I had an idea a while back for a photo shoot involving a few girls, paper collars and feathers. Throw in some excellent make up and hair, and we are on to something! I called the series Birds. It was meant as a commentary on the beauty and fashion industry, and how it wants us all to fit in a very small and cramped box.
I contacted my friend Anja, from ladylush.net, and asked if she wanted to play. She did! So I asked my babysitter if her and some friends would like to model, and they were game too.
I spent a few evenings folding and gluing pages from fashion magazines into collars, while making plans for how to set the light and how I wanted the girls to pose.
Being creative for creativity's sake isn't only fun, but necessary
I had been in a creative rut for a while, and didn't really know what to do to get out of it. I was feeling uninspired and unmotivated, and I needed a good old fashioned kick in the pants. I had the idea, I had my partner in crime, I had the models. And I had all the excuses: I don't have time, I don't know how to make the collars, if they will work at all, I don't know how to set the lights, etc. etc.
I finally pulled myself together, and all it took was for me to pick up the phone and contact Anja. When she said yes I contacted the models. We found a date and made a plan. I made an effort to make the shoot happen, and that is where the magic lies: creativity doesn't just show up at your doorstep one day out of the blue, you have to invite it over, make some coffee and perhaps bake a cake. You have to look after it, nurture it and make it want to hang out with you. You have to make it a priority.
When creativity is a priority, great things happen
The shoot went great. The girls were perfect, the hair and make up was stunning, the light was spot on (pardon the pun!). We had a wonderful afternoon, and came out of it with some kick ass images, quite a few laughs, and a renewed relationship with creativity.
So if you are waiting for that perfect moment to start a new project, the moment is now!
