This morning, I had an epiphany. Well, that’s a bit dramatic. More of a “realization.”
I noticed I only show the final product of our editorial work . The photos are undoubtedly beautiful, but as a stylist, the photoshoot process is my favorite part… It’s a jigsaw puzzle of pieces that must fit together and capture all the elements the client wants to portray, regardless of the elements {weather, staffing, etc} within a set time. It’s a lot like a wedding!
So today, I thought we’d give you a sneak peek of one such process – the Swoon Bridesmaid dress campaign, which I was thrilled to style alongside my friend and tres-talented photographer, Trent Bailey . While Trent was behind the lens shooting all things Swoon, Samantha Shay Photography captured the hustle and bustle of a photoshoot in progress… not to mention all the {fun} work it takes to land one ad page in Martha Stewart Weddings !
Here I am {with my dorky, yet necessary} styling belt, making sure our model’s wardrobe and accessory is as perfect as planned… I’m joined by Paul of Facetime Beauty Concierge , who came on board for hair and make-up.
Part of a stylist’s job is sourcing accessories and coordinating looks for each shot. Everyone has their own process; this is mine. I pulled accessories from Emily Elizabeth Jewelry , Monet Jewelry and Peggy Li Creations , then placed each look in a clear lucite box for easy handling.
Here are the dresses, which flew into my home office from sunny California. Unfortunately for us, the weather in New York was less than stellar {flash floods and stormy skies!}, but we hoped for the best, so we could shoot in Central Park as planned. 
Here, our model’s curls set as Paul begins to work on her make-up. The gowns are steamed and ready to rock.
The finished make-up look {and a few test shots as well}. The team decided on a dewy and natural look that suited Swoon’s soft and ethereal brand qualities. Paul did a wonderful job! 
Top: Swoon’s owner and designer, the lovely Amy Wong Micucci, cozies up on a couch at Merci’s office, hoping for the rain to stop. Bottom: When the weather gods failed to hear our prayers, Trent Bailey saved the day by arranging studio space for the early AM outfits. Not shown: The team continues their {no} rain dances. 
Trent shows Amy some studio images… and it seems like the shots are really showcasing the clothing well…
Top: A sneak peek of a jewelry roll from Merci’s styling kit. {Even though I pulled accessories from designers, it always make sense to bring my kit for classic items and layering pieces}. Bottom: “Jumping in” between shots is a workout – but a well needed one. The smallest shift in accessories, hair or wardrobe can lead to thousands of dollars of retouching. Better safe than sorry.
Weather gods, rejoice! We received a quick reprieve from the rain and quickly rushed uptown to Central Park to snag the shots Amy wanted. It was time to act fast and get solid, quality images in a short lead time!
After a full day of work, here are six of Amy’s final selects….
Which of these do you like the best? Hint: One has been retouched to perfection and is featured in all its glossy glory in the winter issue of Martha Stewart Weddings Winter 2011 issue…
Which image do you think it is??
All Swoon editorial imagery {including the last six image shots} by Trent Bailey Photography.
Behind the scenes images by Samantha Shay Photography .
Styling by Jacqueline Weppner, Merci New York .
Hair and Make-Up by Facetime Beauty Concierge .
Jewelry and accessories from Emily Elizabeth Jewelry , Monet Jewelry and Peggy Li Creations .
