'Tis the season to be jolly! Oh, what fun I had on this shoot, with my amazing team of artists! This shoot is titled "Elf Trouble" and is part of my "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" series. And lots of fun was had, by all!
Hair and makeup artist Michele Wade did an amazing job. I feel so fortunate to be able to work with her. We have a synergy that is down right magical at times. I was envisioning big, crazy, stylized hair, which would take on a Dr. Seuss-ish look. But, before I could even voice this idea to her, Michele mentioned that she was thinking about taking this very tack with the hairstyles for this shoot. I was really blown away, by the hairstyles she created, as well as the beautiful and complementary makeup designs she applied.
Justine Verigin was my set and costume design assistant. Justine and I went shopping together at Portland area vintage stores, to find just the right elf costume and pink dress. We lucked out and found everything we needed at the "Red Light" resale store, on Hawthorne Blvd. I love it, when everything I need for a shoot suddenly materializes, like magic! We also needed an elf hat. But, alas, I couldn't seem to find one which projected the right look for my concept. So, Justine, being Justine, simply designed and sewed the hat. She just created the perfect hat! I gave her some basic guidelines, let her go, and then totally trusted that she would add her spark of creativity and come up with the ideal accessory, which, of course, is precisely what occurred. Justine also did an equally great job with the set design. She is wonderful at assembling all the small details, which literally stitch the set together and give it cohesiveness and depth.
I do my best work with I am with a team of creative artists. I always strive to present a safe and open space, where everyone is free to just be themselves and let their creative energies flow. I believe,... no, I know,... that everyone involved has something to bring to each shoot. That is why they are there.
My models were spectacular and such good sports, with it all. My muse and main character for my "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" series, Malia Rodgers, played her part to a tee and brought her own "funk" to the shoot. Tyler Verigin, the "Naughty Elf", embraced his character exceptionally well. And, when he was not in front of the camera, he was filming the shoot. Sarah Kue, who was styled specifically to bring to mind Dr. Seuss' "Cindy Lou" character from his 'Grinch" story, was spot-on with the embodiment of her character and liberally sprinkled her creatively impish spirit into the shoot. The interplay among these three talented models was splendid.
My trusted assistant, Ben Braden, was simply amazing and ever my "Santa's Helper". I had the poor guy running all over the place, just as one might imagine the Number-One Elf might contribute at the North Pole on Christmas Eve. He was great at assisting me with the lighting and assembling the set. And he had some great ideas of his own to contribute to the shoot! He even filmed parts of the shoot, when Tyler was occupied with his modeling duties.
Thanks, to my team for all their hard work and the amazing creativity they brought to this shoot.
Happy Holidays, to everyone!
Enjoy the slideshow below and, if you wish to view the individual images in the portfolio section, click here.
