Tsai Thao - Interstellar Jellyfish
Our team created award winning art (Silver Award, 3rd Place in the Motion category) for The Portrait Masters Awards and Accreditation!
As an artist, you find that working collaboratively with talented individuals lifts everyone's game.
I've had the chance to work with Tsai (IG: @thehmoderngirl) multiple times, and I am never disappointed with her drive and passion to create with her unique set of skills. When we shoot, we are the best and worst creative collaborators--"Want to keep going?" - *both nodding*- and it's suddenly 10 hours later.
I was planning an idea to do a futuristic style shoot with the intention of entering the image into the Motion category at The Portrait Masters. I wanted to pay some homage to the work of Issey Miyake and Irving Penn's work in the 80's, while introducing a more free flowing and undersea movement feel.
I had sourced a 1920's style iridescent cape from The Costume Collective that I've become infatuated with, and named it "The Jellyfish". I paired it with a neoprene pantsuit I came across that had some fish gill-like decoration on the suitcoat that fit my idea almost perfectly. With Tsai's dance and yoga background, creative spirit, and artistic grace, this session had her name all over it. She absolutely killed it.
I was fortunate to have Betsey McKensie of Luminous Beauty to find me the perfect team for this avant-garde shoot. Thadd brought their makeup skills and with a few simple ideas, they created exactly the vibe I had in mind. Jessica came in with some scintillating hair work, and pulled this stunning artwork together. I just wanted to give them the scope, and let them create OUR vision, not just mine. I was overjoyed with how fantastic their work was and we had do much fun putting it together!
When things come together after so much planning, it's just an amazing thing. I'm so proud of what we created together.
Concept/styling/photography: @arr.ell.ess
Model: Tsai Thao @thehmoderngirl
HMUA team: Betsey McKensie @luminousbeautyofficial
Makeup: Thadd @_aragidi_
Hair: Jessica @strattonjessica
Accessories: @thecostumecollectivemn