All things bright and beautiful

I was recently contacted by the team at Liz Davenport to put together some images to promote the label’s upcoming 35th anniversary fashion fundraiser at St. Georges Cathedral this Wednesday falling on the first day of the Perth Fashion Festival. The four garments I chose for the shoot were hand picked from a selection of Liz’s current and previous collections including Salinity Bride (pictured above), retrospective and Kaleidoscope (inspired by stained glass windows) to compliment the colours of the stained glass and contrast in form and texture to the interior. Styled with fine jewels courtesy of Linneys and shot on location in Perth’s St. Georges Cathedral – a fitting and gorgeous location for both the collection and celebration of a successful 35 years in Australian Fashion. Congratulations Liz!

IMAGE CREDITS

Art Direction + Hair + Photography + Post | Otilee
Makeup | Joanne La Pegna
Model | Pia Kuhnert

Location | St. Georges Cathedral, Perth WA

let them eat cake!

Pastel pretties and sugary treats feature in the latest X-Press Fashion magazine’s Spring fashion editorial brought to you by yours truly, Miss Emma Bergmeier, Samantha Enticknap, Head Studio and the beauts from Scene. Transforming and re-arranging an all white showroom of stunning baroque inspired furniture and furnishings at Queen of Theme in North Perth -  into a pastel wonderland with coloured gels on an off camera flash, a sweet selection of spring stock from local designers and retailers, two heads full of frothy curls on perfectly painted porcelain full-cream-dauphines! Without further ado… and  a face full of macarons we say ‘Let them eat cake!’

X-Press Fashion, Spring 2010 – Let them eat cake.
AVAILABLE NOW! or go HERE to read online.

IMAGE CREDITS

Photography + Post | Otilee
Styling | Emma Bergmeier with assistance from Autilia
Hair Styling | Rachel and Lacey @ Head Studio
Make Up | Sam Enticknap
Model | Ashley Head + Lucy Ashforth @ Scene

Location | Queen of Theme, North Perth

Style Aid 2010

This year I had the great pleasure of being involved with fashion fundraiser event STYLEAID in producing the editorial images for the Student designers’ Finale. The designer brief (put together by STYLEAID stylist and parade coordinator extraordinaire Aly May) invited each of the 21 industry selected student designers to consider the ‘tribe’ theme when designing their pieces with the other two main criteria being that it had to be orange and it had to make noise! Other then that, they had free reign – and reign they did. Everything from elaborate beaded bodices with matching headgear and bikini inspired menswear to a GIANT pokemon hooped skirt with bunny ears.

Wanting to reinforce Aly’s designer brief through the images as well as being conscious that I had 21 individual images to bust out – I set out to put a concept / look together that would communicate the effects of ‘noise’ visually through models styling / hair / pose / expression etc – as if they’d been blasted by a massive amp (not shown in the image / amp as the reader). I dug out my industrial floor fan to blow the hair / garments backward and directed the models to be either leaning into the frame or falling back and off balance. So either falling forward or backward etc like they’ve been knocked off their feet by the sound waves – blown over by the sound / noise. AND …To ensure that the orange and the garments remained the focus – I set out to source a location that either had a black dominant or white dominant interior – with either a black or white reflective / glossy textured floor / walls to get some great light bouncing around to add to the drama of the movement and further reinforce the sound wave thing. My first thoughts to find such a place were possibly a local nightclub / bar that might have a dance floor that looks like this – after a couple of days of calling around and having no luck I eventually got put onto a fantastic new photographic studio space that had a white glossy tiled area that fit the look I was after and the lovely folk that run it were kind enough to let me and my troops use it for the whole day. Thanks heaps Mira Studios!  A BIG shout out and thanks also to my amazing team on the day, all the student designers, Betts shoes, Scene Models and of course Aly May!

STYLEAID 2010 Student Designers
StyleAid Magazine, p49-59

IMAGE CREDITS

Art direction + Photography | Otilee Lamb
Makeup | Sam Enticknap
Hair | Jody Fiannaca
Assistant | Daniel Njegich
Models | Courtney James and Chris de Boer @ Scene Models
Studio | Mira Studios

Tags: Chris de Boer, Courtney James, designer, fashion, Jody Fiannaca, otilee, Perth, publication, Sam Enticknap, Scene models, STYLEAID, Tribe
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Once upon a pine

X-Press Magazine,Issue 1209 – 22.04.10
‘In the Pines – Once upon a Pine’ COVER

Shot for RTRFM’s In the Pines music festival – Sunday May 2, Somerville Auditorium UWA. Tickets $20 from Mills, 78’s & Planet.

