Mid Summer Dreaming So many great shots from my last editorial didn't make the cut for Mid Summer Dream. Which is why I decided to do Mid Summer Dreaming for this weeks post. It is a combination of a small beauty story that I shot with Nina and some of the pic's that didn't make the final edit plus a interview with the very charming Nina that I have spread over the editorial. And to finish it all off there are a couple of behind the scenes videos of me at work. This will most likely be my last swim editorial for LaMode for a while with Autumn coming thick and fast. I will be focusing more on the culture and fashion editorials for LaMode, if you check out the Culture section under my "categories" you will see what I am talking about. But that doesn't mean you won't see a swim editorial randomly pop up over the Australian Winter as I intend to do a bit of traveling in the coming months. So watch out for that surprise swim editorial in the coming few months. But till then enjoy "Mid Summer Dreaming" Photographer/ Geoffrey Chuah Make-up Artist/ Connie G Model/ Nina@Ava Models Swimwear/ Molly and Polly Photographers and Stylist Assistant/ Erin Carroll Nina Q/ Whats your favourite thing about modeling A/ The opportunties to collaborate with creative people and work towards a shared vision. Sometimes I don't even feel the need to see the photos, the process itself is so rewarding. Although it is nice to see the finished product once it is out.   Q/ You have recently travel to Asia to model. Did you enjoy the experience and if so why? A/ I loved traveling to Asia ! I spent 3 months in Hong Kong and 3 months in Seoul. It's a experience I wouldn't be able to do if I worked in any other industry. I love seeing different parts of the world and feeling like a local instead of a tourist. Its also really interesting to see how styles change from country to country. Q/ As a model tell us what it feels like to be in front of the camera creating the pictures the photographer is trying to get for there client. A/ Its easy to look at a mood board and know what the look and feel of the shoot will be like. But it's another to actually create the the pictures that the photographer is after without seeing your self do it. You have to learn to connect with and take direction from the photographer and know your angels to get the results the photographer is after. There is a sense of accomplishment when you see the finished results and know you've acheived the client brief. Sometimes you have to suggest a mood board to the client as not all clients know what they want!!!   Q/ Is there a difference between shooting a editorial for a magazine or a advertising campaign when you are in front of the camera e.g do you project yourself in a different manner A/ An advertising campaign is a lot more commercial, you need to appeal to a larger audience and and show off the products/clothes as much as possible. With editorial you have more creative space to move and create some amazing images. Q/ Do you have any aspirations to pursuit a different career path in the fashion industry after you finish modeling. A/ I would love to create a line of completely carbon neutral, bamboo lounge and sleepwear. Cotton takes such a toll on the environment, while a bamboo grows rampant in so many parts of the world and is in many instances softer than cotton on the skin. I's like to create not only a eco conscious company but also a social one, with all the staff in good working conditions , fair pay and support for there families. Mid Summer Dreaming          Behind the scenes videos and pictures.   Mid Summer Dream With the Australian Summer more than half over I thought it was a good time to shoot another swim editorial. This time around Brisbane based swim label Molly And Polly's are in the spot light for this brand profile.The head designer Kirsten Beck was kind enough to loan me some pieces to help create this amazing editorial. Add Palm beach as the location and boom "Mid Summer Dream" was born ........sadly the weather did not come to the party but what did come to the party was the amazing Nina our star for the day. As you will see in this editorial she not only worked it like a pro but also brought the already colourful swimwear to life. Palm Beach is amazing on a sunny day.......I hope it will be sunny the next time I shoot there. Even so you don't get beaches like this anywhere in Sydney. The golden sand plus having the luxury of a rock pool to swim in, just so you don't get pounded by the waves. This is part one of a two part editorial. The second part will be accompanied by a interview by the lovely Nina and some behind the scenes shots and a video or two. So till then enjoy.........Mid Summer Dream Photographer/Geoffrey Chuah Make-up and Hair/Connie G Model/Nina Swimwear/Molly and Polly Styling and photography assistant/Erin Carroll             Brand Profile.......Erin Carroll Designs I was commissioned late last year to shoot Erin Caroll Designs first collection of what has been already a long career in the industry thus far. The shoot