Editorial Military
- Russel Frank
- Dec 11, 2014
- 4 min read
Theme: Editorial Military
Fashion Stylist: Myself
Wardrobe: Macy’s (Las Vegas, NV)
Photographer: Sasha Heist
Hair: Dee Amore
Makeup: Alysia Tavidagian
Model:
It may start to look like, that Mackenzie and I are attached at the hips when it comes to photo shoots. This will be our 4th shoot together this year alone. It’s great when you collaborate with someone where you share the same passion and able to connect with them, on a creative level. I was asked by him and Quinn to style the shoot, for wardrobe. When Mackenzie first shared with me the Pinterest, I was in LOVE WITH THE IDEA!!! When he told me Quinn was the other model, I was thinking… FINALY!! The two of them have a close bond, I would say. They competed in a modeling competition for Fashion Week Las Vegas: Season 3, as the runway model for the season. Both are from the Sacramento location and have relocated here in Las Vegas. I feel specially close to them, because they also were part of the season where I became the Runway Director for Fashion Week. Special bonding moment, the three of us.
I already have military styling in my portfolio, but it wasn’t like this one. My first editorial shoot, with military inspired was a little more street wear styling. What set this one apart, was the high-collar, double breasted jackets, trench coats, and heavy on the styling. More of the utility pockets, and less of the camouflage prints. For wardrobe, I thought of a few different brands I could pull from, but something like this, I knew Macy’s would have what I needed!!! I brought along with me, my “personal assistant”, Keyska Diva to help me pull wardrobe. She has told me before she wanted to experience the steps to pulling wardrobe. Together we pulled designers like Ralph Lauren, Rachel Roy, Diesel, Guess, and BCBG to name a few. It was different on this shoot to pull with someone as a second opinion. She had some valid points and pointed me in other directions for wardrobe, as well. In a way, we learned from each other on this shoot. With my styling, I was able to share my thought process. She asked questions, and offered input, which is great!! Unfortunately she wasn’t able to assist me on location for the shoot. Which I rather, with pulling 10 looks for two models, assistants with wardrobe would have been a smoother process.
I went to pick up the wardrobe the morning of the shoot. Which normally I like to have the clothes prepared with me so I can go over and fully style the looks, especially with no assistant. Another obstacle is when the wardrobe isn’t ready and not scanned out from the store. With the craziness of the holidays, it is common for stores to be busy. The wardrobe wasn’t ready when I arrived for pick up. After jumping through obstacles and hoops, Dee (hair stylist) and I arrived to location for model preparation behind schedule. Early afternoon, we finally arrived to the location for the shoot, Valley of the Fire National Park. Open hills, mini mountains, fields of grass and dirt was a our scenery background. We started setting up our location area, pulling out wardrobe, final touches for hair and makeup. Sasha scouted location for each look, as I was dressing Mackenzie and Quinn in their first look. I guess you can say we attracted an audience?! There were tourist in the area who was watching our shoot begin to commence. At the same time, we also gather attention of the park ranger. He wasn’t as excited as the tourist were about our shoot. Needless to say, without knowing, we violated park regulations and were asked to leave! The shoot started to go south from there. We considered other locations, but with it being December, we were racing against the clock. From the wardrobe not ready on time, late for the shoot, and the two hour drive to Valley of the Fire, we didn’t have time to waste for the shoot. We tried to shoot along the highway roads in the rest areas, but nothing stood out from the location. It wasn’t a dramatic location, you see it all the time everywhere you go. Needed a unique place for the location.
Another two hours later, we drove out to the Wetlands Park in East Las Vegas. This location was great spot! Originally we were aiming or desert storm army feel, with the wetlands, it gave us Vietnam war settings. The only few set backs were, December weather being outside cold. Freezing weather!!! Luckily with the wardrobe I pulled coats, wool trench coats that kept us warm after we shot the looks. Secondly, it was night time, we lost all sunlight. Not that Sasha didn’t come prepared with lights; the challenge was to make each location spot not appear in the darkness of black. Which we looked out for wall like backdrops that had trees, bushes, stairs to use as backdrops. By the end of the shoot, we looked at the images, and we were happy with the scenes. The night time didn’t hinder our shoot, with Sashas lighting. Each look was captured, and Mackenzie and Quinn were able to be very creative with their posing finding the light. It was touch and go throughout the day. There were a few moments I was assuming the shoot was over. We managed to get images that we all liked. Didn’t start off as the most ideal shoot, but you know you have a good team on a shoot, when determination is among us and the job still got done.
These images will be submitted for publication for fashion magazines.
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