Washed up cars and porch fronts sprinkled with fresh mandarins and hints of summer weather.
Theres a few things about this shoot that really resonate with me. From beginning to end, each decision was very wistful and and we went with our gut. The outfit, location, makeup - all snap decisions. I don’t think this is a good method, but sometimes you can use spontaneity to hit a creative sweet spot that isn’t always attainable.
We started on the porch because there was a unique pocket of light that was peaking thru. I love some of the shots from this part of the shoot, but my favorites are from the car we were able to use for a few minutes. I saw this car pull up and park on the street in front of my house whilst deciding on where to shoot our second look thinking “dang I would LOVE to shoot in that car.. Maybe I should go ask that stranger if we could. They might feel super uncomfortable. Will Sarina be ok with shooting in a strangers car? I would but I don’t really know her.. its’ probably fine!” Then, in the process of thinking this I see the girl in the driver seat wave to Sarina. Boom. I realized this girl is the random car was my models ride. From here I decided to mess around with makeup, giving Sarina a hot pink glow around her eyes a cheekbones, a nod to the splash face color photo trend i’ve seen, but a little less on the nose.
I’ve always loved being in cars, whether i’m driving 7 hours north through the night or over Mulholland for sunset. Driving to a lookout and talking til 4am with a good friend. Blaring music while hugging the turns on a backroad. Theres always been something that feels safe and vulnerable at the same time when it comes to cars. I often sit in my car after I’ve reached my destination and just think. Maybe I’m on the phone or listening to music or responding to a text. Whatever it is, I always find myself not wanting to leave them and I think its because I feel truly untouched by the outside world. Like I’m in my own think tank and I can be just as I want.
I really feel something when I look at it this first photo - and thats usually why I love a photo, but something about the style and execution of it really resonates with who I am as a creative and the way I want to be portrayed. It just feels like me.
