Behind the scenes of the IMAGE Summer fashion shoot

“Florals for spring…. groundbreaking.” But for summer, an absolute essential!

The SS23 runways were awash with blooms both in print and 3D form and in the fashion editorial for the IMAGE magazine Summer issue, I wanted to showcase them in all their glory.

Of course, florals for spring/summer aren’t really “groundbreaking”, but there was a newness to this trend that I wanted to capture – a romance entwined with modernity. I was inspired by the Dries Van Noten SS23 runway collection, where a tentative undergrowth of decorative foliage and ruffled tendrils emerged from structured tailoring in a palette ranging from mucky pastels through to vibrant bouquets. 

The model was going to be key. With florals there’s always a risk of it looking a bit twee and predictable but ballet dancer Katya Grey brought a contemporary feel with her short cropped pixie cut. Hairstylist Jake Ryan styled her crop with nonchalant texture yet precision which gave a an almost architectural contradiction to the soft feminine fabrics and florals and make-up artist Mary Ellen Darby gave Katya a dewy glow and fresh pink rosebud cheeks, courtesy of Bobbi Brown cream blush across the cheeks and the bridge of the nose and Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter on the tops of the cheeks. 

On the High Street…

The Location

Before beginning to scout for location, I knew who I wanted to work with for photography. It’s been ten years since I last worked with Nicky Emmerson but it might has well have been last week. She was perfect for this shoot, she has a modern, cool, aesthetic yet captures images in the most romantic way.

Wanting to keep the shoot as as organic as possible, the shoot location needed to be a little wild and untamed. There is no where more magical than Jimi Blake’s beautiful Hunting Brook Gardens in Blessington especially in summer. Bountiful with blooms and colour spilling over every pathway I knew this was the place. And all we had to hope for was the weather…

Typically, the shoot day fell on the one and only wet day in the middle of a glorious sunny few weeks in May. As the heavens opened we shot between the downpours. Yet, that famous Irish flat light saw us through and and the result was something very special. 

On the High Street…

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