Author: Stephanie F.

Blissfully shielded…

Posted on by Stephanie F.

When I look for images for professional communications, I usually look on stock photography sites like Getty Images, Corbis, even Shutterstock (for anything but portraits). But you know, today, I searched in Google images again and it wasn’t pretty. When looking for a “team of workers” (yes, I know) I found so many wrong, dubious, completely irrelevant images. A picture of naked team workers (posing to boost morale of the team), one of Mr T, a french pit bull with hair extensions…

If however I would find a suitable image on via Google Images, I’m not sure I’d be able to use it because of copyrights. How do you find the owner of an image posted on the web (loose from any personal Facebook/Flickr/DeviantART/… account)? I have been contacting people in the past years about the use of their images. Most of the time, people are very happy to allow you to use them for a token amount of money. With the prices of the big stock photography site, you shouldn’t hesitate if it’s the image you really want.

On the other side, it made me wish Corbis and the likes had a ‘snapshot’ library for those day to day, good but not that great images. Badly framed, underlit/overlit, wrong composition, wrong people…  Ok, Flickr might be a better place to find those but their search engine is nowhere compared to that of Getty for example (search on viewpoint, number of people, location, …)

To find what I want, I might have to go shoot those snapshots myself. Ah well.
There’s worse things in the world, like some spam e-mail claiming I shouldn’t waist time at University… I wonder why.

Fraikin’s Friday Fashion Photo Booth (3) – Back to black

Posted on by Stephanie F.

I’ve worn loads of black in the past. And I’ve thrown away loads of black clothes but this black leather pleated skirt, I could never bring myself to get rid of it. Boy, am I glad! And since leather is at the top of the must-have fabrics this winter… How to do black (again)

Black leather pleated skirt, Belstaff boots, black turtle neck sweater, Vivienne Westwood red trench, chunky wool snood & leopard print fingerless mittens from TopShop

On empathy & photography

Posted on by Stephanie F.

I’ve seen a lot of different people in front of my lens. Lately, due to the type of work I’m doing, they’re not experienced, therefore not confident.
I can guess that for other photographers, it’s a source of bother but I’m really enjoying this. It requires a lot of empathy and it seems to come as a second nature to me when I’m behind the camera. I love how you need to guide them, show them, bring them over to the fun side of it. Oh, I know it’s not easy. I wouldn’t want to stand on that side of the lens either. Maybe what I say to my models is what I would tell myself if I was in their place. Or what I wish the photographer would say to make me feel better.

When I see them get into it, it’s a glorious feeling of achievement, and I know that the picture will be worth it because the model is enjoying being there and feels at ease.

I’ve heard horrible stories from models, about having hours long shoots and having to do all kinds of ridiculous things for a result of… one good photograph. Come on. When you see the sparkle go out of your model’s eyes, you know you should have quit already.

So this is it. Read your models, feel what they feel and put yourself in their shoes. I believe it works better than the Hollywood stereotype of the “impatient fashion photographer who shouts at everybody on the set”. Of course, if it’s an expensive experienced model who can’t do her job and wastes everybody’s time: I might be like that too.

Whatever works for you of course, for me, I think empathy is a must.

Fraikin’s Friday Fashion Photo Booth (2) – Summer’s back?

Posted on by Stephanie F.

Today, 22°. Amazing weather for an 8th of October. So it kinda felt like a last chance at wearing summer-like clothes so there you go!

Sarah Pacini beige thin sweater with TopShop military brooch (bringing in a bit of Fall trends here), McQ harem pants & MiuMiu wedges (will miss them during winter)

Today on my desk – Vogue 90 ans d’exces

Posted on by Stephanie F.

Ok, better late than never. I know you lot had it when it was still warm from the presses… And yes, alright, I confess, I’m an Elle girl so I didn’t 🙂

But I couldn’t miss the Vogue anniversary edition could I? Well, I can’t tell you much about it though.  Save that I’ve waded through the first 50 pages of ads and that’s all the time I had then.

Must add reading Vogue to my to-do list.

Louise Night 30/09

Posted on by Stephanie F.

Last night I was at the Louise Night for an evening of shopping in the fanciest neighborhood of Brussels. I would have loved to be at the Fashion Night Out in London in September, but this kind of satisfied my need for fashion & bubbles!
As my tweet said yesterday “#TodayImWearing Gap beige military roll up cotton pants, brown heeled hiker boots, white shirt and @Burberry aviator jacket ♥” and so I was.

What I loved about it was the atmosphere in every shop, people talked, shop assistant to customer, customer to customer, very relaxed, no rush, no push. Chanel was brilliant, got nails done there and grabbed one of the limited edition “Khaki brun” polish, perfect fit with the aviator jacket. I also got a darkblue Mayfair Hackett tie for my boyfriend who sadly couldn’t be present. I also visited the brand new Burberry shop, it has a nicer collection than the one in Antwerp but still pales in comparison with those in London.

I’ve not been in every shop/venue. There were about three hundred locations and that was a bit much for a few hours. Especially if you’re having a drink in every shop (make a mental note for the next edition: rent a room at the Sofitel, have champagne in every shop and have midnight food in the Crystal Lounge)

Great initiative, we want more!

Today on my desk – Moo cards

Posted on by Stephanie F.

Being a photographer and an Art Director is not always a good thing.
I’ve been toying with an idea for new business cards for months: choice of paper, choice of font, brand style, minimalistic, perforated, cut, drilled, metallic inks… I couldn’t choose.
And on top of that, I was confronted with the costs too, let’s be reasonable here: I was gonna hand out cards at 3 euros a pop!

So in the end, I asked myself what I wanted people to remember me by. I think my work can be described as very varied, and I think that’s a plus. Is a 3 euro minimalistic business card really reflecting that? I didn’t think so.

I found Moo by accident, but loved their site, tone of voice and products (I found out later that they also have a great customer service).
Moo allows you to print business cards where one side remains constant, while on the other side, you choose how many different images you want. It’s a great idea for a photographer since you can display your work, and let your customer choose their favorite. I’ll be updating my cards on a regular basis, as my portfolio changes.

So today on my desk: my Moo business cards!

Fraikin’s Friday Fashion Photo Booth (1) – Winter is coming

Posted on by Stephanie F.

Welcome to the first Fraikin’s Friday Fashion Photo Booth post!
From this friday onwards, and every friday that follows you’ll get a glimpse of my Friday outfit. Enjoy!

Pepe Jeans brown dress with bow detail, Topshop Faux-Fur bodywarmer,
Aldo brown heeled hiker boots & beloved C’n’C suede handbag

Fashion Photo Booth – Vivienne Westwood

Posted on by Stephanie F.

I’ve been toying with the idea of taking snapshots of my outfits but being a photographer, I wanted it to be a concept in itself… I thought of putting a camera in the lift, taking a snap everytime you go in but I think the neighboors wouldn’t have been too happy. Standing in front of my own camera just isn’t for me either… Long live Apple for doing fun products like Photo booth.

This is a test, but starting Friday, expect Fraikin’s Friday Fashion Photo Booth, to come every Friday (!) to Twitter, Facebook and other social networks around yours.

Vivienne Westwood Prince de Galles skirt (part of a 2-piece suit but today’s weather turned out too good for a jacket) and Marc by Marc Jacobs t-shirt. Shoes are from Chie Mihara