Featured Work: Like A Girl
Stretching the limits of lifestyle photography
Social Design and Events stepped outside of their event-based comfort zone with help from photography duo Best Day Ever for a styled shoot exploring a day in the life of coach and humanitarian Sophie Beya. An added bonus? The team focused on featuring local products and partnering with local businesses to bring their concept to life.
How did the idea for Like A Girl come about?
We always have a few ideas floating around, and when we met with Best Day Ever we all agreed to do something that was going to stretch our idea of a styled shoot. We'd been wanting to do something more lifestyle focused, so a photo shoot around health and wellness got us pretty excited. We wanted to show a day in the life of a girl, from her morning workout to a rooftop party.
How did you choose who to collaborate with?
This whole shoot was conceived with Amy & Aaron of Best Day Ever. We dreamed and schemed about how to make this happen. The first thing we had to get was a model. Sophie was a no brainer! She's a Beachbody coach and so photogenic! Then we started thinking about the location and immediately thought of Iron Sharpens Iron. The space is all black and white and the staff is awesome! Their gym is extremely flexible so we could do lots of different activities. We wanted to include local vendors like Rooted & Sweaty Bands because we love their products and felt they helped tell the story. Lastly, to complete our model's look, we needed to nail the wardrobe, hair and makeup. Finery lent us a few dresses, and Haley & Brittany took Sophie's look to the next level.
Did you work with anyone to determine the creative direction, schedule, or other logistics?
We worked with Best Day Ever on the creative direction. Together we were able to visualize what the shoot should look like. Social managed the remainder of the logistics.
How much time did you have to execute everything? How did you use/manage that time?
We spent three months planning. Most of that time was spent tracking down the perfect partners to help execute our vision and shopping for wardrobe. The day of we spent about five hours shooting.
How does this complement or contrast your usual projects?
It complements because we were able to utilize our talents of styling & planning.
It contrasts because typically we do event based photo shoots; this was more of a lifestyle shoot.
What was the funniest or weirdest thing that happened on the shoot?
We used a smoke bomb on the roof, but it was so windy! Just as Kendra got the direction of the smoke the correct way the wind would shift and she'd be running to the other side of the shot. We have a hilarious video of it.
interview continues below gallery
How should people follow you and your work?
Our website: socialdesignandevents.com and on Instagram @socialdesignandevents
How should people contact you?
Email or our website contact form: hello@socialdesignandevents.com
Credits:
Designer & Stylist: Emily Sapp, Kendra Doherty, and Emily Kester of Social Design & Events, socialdesignandevents.com, @socialdesignandevents
Photographer: Best Day Ever, blog.bestdayeverphoto.com, @best_amy_ever, @best_aar_ever
Location: Iron Sharpens Iron Personal training, ironsharpensironpersonaltraining.com, @ironsharpensusa
Model: Sophie Beya
Hair: Brittany Gray at Hair Kitchen, theehairkitchen.com, @hairkitchen
Makeup: Haley Cator at Cincy MUAH, cincymuah.com, @haleycator_mua
Headbands: Sweaty Bands, sweatybands.com, @sweatybands
Dress: Finery, finerydressboutique.com, @finerydressboutique
Food: Rooted Juicery + Kitchen, rootedjuicery.com, @rootedjuicery