A KITSCHY POOLSIDE PHOTOSHOOT IN THE HOMELAND
After spending a quarter of the year gallivanting across Europe, I’m shooting my first fashion editorial of the season back in Canada.
When Faustina Sari Setiawan, Co-Editor in Chief of Volta Magazine; approached me with the idea to execute and shoot a vision she had for a poolside fashion editorial, I dived right in. Over matcha green tea lattes, she pitched me her idea of a kitschy scene where models posed with donuts and watermelons by the pool. Right away I fell in love with the theme. It took me back to these past summer days that I spent in the Mediterranean; carefree and free-spirited, hopping between the Greek islands and the Italian Riviera.
Now back in Canada, after my jetlag - my European jetset withdrawals had set in. This shoot wouldn’t be just an expression of fine creativity, it would be an escape – or, rather, bringing my globetrotting adventures to charm a stale Canadian landscape. Finalizing the little details, Steph Wood; making the other half of Volta’s Co-Editor in Chief, was right on board with us.
As a photographer, the shoot’s premise was something positively different for me. In contrast to my past fashion editorials where I mainly shoot menswear usaully with a darker tone, this was showcasing women’s swimwear with a playful, bright outlook. What I loved about Faustina’s vision was the fun element of it – as fashion should be, rather than sexual or serious – what fashion tends to over emphasize. Especially for a swimwear fashion editorial. With that, I drew a lot from my personality to make the photoshoot light and cheeky.
The day of the shoot started early – I woke up at 7AM, running on only four hours of sleep having had gone out working club photography the night before. Sipping on Party Armor’s Protection alongside with my Starbucks, by 8AM the Volta team and I were en route to the shoot’s location. We were shooting at Marcel Sokalski’s, Creative Director of Volta Magazine; in his backyard pool. I love shooting outdoors as I've always been attracted to natural lighting. However I was quickly reminded that I was no longer in Santorini, as we found ourselves in moments of stand-still - waiting around to shoot in the fleeting flashes of rare Canadian sunshine.
As soon as we stepped on set, my models Michelle Seges and Lauryn Murphy of Next Models were sent straight to hair and make-up. They were getting dolled up by Youtube make-up artist Casandra Rizzi in a retro Mad Men’s inspired 60s look. Slicked back hair, sharp cat-eyes and bright pop of lipstick were the featured look we wanted for this shoot.
Meanwhile, the editors and our assistant Maisha Visram drove around town hunting down the perfect donut for the shoot. Apparently, they were like Goldilocks for just the right fried confectionery. I had requested the donut prop to be bright, with extra sprinkles. You’d think for a country that has a multinational fast casual coffee shop on every block; finding a brightly glazed colour donut with extra sprinkles would be easy. They went to four different coffee shops before finding the right one. Remember; never settle – even for the littlest of details.
For this poolside fashion editorial, an Indonesian designer; who simply goes by the name Olenka, sponsored the clothing with her eponymous ready-to-wear women’s fashion label. With patterned swimwear pieces imported from Bali, Olenka’s hand-printed fabrics not only reinforce the kitschy-feel that Faustina’s vision for the photoshoot entails, but also exudes the air of luxury in travel that the photoshoot draws from in my personal adventures.
In the ever-changing fashion industry, one thing will always remain true: Fashion love heights. This came as no surprise with our choice in casting toppling models, or when I used a ladder for basically the entire shoot. A lot of this fashion editorial was shot from bird’s eye view, so standing on the ground at only 5”10, the extra boost was much needed. This ladder had me bent over backwards, half of my body in trees, just to get certain shots. I felt like I was playing Twister, or, well, being a human Tetris. It was all well worth it.
My models themselves were shaking photographing outdoors in swimwear from the autumn’s chill. While they were working their blue steel for the camera, I was glad the lenses didn’t pick up their goosebumps as they hopped in and out of the pool for my different scenes. Though the photographs tells an entirely different story, I had managed to conceal any traces of Autumn and Canada from the editorial.
What was finalized were photographs that whisks the viewers away on a privileged escape – taking you to a free of care and simpler time. And it was just that: from playful Chanel pool balls to models draped in Olenka’s kaleidoscopic-prints, I was back somewhere across the ocean; soaking up sunshine in the Mediterranean.
Live from the 519,
Logan Ly