Avenue Magazine Style Q&A

When it rains, it pours, as they say.   Back in May, I was asked to be a part of Avenue Magazine's Style Q&A.  Before I go into the details, I first want to mention what a great deal of respect I have for this magazine.  I'm proud that our city has a forward thinking, intelligent, stylish publication like Avenue....(and it's free!)

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At the time of the shoot, my home was in the midst of a home reno.  There was flooring a-muck, dust galore, and stranded in the living room were several kitchen appliances!  But looking at the pages you would be none the wiser thanks to the savvy team of photographers and stylists who swept in and literally worked MAGIC in the space.   Unbeknownst to the Avenue reader, the messy details were skillfully omitted, and in it's place was left order and simplicity. 

The vision and talent of this team was amazing. Pivotal to this was Lori Andrews who photographed the shoot.  She has a excellent eye, she's very talented, she's got smarts, and she's a total hoot!  Also on set was stylist Phaedra Godchild of Styleista who brought along her great style, as well as makeup artist Lucy Morris, Art Director Vanessa Brewer who masterminded along with Lori, and of course style editor Ricky Zayshley, whose energy and bright blue eyes brought definite panache to the shoot. :)

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Overall the entire process was so fun!  I especially loved working with the wonderful people who were involved, and I feel grateful both for the opportunity itself, and for the chance to make some new friends!  

P.S.  if you'd like to read the full article, click here.

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My little guy also made a little cameo appearance, which was the highlight for both of us!  Thanks again Avenue, and thanks Universe.  

An unexpected, but exciting side gig!

One fine day, quite randomly I got an email from the lovely, stylish, and beautiful Ania B.  Through the grapevine she had caught wind of what was going on my little studio and sent an email my way.   The email had something in it about Nordstrom's YYC store, 100 Calgarians, street style, and would I like to be a part of it??  Ahhh, yes please!  A little later I got another email asking if I'd be interested in doing an even bigger project - this time a paid gig that could involve big photos in prominent places.  Again, floored, flattered and stunned, I said "Ahhh, YES!"

So....along came a stylist to my house to poke through my wardrobe to pick out a few outfits.  Six to be exact.  A little bit of this, a little bit of that.  What I didn't realize until then, is that this wasn't for the 100 street style photos, but for an ad campaign, and I would be 1 of 10??!! Whoa Nelly!

Then...the day of the shoot.  Orchestrated with precision and skill. 

The whole thing was quite a production.  I had no idea what was involved in shooting an ad campaign!  There were box-loads of clothes shipped from Seattle, racks and racks of clothing, schedules, tables of shoes, accessories, bags, etc.  I felt like a kid in a candy store! It all felt very glam.

Lo and behold, it was an awesome adventure.  I met some amazing people from Seattle, Texas and YYC many who were happy to tell their story of how they got to be where they are, each of them gracious, friendly, wonderful...and of course stylish!!  But the icing on the cake was the photographer Tommy Ton.  If you've ever seen really good street style photos, where the models look like, well, models - you've seen Tommy Ton's work.  (GQ, Style.com)

I've got to say, there is little that makes me feel as satisfied with the order of the universe as when someone who is a force of talent, skill, and fame, still manages to keep it real. That's Tommy Ton... a kinda shy, humble, nice guy without any airs.

Super fun, super unique, super memorable.  Thanks for the experience, Universe!