Styling | Emma Bergmeier (costumes – Memory Lane, Mt Lawley).
Band Members | Felicity Groom (Snow White), Andrew Ryan from The Black Black Smoke (Wolf), Matt from the Black Black Smoke (grumpy dwarf), Sean Pollard (Prince Charming), Perrin from Goodnight Tiger (Little Red Riding Hood), Jill from Goodnight Tiger (Happy Dwarf).

PROCESS!

The process for those interested, involved getting separate shots of each person / cluster separately and then compositing them all together.  After working out the composition (allowing room visually in the top left corner for the X-press masthead etc) placing each character in the setting – I mounted my camera on a tripod so that the composition would be the same for each of the separate shots I was going to take.  With the lighting I used one off camera flash along with a reflector and with the awesome help of my other half Brendan and X-Press fashion editor /stylist Miss Bergmeier – we lit each each character separately moving around ‘the composition’ for each of the separate shots. While the other characters / band members were waiting for their shot they stayed in each of their positions which is why as you will see below they aren’t posing while the others are being shot.

Dwarves

Snow White

Wolf

Red Riding Hood

Prince Charming and Cinderella

So after compositing each of the separate shots together I went on to do around 60 light and colour adjustments masking and painting in all the various areas to begin to ‘blend’ the composited images together and sort out any areas of overlap where the light was dramatically different to the adjacent image layer. Also making various colour adjustments to the wardrobe and re-designing the overall colour pallete of the image to make it look more ‘magical’ to reinforce the fairytale concept driven my Emma’s styling.

Then I finished off with a series of layers where I manually painted in the light source / light through the trees, generally did some more messing around with curves, light, contrast and colours to tie the whole thing together for the final image (below).

Tags: In the pines, Perth, publication, retouching, tutorial, X-Press Magazine
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Altitude

Recently did a fashion editorial for X-press Fashion Magazine. As some of you may know, I had planned to do a Biggles/Earhart inspired fashion shoot as part of my honours thesis project (early 08 but sadly didn’t happen for lack of time) so when X-press fashion editor Emma Bergmeier said she’d also been itching too shoot something aviation inspired I pretty much wet myself!! After some excellent persuasion from Em with the super cute old timers at the Bullcreek Aviation Museum the cogs of X-press Fashion editorial ‘Altitude’, were set in motion!

On the day of the shoot it easily reached 45 degree + in that hanger! The creative team looking extremely glam (drowned rat style), combined with continuously overheating equipment, melting makeup, chugging miniature fans and models running around in fur coats and wigs made for one hell of an epic shoot. But we did it…

For those interested in the post process – I was conscious about carrying through with the vintage feel / image dictated by both the wardrobe and the setting by not using ANY solid black. I processed all shadow areas with a purple tone as a constant visual continuity throughout all images and as I also had problems with lighting on the day (equipment overheating etc and no natural light available being in a hanger) much of the light contrast was painted in digitally in post also.

Many of you may have already picked up a copy but as I’ve been out of state I’ve not had a chance to blog about this till now! If there are any copies at all left in Perth go an get one NOW! Or you can see it online via the X-Press website but you’ll need to sign up to view them (its free…).

So without further ado, here are the final 8 images (including cover);

Wardrobe Styling: Emma Bergmeier assisted by Hannah McGrath , Makeup: Samantha Enticknap,  Hair: Head Studio, Models: Gemma Bidstrup and Jessi Moloney – Scene Models

Taking it to the next level

I recently did a print ad for new Perth based modeling agency Catherine Ruze, to recruit new modeling talent to the agency. The smp for the ad was to communicate their message tagline of ‘taking it to the next level’ – this is an agency that want to break molds and are committed to supporting the development of local talent – and so this is something I really wanted to inject into the visual communication with the photography. Brainstorming possible concepts around both the agency tag line and the message strategy for the ad I narrowed the possible concepts down to a handful to pitch to the agency director. The concept chosen ended up presenting a small problem with nailing permission to use the location so in a last ditch effort I contacted the friendly folk at the Perth Wheel who kindly gave us permission to use it for the shoot. It wasn’t too far removed from the original idea so made an ideal second solution.  I really wanted to communicate both an idea of height literally (and so the choice for a location that visually reinforced this) as well as through edgy, bold and somewhat androgynous styling I planned for the models.

