Casting in LA

Sampling the local delicacies at In-N-Out

Flying into Newark, NYC

Well earned feast at Chelsea Market

More images after the jump

Milk Studios NYC, shooting for Regis – April 2015

Milk Studios NYC, shooting for Regis – June 2015

Sarah Tansey from Wilhelmina NY

Cori Burnett and Helen Anderson working their magic on Chelsie from Model Team

MI: Early morning call-time, lighting, make-up and hair. The crew rolls in and, like a well oiled machine, the beginnings of a nationwide salon campaign is underway.

We spent the better part of two weeks working from sun up to sundown. And what better place to be in the month of May—working or not—but Miami Beach. Situated between South Beach and downtown Miami is the Design District. This was our home away from home for about 10 hours a day. It’s a mecca for artists; from graffiti to fine dining, and sculptors and photographers. I felt confident—and grateful for our location scout—about this locale being the perfect backdrop for our photoshoot. I met Hamish and Matt from HCP the first day of the shoot at model casting, and meshed well with their laid back approach, as this is how I approach just about everything. I do love a good challenge but I tend to ease into it, personally. And easy it was.

We worked with models from all corners of the globe, from commercial to runway and even a former reigning beauty queen of Cuba, an aspiring hip-hop singer, and a documentary film crew diver—who flew in fresh from filming in the Bahamas. The time flew by, capturing shot after shot. Twenty-four models walked through the doors of Carousel Studios and made the epic shoot a grand success. We only took time off to break for food, or to just bust-a-move in the middle of the studio.

When I look back on the amazing individuals involved in the massive project I can’t stop grinning. We made so many memories with our new friends, and on the clock or not I’d work with any of these folks again in a nanosecond.

It was almost bitter sweet to end the two weeks of a hundred-plus hours, because I knew I’d miss my new friends. A collaboration of beautiful hair, makeup, photography and direction moves us all through this story. Creating images and memories to last a lifetime; or at least until someone yells “that’s a wrap!”  

Casting set up in MAPS studio, Miami Beach

   Alyssa Arce with artistic director Marlena

Back in March, we were asked to cover Harvey Nichols SS14 fashion show. We had the opportunity to set up a mini studio and shoot some fantastic models before the show.