inspiration was taken from a editorial I shot back in May. It was one of the first editorials that I posted on LaMode "Romance Like No Other" the location for that story was Watsons Bay. So when deciding on a location, I thought if we are going to take inspiration from that story why not go back to Watsons Bay and shoot ECD's first collection there. It's a small collection of ready to wear and casual pieces along with three bikinis. The collection is well cut and designed to suite the fashion conscious woman. I think Erin(creative director) is a rear breed when it comes to fashion designers.......... she designs, cuts and sews all her clothes her self. A bit of a rarity these days as most fashion designers just draw there collection and then source the fabric. And then leave it up to there pattern makers and sewers to finish the job off. It takes a rear talent to do everything...........but not for long as I can see this brand growing fast and when it does more and more people will get involved with this talented woman. I had the pleasure of interviewing Erin about her brand and her passion . And don't forget to check out her website were you can buy her clothes. Photographer/Geoffrey Chuah Stylist/Jessica Chan Make-up and hair/Shae Macintyre Model/Valentina Gee Erin Carroll Designs/ www.ErinCarrollDesign.com Q/ Where and how did you get your start in fashion A/ My Grandmother taught me to knit and hand sew as a child but it was really during high school that I discovered fashion. We had to make a skirt in technology class , so I made mine out of brown/gold Chinese brocade with tassels around the hem. It was very avant garde, I got the the highest mark in the whole class and I realised I'd found something I had a natural talent for so it grew from there. Also I've always been surrounded by creative people in my family who could sew, draw, paint etc......who looked at the world differently and encouraged me to do so well. Q/ You have recently started your own label. Were did you find the inspiration for the first collection? A/ I'd recently moved to Sydney and it was Spring time, I love how the city constantly changes - it makes so much diversity and the city to beach to bar life style really made me think about how to dress for days like that. I wanted to make clothing that allowed you to feel chic, fun and causal all in one, as well as classic pieces which you can wear any season.    Q/ Tell us the process of making a garment for a client. A/ If it's a bespoken garment (for example, a wedding dress) I start by meeting the client over coffee and ask them to bring images of dresses they like. I ask them to go though each design and point out images of dresses they like. That way you really get to know what kind of dress they've been dreaming off without realising it. From there you can begin designing their own dress and I usually finalise the design by the end of the session. Over the next few months we'll meet several time to discuss fabrics options, then I'll make amock up dress to get the prefect fit. Once the fabrics and the dress pattern is confirmed, the make of the gown is really straight forward, however requires many hours of hand finishing and final fittings.      Q/Were do you see your brand in the next 5 years? A/ I would like to see my ECD brand as a regular in NZ and Australian Fashion Week, being stocked in exclusive boutiques and selling internationally online. And I would love to make a wedding or red carpet dress for someone amazing like Jennifer Lawrence or Kiwi singer Kimbra   Q/ Whats your favorite piece of clothing that you like making. A/ I honestly love all sewing! but if I had to choose it would be the wedding gowns. You can pour so much love, attention and detail into those kinds of dresses and being involved in the creation of something so personal and unique is very rewarding.    Rock My World Rock Away Beach........New York This is the last editorial of my flash back series. As of next week everything will be back to normal e.g original content shot exclusively for Lamode. This editorial was the first swim story that I shot in New York a couple of years ago. The story was published in a magazine called Sessions which unfortunately has decease. I have also added some of the pic's that did not make the final in the story. As well as a behind the scenes video shot of yours truly in action. As for LaMode Summer is in full swing down under which means you can look forward to a mid summer swim shoot in a couple of weeks......... Plus a culture editorial on Palm beach next week. Photographer-Geoffrey Chuah Stylist- Carol Sneed Make-up and Hair- Bryan Feiss Model-Heather Aboff          |
CategoriesWelcomeLaMode is a global online magazine in a blog-style format, or what I would like to call a onlineZine. With a focus on Fashion, Swimwear and Culture editorials. LaMode Magazine is not seasonal with its editorials because we like to shoot imagery that is on point to what we think will entertain you as the reader from our point of view. 
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