdrop for some really stunning outfits!
or they could put their feet inside them like the stocks I saw at Christchurch.
You can't really see in the picture below but the old wall for the estate runs round the outskirts of Stanmer woods. This is a really nice flint wall which would look great if the models were standing on it. I like the idea of the models playing in the woods like children's so perhaps hiding behind trees, throwing and kicking leaves etc.
Looking back to my Childhood photographs I was always climbing trees and playing on a tree swing, I therefore think that using a tree swing will give the childhood impression of fun and playfulness.
In Stanmer woods they also have an armchair which they have cut out of an old tree stump. I think I could really add to this by adding homely comforts to it such as cushions, a lamp, picture frame etc. I think this could be the basis of my inside-out looking shoot. This man was reading in the chair as I walked past and he didn't mind me taking his photo. I think this clearly shows how accessible it is even just as an outside chair for everyone.
I liked this fallen tree as it also looks like a bed, I could also incorporate this as a bed in my inside-out world.
This image shows how easily it could look like a bed, perhaps if I added cushions and a blanket it could look the part.

Vintage Fair

I got tickets this week for Frock Me - A Vintage Fair in Brighton. This proved to be really beneficial for me as for my SWOT analysis one of my weaknesses that I need to improve on is finding companies i can source from. I found it really interesting going around and talking to the stall owners. Most people were really enthusiastic and when I said I was looking for clothes to photograph many gave me their business cards. Most people seemed really friendly and it was interesting to hear where they had found the clothing from. Some vintage pieces came from France and Amsterdam in the markets, other garments came from LA when celebrities didn't want them anymore. Rag and Bow I had previously seen before at London Fashion Week. I had mentioned them before on my other blog post in September 2009. So it was really nice seeing the business was still going, unfortunately the lady who owns the company was not at the stall so I was unable to speak to her but I think she may be a possible contact to get hold of in the future if I want particular pieces. Epennydesigns were probably my favourite collection from the Frock Me Event. They collected vintage fabrics then made underwear using old patterns. They were beautiful, unfortunately I will be doing a Winter shoot so this contact would be better using perhaps later next year. The mother and daughter team were lovely and very positive when I suggested doing a shoot with them later next year, they even gave me their contact details so that I could call and email them. Overall the day was a really exciting and resourceful visit. Defiantly one that I would return to as it was great to pick up a bargain. I bought a velvet bow with netting as velvet is set to be big this season. It cost me £3, in the shops it would probably have gone for more like £15!

The Blue Pool Visit

I remember going to visit The Blue Pool when I was a child with my family and decided to go to visit it again for inspiration.
I loved these notes from people who had visited the Blue Pool which were put up on the notice board. It gives it a very personal feel and shows how a place can influence and inspire everyone.
The Blue Pool is an old mining quarry, it gets its bright blue colour from the Sulphur in the water. I love how when we walked round the pool, it changed colour from dark green to bright turquoise blue.
This wall of stone I thought was really interesting. I love the way the tree roots have picked up the soft sand/clay mixture and the effect it had while eroding. Could quite easily see this being used as a location for my shoot.
Another thing that I liked was all the small intertwining paths. I really like the way the trees curve round them and the twists and turns in the pathway. I also like the wooden steps which were occasional made out of wood they looked as though they were part of the forest.
This is the Smaller Blue Pool, the water was so clear that the reflections were amazing. This almost looks like a Monet picture perfect position.
The reflections in these images are so clear it almost looks like glass. I like the idea of using reflections in my shoot as it gives a more 3 dimensional outlook.
Another thing I also loved was the light shining through the trees. I think this time of year, because the sun is lower the sunlight seems brighter and more beautiful, especially through the thin trees. I think if I could try and incorporate this into my shoot it may give the photos a magical type feel.