Credits

Photographer: Kimberly Metz
Wardrobe Stylist: Zoe Battles-Moore
Hair and Makeup: Natalie Miller
Model: Kaet for No Ties Model Management.

Comments from Kimberly and Zoe follow the images. Click on any image to see it larger.

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 Beauty Details:

Primer: Picture Perfect by Zana Cosmetics
Foundation: Face and Body #6 by Make Up Forever
Powder: #0, #2 by Giorgio Armani
Brow: Anastasia Brow Pencil in Light Brunette
Eye Shadow: Shiseido Cream Eye Shadow in H2, H11, H12
MAC Frost and Stila Smudge Pot in Black
Mascara: Nars Volume in Black
Blush: Stila Convertable Color in Rose
Lips: Zana Cosmetics Lip Magic
Body: Bathalina by Benefit
Nails: Dior Vernis #905

Styling comments from fashion and wardrobe stylist Zoe Battles-Moore:

When pulling wardrobe for shoots, I go to all the fashion press offices here in LA. I happened to come across a new line, Falguni + Shane Peacock. I was so inspired by the beauty, detail, and uniqueness of the pieces. They are a new team of designers based in India. I had the pleasure of meeting the husband and wife team when they came to LA to do a preview for their new collection. I used most of their pieces for this shoot.

I did also use one amazing short bugle bead dress from a Lebanese designer named Jean Farres. I loved the detail work he does. It reminded me of a piece by Bob Mackie (one of my all-time favorite designers), but an updated and very modern version. We shot six looks that day total.

I went to other press offices to get the shoes and accessories, and that is where I got the Jean Farres dress. I tend to use simple accessories when the clothing is the center piece, as in this shoot. i use more bold accessories when the clothes are simple. As they say, less is more! For a shoot like this, the whole process usually takes a few days to pull,  prep and return.

I met Kimberly about 12 years ago when she shot a ‘look book’ in Los Angeles for Heike Jarick, a very talented German designer based in NYC. I have been styling shoots fro Kimberly ever since. We have become very close friends since then as well. It is a really special experience to be able to work with good friends and people you enjoy being around. I know the make-up artist personally as well, Natalie Miller; she is also a veteran in the industry. I have worked with her a number of times.

Kimberly saw the clothes and fell in love and found the perfect location to show contrast between beautiful pieces of art and a natural rugged work environment. Kimberly is extremely good at improvising and getting amazing locations in last-minute situations.

I have my #1 main assistant I use for every shoot. And I also take on interns from F.I.D.M. for a 3 month period. I enjoy mentoring young, aspiring students, and showing them the ins and outs of the business and to show them what it is like to be on set. it is not all fun, shopping, and pulling amazing clothes. There is way more to being a stylist than people think. There are many challenges I face and conquer on each job.

It is always a pleasure to work with Kimberly. She is a very talented woman, and fun to work with. Since we were on location, there was a lot of time spent moving and preparing each set up. This made it a challenge to get all the shots done before sunset. But as usual, we did it all as scheduled. It was a very fun shoot!

The clothes were so very inspiring. I tend to get very excited when working with such amazing haute couture pieces. I love it when the model loves what she is wearing as well. i do a lot of commercials and music videos, but what I love best are these kinds of editorial stories.

Photographic comments from fashion photographer Kimberly Metz:

Zoe [the wardrobe stylist] suggested we shoot the partial collection of Falguni & Peacock, which I’ve shot for editorial purposes in the past. The location is one at which I’d shot  model Victoria Silvstedt years ago, and I knew this designer’s type of textured clothing would be perfect in that gritty setting. Zoe had worked with the showroom previously, and arranged the wardrobe. While I originally shot this on spec, in hopes of submitting it for editorial purposes, the designer ultimately selected several of the images for their website.

This shoot was all about the clothes! Zoe is very easy-going and flexible, so gathering the items seemed effortless. The concept grew out of this particular simple style. It was a very simple idea, and we didn’t have a separate hair dresser, so we kept it organic. While I’ve only worked with the entire team once before, I have worked with the make-up artist and stylist numerous times separately.

I originally scouted Kaet [the model] at a wrap party, before she was a model. After two years she can MOVE like a model who has been in the business for ten years plus! She has a very unique face and look.

My equipment list was kept simple: Canon 5D, and my 28mm-135mm and 35mm-135mm lenses. I didn’t use any strobes, and the lighting was ‘au naturel’: just one double-sided reflector.

The make-up artist and I did a pre-location scout the day prior to the shoot, which was shot in Long Beach, California. On the day of the shoot, we arrived around noon at this very remote location. But one my interns got lost, so that held us up about an hour. As with every shoot, it all worked out.

My two interns, who were from two different photography schools, got in to a little argument about how to properly hold the reflector. In the end, neither had the skills, so the make-up artist grabbed the reflector and pointed it in the right direction. I’ve noticed that make-up artists always seem to know how to hold a reflector, because they learn early on when they’re the only crewperson on a shoot.

I retouched thirteen images in eight hours, and only one image was a composite. I have a side business retouching for many photographers, clients, models, artists, and anyone in need of retouching and restoration, so I do all my own work.

Here is the original version of the lead image, before Kimberly worked her retouching magic:

And some behind-the-scenes images:

This post was made possible with considerable assistance from Jonah Gilmore. Thanks Jonah!

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