Day five at Sandbox Studios was a day full of glamour. I arrived in New York City and traveled over to Dune Studios, where Sandbox Studios often shoots. I had been there previously for a CK shoot. The shoot this week was a Look Book shoot for Milly, a woman's fashion line. They were shooting ready to wear looks for their resort collection. The clothing, I must add, were beautiful; the textiles and designs were so fresh, bright, and fun.
I walked in while hair and makeup was taking place with the model. She was getting a very fresh faced look with light makeup and a ponytail that took way longer than I ever expected, but it was a truly perfect pony tail when it was finally completed. Ari, Nicolette's contact at Milly was there sending images of the model to her boss, who joined us soon afterwards. She needed to approve the hair and makeup before we began. 
While hair and makeup was taking place, Milly's interns prepared all the clothing and accessories. There was 40 total looks to shoot in the 9 hour day. It was no surprise when I left I saw that they were going into overtime. 
I learned the first shot always takes the longest, which makes sense. The photographer, tech, and photography assistant work together to make sure the lighting is correct and matches what the client is looking for. The client was there, along with 2 other employees at Milly, two Milly interns, a Sandbox studio stylist, hair, and makeup, Nicolette on production, there to make sure it all ran smoothly, and to answer all the questions about re-touching and getting the images to them when they needed them. So while the first few shots
were managed by a group of 5 people, soon it was down to a couple of them making sure the style was sitting on the model properly. I also learned they were changing up their look, going from a basic grey background to a white background with a visible horizon line and a shadow casted on one side of the model. I learned that the white floor was bouncing back into the shadow on the bottom, so instead of adding a black card to fill it back in, they decided to fix it during retouching.
Each shot was looked at by the photographer, the assistant, the tech, and the client. Once her overall style was approved, the photographer took about 30 images per look, then the client would choose 15 images, to ultimately choose 1 final image for the Look Book.
I watched the photographer problem solve for different issues like straightening out the horizon line. Another issue i've realized each photographer has had is shoot white on the white backdrop.
They have the photography assistant change the strobe power a few times to find which power shows the shadows in the white properly, without completely blowing it out.
While the shooting was taking place I got to sit with Nicolette and observe the shoot while also observing what she was taking care of. She had various items on her to do list, that involved figuring out a wardrobe drop off for CK and finding a stylist assistant for a shoot the following day. I learned without a full crew, they cannot shoot. I've found I really enjoy watching the production aspect of the whole shoot.
After a morning of shooting, and still many looks to go, a photographer from Women's Wear Daily, WWD.com, came in to shoot an editorial. The photographer set up a set adjacent to the Look Book set and got quickly to work with a one light set up and set up a diffusion board, placed the model in the center. I learned from experience this is a great set up for a one light portrait, seeing that the surrounding white walls will bounce the light back onto the model, lighting her evenly.
After a long, fun, and very educational day, I was ultimately excited to eat and pass out on the way back to Philly. Can't wait to see what next week has in store!
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