The morning started sat at the bus stop, out of breath, red in the face and clutching onto two huge suitcases that looked like they were about to burst at any moment. It was not the best I’ve ever looked. I must have packed them and repacked them about ten times in the past couple of days making sure I had everything I needed for my photoshoot, the right eyeshadow palette, both earrings, multiple pairs of heels. I’m a perfectionist so I needed to have everything right. My bus finally arrived, and the walk down the aisle was slow, trying not to take everyone out as I walked past. I sat very close to the front that day.

As soon as I got to my college I went straight to the studio, having booked the biggest one for the entire day. I planned to take my time and have fun with it. Yet it did not take long for something to go wrong, as I was told the smaller studio was the only one available. So much for a booking system. However, I quickly adjusted my plans. My four models and I squeezed into this extremely slim room setting up the photography equipment and getting the first outfits ready.

Since my brand ‘Amalia’ was targeted towards an audience of young women from 20 to mid-30s who had a strong work ethic, yet loved to have fun, I styled to suit this image. This meant that I mixed classic work wear like blazers and shirts with something that was more after hours. The work wear contrasted yet worked well with knee-high lace up boots, smeared glitter eyeshadow and fluffy tops. It was a rush of adrenaline, styling these girls as if they were my real-life dolls. Although my models were around eighteen years old, they straight away fit into the image of my target audience.

Inspired by I.Am.Gia’s e-commerce photography I started with solo shots. The models held straight faces and stood tall against a white background as their little handbags slightly swayed in their hand. This style of photography helped get them more comfortable and test the shoot was exactly the aesthetic I wanted. But in my work, I think the stranger the better.

I quickly went into more editorial shots with my models posing with their legs in the air or sprawled across this white box we had found. The atmosphere of the shoot was something never experienced before. It was bubbling with creativity and beauty as the models bounced off each other. This was their first-time modelling and there was no space for awkwardness or embarrassment.

Taking advantage of a smaller studio, I took many shots with the background included. This made for more personal photos. I feel including the set brought out that ‘feel good’ attitude of Amalia, backing up the work hard yet have fun brand ethos. It made the brand feel expensive and lively, adding a personality that in today’s society helps brands advance further.

Two girls lay on the floor holding hands as I stood above. The shimmer of one top blending with the sheerness of the others shirt. Time was running out to the end of the college day, so to close the shoot I took all the clothes and threw them on top of the girls. Laughter followed, yet the way the hot pinks hit against the animal print and the fabrics flowed together made the image jump out. Their faces stared directly into the camera, for as fun as the image was their eyes were deep. Every girl has had to deal with the mess of her room after getting ready for a night out. The abundance of dresses and tops thrown aside as they were not quite right. This image shows that, and it was the perfect finish.

After uploading the photos all of us could not stop going back to them, I remember one of my models turning to me and saying, “I felt so confident and had so much fun.” In that moment I knew, the Amalia brand was perfected, that is exactly the experience I wanted for the audience.