Kobi, in the Sun and editorial for Selin Magazine.

Hello and welcome to 2024. I am a little late with my greetings because I took a bit of time before the hustle and bustle of the year began to just sit still for a while and relax.

I have been wanting to work with Kobi for a minute and my dream finally came true so being patient does pay off. So does taking some time to rest too. We created this spread in my home studio with natural light. I styled the shoot and Kobi brought his personality and lots of stories from his recent adventures.

This editorial is published in Selin Magazine’s Issue 36 Volume 37 and available here.

Submissions

Every time I shoot I submit it for publication and there’s a platform that makes it so easy to do that.

It’s called Kavyar and I owe it all of my publication success over the past few years. Before that, we used to keep a manual list, a spreadsheet as it were and send out submissions in a very clunky way with loose ends left untied and credits you forgot. Once the submission was out there you would cross your fingers and hope for the best.

Kavyar makes it so easy and I love it.

So this is how I make the sausage, how about you?

Do you have a story to share? I want to hear it.

This platform is so easy to use, I highly recommend it if you are considering publishing any of your creative work.

Francesca at home with Dulce and Chanel No 5 for Vigour Magazine January Print Issue.

We created this editorial 8 weeks ago, the tear sheets just arrived late last night. Vigour magazine published the spread in their January issue and sent the tear sheets when they were ready.

Tear sheets are the pages in the magazine that feature your photographs and are used in a model portfolio to feature the scope of their work.

Dulce is an incredible MUA and pulled these looks together so quickly and so well, I love working with her. I met her on a commercial photoshoot and can’t wait to work with her again.

Francesca is an amazing model who moves with ease in front of the camera. Something so special to capture that you want to keep shooting them over and over again.

I have a bottle of Chanel No 5 that we used in this spread. I like the contrast of the makeup and the seriousness that Francesca eluded when she got the bottle in her hand.

I styled the shoot with thrifted and found clothing, the jeans were Francesca’s own that she found in a thrift shop in Amsterdam. The best thing about creating in my home studio is my tickle trunk is there to keep things interesting and provide us with more creative ideas. The perfume was an afterthought but I really like how it finished the story. The distorted images are created by using a block of glass in front of my camera lens and I love how they look. I have been using it a lot on all of my shoots and really like the dreamy result that it is creating.

Big Projects

Hello, 2024 and thanks for being so good to me 2023.

I had some big projects this year, ones that made me sit back and finally feel a bit of relief from all of the hustle because they made my year more stable, and more interesting and gave me the juice to carry on.

I began this year with a contract at La Movida sewing and design creating images for their website so they can sell fabric and notions online. I had a sweet little setup and got to work with friends which was a huge bonus. Laurie is a powerhouse and a great inspiration to work with, always creating and laughing. This gig was a perfect start to 2023.

You know those projects that bring you joy, the ones that bring you the cool people to work with, the ones that set your creative heart ablaze with hope and love. I had a few and I am beyond grateful for them. So much so that I haven’t been able to go back and look at the images like I usually do because I don’t want to break the seal. I just want the memory to stay as it was and not worry about adding the images to my website or social platforms.

I got to work with some really cool new clients like Denu and Home Team Models. Denim and diverse models are two things that I really look for and I found both in these clients.

I got to work for an entire semester creating marking and social media content at LaSalle College and I look forward to joining them again this year to make more magic.

I got to work with a wonderful stylist and create content for The Ecologyst where we received some amazing SWAG after the shoot.

I spent so much time in the studio working with wonderful models doing digitals, doing creatives and capturing my own denim collection. Alex Waber runs Doris and I was lucky enough to rent there for a year and a half. He is supported by Monika an amazing model and stylist who I got to work with creatively and commercially. We also celebrated the new year together in 2022/23 with some crazy karaoke.

I made some amazing new friends in this industry and was able to let my restaurant gigs go. I did pick up a part-time gig at The Only on Davie. It’s a brand new location and a sister store to their fabulous location on Commercial Drive. I love vintage and I have found a wonderful new home there with some great staff and amazing finds.

2023 was a challenging year for all of us and as we continue into this next chapter I know we are holding our noses as we are about to jump into what feels like the deep end. I just wanted to give a whole heap of gratitude for what I was lucky enough to experience because I also could not have done any of this without the amazing friends and clients I have. To you, I tip my hat and I can’t wait to create and collaborate our way through this next year too.

I will leave you with one of my favourite images from last year. I am still sorting through the mound that I have to choose from to update my websites, for now, 1 new one will have to do.

John and Cheyenne on a Saturday.

You know how much I love Denim right?

Well, I decided to put together a shoot featuring a couple of my favourite pairs. A pair of APC vintage dark dye denim that has been repaired many times and a pair of Golden from way back that no longer have knees. I haven’t had to mend them yet but they are on the verge.

This spread is featuring two models from Home Team Models, John and Cheyenne floating around my building because it was way too rainy to shoot outside. My building is over 60 years old and I think you can tell from the decor.

Thanks, Selin Mag Issue 35 Vol 47.

It's been an incredible year.

I want to give huge gratitude to my clients from this year, I am over the moon grateful for you, to work with you and make what we create together.

La Salle, Blanche MacDonald, Denue, LaMovida, Hometeam Models, Aleria Agency, The Ecologyst, Vancouver Fashion Week and the many magazines who continue to publish my editorials and the incredible people who help me make those editorials come to life.

The Mini Graffiti Jam has been created by FuckIT and Graffiti IO.

Huge thanks to everyone who helped me create my line from upcycled denim this year. Everyone who helped me with the shoots I produced, the sewing of it, the feedback, the trying on, helping me with my sore fingers and always complimenting me when I wear a piece.

Here’s to 2024 making more memories and collaborating and creating together.