Fashion comes naturally to me. It is the kind of subject I could talk about for hours without ever getting bored. But besides fashion, I have also been passionate about photography since I was 18. There is something about picking up a camera and thinking about composition, lighting and angles that fascinates me. This is why being in a studio and helping with a photoshoot is one of my favourite things to do.
Last year, during the final term of my first year, my lecturer Dani sent a message to me and my close friend and classmate Will, who also loves photography, asking if we would like to help a third-year student, Jonny Langridge, photograph his Final Major Project. We were a bit nervous at first, as we were first-year students helping a third-year student with such an important project.
We only had one meeting with Jonny, during which we discussed what needed to be photographed and what his expectations were for the shoot. Jonny introduced us to his project, Ourchive, a brand designed to preserve your memories throughout your life. He also showed us his mood boards and the inspirations behind the project.
From there, Will and I worked together to create the setup for the shoot. We decided that Will would take on the role of photographer, while I would be responsible for the set design, as I have a particular interest and feel for this area. Jonny booked the studio, while Will organised the equipment.
On the day of the shoot, the three of us worked together as a team to achieve the best possible results for Jonny. We photographed a combination of flat lays against a white background and images on the grey studio floor. We also photographed every page of the books he had created, including his two development and research books.
For the box, which was the main piece of his project, we decided to create a stop motion video showing Jonny opening the box, taking out all the items inside and closing it again. This idea came from a recent project that both Jonny and I had participated in: the Graduate Fashion Week stop-motion, featuring all the projects from the BA (Hons) Fashion and BA (Hons) Fashion Communication courses.
Will and I had a great time helping Jonny. I can honestly say it was one of the most enjoyable photoshoots I took part in during my first year. Everyone was collaborating, sharing ideas and contributing to the process, and in the end, we achieved a result we were all really happy with.
Thanks to Jonny, I also had the opportunity to work as part of the social media team at Graduate Fashion Week. He introduced me to the social media team manager, opening the door to another amazing experience and allowing me to get involved in an event that brought together so much creative talent.
One thing I always tell people at university is to collaborate as much as possible, because you never know where a simple opportunity might lead. Working with Jonny not only gave me the chance to gain valuable experience and become involved in another exciting project, but also allowed me to build a connection and friendship within him. It reminded me that some of the best opportunities come from working with others, sharing ideas and being open to new experiences.