With the styling I pulled various items from Wasteland to dress Cameron (ripped stonewash jeans, white singlet, nail head ring, black leather belt with barbed wire belt buckle, chunky chain linked bracelet), nicked some 16 hole Dr. Martens from my boyfriend and went and bought some fingerless leather gloves and white suspenders to complete the look. A look I’ve been wanting to do for AGES! – something I actually pitched to another modeling agency for one of their male models and was rejected for not being ’safe enough’ – so more credit to Catherine Ruze for being open minded enough to take a risk!

For Alice I pulled items from my own wardrobe, an awesome vintage gold dress I’m proud to say I scored at the retro markets last year for a fiver , strappy black patent stiletto ankle boots and a silver chain cluster neckpiece I dressed as a bracelet. Alice has naturally short dark hair, long neck and gorgeous chiseled features so slicking back her hair in a sort of 80’s Helmut Newton inspired look coupled with dark lips and strong eyes to keep it contemporary made the ideal accompanying look to Cameron’s. Kasey Makeup Artist executed the makeup looks for both models with perfection and Catherine Ruze Models Alice Batts and Cameron Booysen were both perfect for the look and really brought their A-game to the shoot, taking direction easily and making our insane number of rotations around and around to get the shot much more fun.

Here is the final image:

Catherine Ruze Agency is holding a CASTING CALL for models offering the chance for a 12 month contract and exclusive makeover with local salon Skatt. Hit up their facebook event page for more details about requirements and how to apply. Applications Close 31ST MARCH 2010 so get in quick! The casting will be held on SATURDAY 10TH APRIL 2010 at  The Mercure Hotel, 10 Irwin Street, Perth 10am to 2pm.

Very impressed with this agency’s attitude. Get behind them Perthies!

Tawdry Heartburn’s Manic Cures

“If you could tell your deepest, darkest secrets – would you? Should you?”

In early January I did a portait series for Performing Lines WA promoting award-winning performing artist James Berlyn in his free interactive performance, installation ‘Tawdry Heartburn’s Manic Cures‘ as part of this year’s Perth International Arts Festival .

I had a great time working on this project with both James and the fabulous Sarah at Performing Lines. James was hilarious and awesome to work with – animated expression after animated expression and not forgetting Sarah’s long hours spent artfully sticking all the the secrets to reams of cardboard for the backdrop!

A little about Tawdry;

A six-foot-five nail technician, palmist and Manic-Curist of Secrets hoping to achieve ‘a world without secrets, to un-furrow the brows of millions and heal the consternation caused by unspoken truths – one set of nails at a time!’

“The performance unfolds in an intimate 15 minute conversation between Tawdry Heartburn, and a single audience member or “client”. Surrounded by varnish, typewriters and things unsaid, Tawdry will professionally paint and polish your nails while inviting you to consider divulging a secret via his collection of mechanical “gossip” machines.” (Performing Lines WA)

To offload and pretty-up get yourselves down to Beck’s Music Box on the Esplanade in the city (Perth) on the following February dates; 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 & 28.

Do it!

Silver belle’s and cockle shells

Recently shot a print ad on Sorrento beach for the lovely and talented gals at hair salon Foils & Coils. Double page ad will appear in X-Press Magazine early March so keep an eye out!

STYLIST | Emma Bergmeier MAKEUP | Constance Bowles

HAIR |  Foils & Coils hair studio

MODELS | Anita Dorizzi + Anika Sweetland, Scene Model Management

Festival Fever

Recently shot a fashion editorial for local music /arts/fashion publication X-Press magazine, for their annual ‘Summer Festival guide’. If you’re in Perth, head down to your local bottle-o and grab yourself a copy – out today!

X-Press Magazine 14.01.10 - Summer Festival Guide 2010, p.31

X-Press Magazine 14.01.10 - Summer Festival Guide 2010, p.30

Photographer Otilee |  Stylist Emma Bergmeier |  Hair Stylist Jody Fiannaca |  Make Up Artist Samantha Enticknap |  Models Melissa Melbourne + Scott James Wilson from Scene