Artist Formerly Known As

FASHION
Written By Simone Taylor

Sometimes you can look at a beautiful piece like this and think the relaxed flow and the breadth of creative style means the work was seamless. We have decided it’s always a good reminder to see behind the scenes at not only how things can sometimes work, but how hard people work to not only get it done, but get it done with integrity.

Creative life is notoriously tough, working for free while juggling a full time job, missing huge opportunities because they arrive at your doorstep with 15 minutes notice, last minute 15 hour shoots. No matter your role; stylist, creative director, photography assistant, model, we all get pulled into the whirlpool. The pressure to not produce a swirl of garbage in a last minute scenario is as intense as a shoot that has been planned for months. So how do we do it? How do we do it with a spread of representation and creativity? How do we find ways to do it at breakneck speed? How do we do it with creative representation and team trust? And, something that I personally think needs to be addressed within such a chaotic world with high standards, how do we make it ok to admit burnout without the stigma of shame around “not working hard enough”?

This shoot is a real life example. There was less than a week to prepare to shoot a relatively big name in music with brand expectations, zero funding, and a complete reliance on the team to find their own equipment, space, clothing, talent. And then the big name Artist pulls out, at 730pm, the night before the 8am shoot. Promises had been made to brands, money had been spent, people had diverted their work and personal lives to be there. Reem Elnour, founder of The Blueprint, a directory and platform celebrating and giving this industry access to BIPOC creative in ANZ and producer of this shoot, gives us a transparent look at what goes on, and how somehow, through it all, her teams end up with a brilliant piece and a desire to create more.


First up, this shoot was produced by your amazing entity The Blueprint. Tell us a bit about what The Blueprint is, and why it exists.

The Blueprint is a platform, directory and consultancy service dedicated to providing opportunities and highlighting BIPOC creatives

If there wasn’t a need for it, it wouldn’t exist. It was created out of need. Too many times I have heard “I don’t know any any people of colour to book”, so I did the work so they wouldn’t have excuses for their lack of inclusivity.


What do you think the biggest impact of using creatives from The Blueprint had on how the entire shoot was produced from inception to edit?

The team consisted of creatives that I am a fan of, who also happen to be my friends. The respect that I hold for their art and the trust I have in them is why it was easy to adjust to obstacles. It was also important for me to provide them with a space to showcase their talents to new audiences

 

Are positive end results like this beautiful piece reliant on having a strong inclusive team?

A BIG YES. Why would I want to consume art that is from one single narrow perspective that fails to relate to me and the real majority (minority in Australia), when I can enjoy art created by people with unique and different life experiences. I want inclusivity in everything. I can always tell when something is produced with people who look like me behind the scenes or not, we all can tell, trust me. 


What are some ways you personally and also people you’ve worked with keep a bank of inspiration for these last minute concepts?

I always carry a film camera with me, and take pictures of anything and everything that speaks to me whether I publicly share it or not, because you never know what will inspire you down the line. I also love to create mood boards including the team I envision for any small idea I may have, because they always end up being useful in times like this. 

“Working with like minded people that have different perspectives and approaches might sound like a juxtaposition, but it works for me every time. At the core we should all want the same thing.”

What do you think is integral to creating an environment where this can be done creatively and also on time?

Working with like minded people that have different perspectives and approaches might sound like a juxtaposition, but it works for me every time. At the core we should all want the same thing. That’s the key to working efficiently. 



What were the particular things in this shoot that sparked happiness for you and your team?

Watching everyone having fun and expressing themselves brought me a lot of joy.

It’s beautiful to witness people I’ve worked with often, who may not have worked with each other, develop creative chemistry between themselves. I hope it leads to future collaborations between them and more open doors.




What would the extra care and intention of mitigating burnout from this fast paced industry look like to you?

It’s really hard to avoid burn out, that’s the sad truth. Especially as a Black woman I feel like this industry takes more from me than it gives. But I’ve learnt to set my boundaries and be firm in protecting my peace. 



And as always we ask, who are your current favourite creatives?

Creative director
/producer:
Reem Elnour @theblueprint.space

Photographer
Oliver Wensing

Photography assistant
Mara Marsa

Stylist
Jaida White @thnk________

Styling assistant / HAIR
Aislin Walker

Beauty
Anabelle Ussher

Model
Brianna Chan @fivetwentymgt

Video + BTS
Simone Taylor + Aislin Walker

Words by Alex Officer

01 / Top: ramptramptrampstamp “yoked glamour hood in sparkle”, bottoms: ramptramptrampstamp “beach bloomers in star”, shoes: Niihaii, tights: stylist owns
02/ Top: Pfeieffer (leaf comms) “Gerrale mesh knit Top”, pants: ramptramptrampstamp “ramp tramp jeans in charcoal”, shoes: camper “Taylor loafers”
03/ Body suit: Pfeieffer “Waller bodysuit” (LEAF COMMs), bottoms: “the turn” (LEAF COMMS) Christian Dior Sports Cropped Pants, belts: stylist owns, glasses: Eyewear Index, Gucci GG0516S Black $560.00 (BRAND ETC pr), bag: kiko vintage| Prada 2000s leopard cavallino mini bag, shoes: (stylist owns)
04/ Top: LMND (leaf Comms) “Chiara shirt mid length stripe - oat/ nutshell, bottoms: Aje athletica “contrast zip trackpants 504 (LEAF Comms) shoes: Camper “twins, multicoloured leather loafers”
05/ Coat: stylist owns, tights: stylist owns, shoes: kiko vintage | prada | “vintage 90s square toe pumps”, sunglasses: bottega Veneta
06/ Sunglasses: zro store “v4-1 in Chalk”, Pants: ramptramptrampstamp “ramp tramp jeans in charcoal”, shoes: camper “kobarah”
07/ Tops: st Agni (catinella) “organic cotton singlet - white” “organic cotton singlet - white/ black”

Simone Taylor
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