back at it.

i'm terrible at communication. i got a new job. i've been working furiously with my head down for 3 months and i'm very grateful for the opportunities i've been given. they didn't come without obstacles but it's all been worth it and it's undoubtedly shaping me for my future career, whatever that may be - still figuring it out but i'm not in a huge rush. it'll come. que sera, sera. 

i'm learning so much at my new job, i'm a junior graphic designer for multiple fashion brands in an agency-type setting. it gets a little gray with what i do, but that's what i love about it - it's fast-paced so it keeps me on my feet. i'm usually doing a variety of different projects at once, because doing the same thing every day is not cool. i get to be fairly independent which i fully appreciate but i have the support of a creative team at all times. i work with well-known brands as well as younger brands which is where i get to use more of my own creativity - very rewarding. i know i've been given a lot of responsibility early in my time there and i have a group of high-level print and web designers around me who's knowledge i'm soaking up like a sponge. as much as i can at once anyway. i've pushed myself, gained a lot of confidence as a designer but i've seen how much there is to learn, how far there is to go and i'm happy to say that i love what i do. 

photos of some highlight moments while i've been gone.

my second desk, in my second month. my first one wasn't as private, as spacious or as full of potential, it's all about location. this one is actually in the creative dept., where they keep the lights off so the designers can see the colors easier. puts me right in the zone.

driving barefoot, trying to preserve my two-tone color/material pumps from Zara.

sometimes i work with ginormous files for print.

weekend job, every once in a while. cartoon voiceovers in boca.

a best friend went through a mission to get me the most perfect birthday card, sent twice in an envelope complete with hand-lettering because we're typography g's.

i love my desk! a work in progress. 

it's not always glamorous but it's fun when it is. model boards for a photoshoot

my current desktop wallpapers because i'm a nerd like that.

oh and i saw this wicked thing while having lunch at Shucker's. remember that deck that collapsed during the Heat game? it was there.

this was it.

HERE COMES THE SUN

wardrobe: Back In Style

photography: Valerie Petralia

styling/design: Brandy Swope

model: Marcos Rezende

i'm starting to get inspired for a new project with a shoot Valerie and i did a while back... seems like forever ago now. 

isn't that jacket exquisite?? a full editorial coming soon. :)

CLASS PROJECT TURNED EDITORIAL

wardrobe: Back In Style

photography: Valerie Petralia

styling/design: Brandy Swope

models: Chris Robair, Brandy Swope

i'm working on a project creating a campaign for a menswear line coming out and i had to create an actual advertisement for it. and i had to be in it. so i thought - this is the perfect opportunity to force my loving and supportive boyfriend, Christopher, to shoot a few shots with me (because obviously, i need a man for a menswear line.) he was amazing as our model. and as you can see, he cleans up nice. gosh, i'm a lucky girl... and who ever said you'd never wear your senior prom dress again? 7 years later and i'm still not yet embarrassed of what i wore *phew! - fashionista in the making i was. and i remember i found it in a really unassuming store under $90 (because oh, you're never going to wear the thing again) ha.

anyway, my very good friend and owner of the absolutely fabulous vintage shop Back In Style who sells high-end designer vintage clothing and accessories is such an amazing woman and she graciously let me use that exquisite jacket you see there, the lush shoulder wrap, and the patterned rhinestoned vintage Gucci sandals. ...yeah. if you are ever craving a beautiful piece and want to support a truly wonderful store, please go to her website and treat yourself. 

the photo above is one of the "money" shots (as i've been saying a lot lately) from the day. valerie snapped amazing photos of us wearing these pieces and i can not wait to make a full editorial out of it. check back. a lot is happening so i know there is a lot of bits and pieces of everything coming up on the blog but, it's all going to come together soon. :) hope everyone had a great memorial day weekend! 

SERIOUSLY, WE WERE JUST . . .

wardrobe: American Apparel

styling + design: Brandy Swope

photography: Valerie Petralia

so the location of this particular shoot was kind of barren and we made the best of what we had, which turned out to be pretty great actually... these christmas lights were perfect because they were nice and bright - not the teeny little ones that probably would've taken us the entire day to unravel.  so grateful for that. 

and Valerie caught this photo of me that i love quite a bit i'd say. i was simply going to make it my super cool profile pic, but then i started messing with it. . . there is a beautiful window in the original image of this that i cropped out during my experimental process which i will probably make use of someday. but until then. . . i'm still gonna make this my profile pic. cause long hair, pretty glare - don't care. 

whaddya think? i'm likin the pattern! :)

TIMELESS

photo: Valerie Petralia

model: Joy Balla

i can't believe i forgot about this... from oh i don't know,  a year and a half ago? I had forgotten about how fabulous this was, i mean this is natural light people - she looks amazing! I do remember holding reflectors and fixing lots of curls though.. fashioned a perfectly torn orange..

it's nice to go back and see things like this.. see how your aesthetic has evolved.. even though it's just as gorgeous as i saw it the first time. joy was a total doll as you can imagine. sweet as pie. and funny as hell.

UNDERBOARD

wardrobe: American Apparel

photo: Valerie Petralia

styling: Brandy Swope

the more and more i'm involved with the interesting experience of photoshoots, i realize how special and personal each one of the photos becomes to everyone involved. i mean, not to mention the entire day spent with the photographer, model, and assistants (if we're lucky) running around, driving around, sweating like pigs, lying on the floor (sometimes in the dirt), sharing cigarette breaks and wardrobe changes... we all have memories of the photos and the day we shared. i fall in love with so many of the photos we produce that it's easy to forget the necessity and importance of editing. 

the lack of editing can really smudge up a great piece. a piece of art through fashion, writing, decor... maybe some of the attempts to express a creative idea and/or direction within the emails of the freelance world - whatever it may be! to me it's all about trimming the fat, getting to the point, and making it easy to see and/or read. to read how it flows along in my mind - which is super fricken hard. but it has also, miraculously, given me the power of writing. i've been so terrified to express myself online in fear that number one, it can never be taken back slash who knows who will end up reading this and then number two, the very possible and embarrassing risk of misrepresenting myself, alongside work that i'm very proud of. well, i saw this today that made me change my mind about that. i just need to be strict on my editing. 

so, to take my own advice.. i went back and edited "A Summer Shoot", the very first project Good Exposure and i worked on as a team. we've came a long way since then and we can credit a lot of that progress to the magic of other things not making the cut. every one of our photos will serve a [great] purpose at one time or another and it shouldn't be all at once.

COMING SOON

wardrobe: Back In Style, Public Image
photo: Valerie Petralia
styling: Brandy Swope
model: Marcos Rezende, Thomas Bowins

PROOFS!

wardrobe: Public Image
photography: Valerie Petralia
styling / makeup: Brandy Swope
model: Maddie Flanigan

i just couldn't resist uploading these gorgeous photos. the best proofs i've ever seen! i mean, do they even need editing?! good job to the amazing Val, uhgan. i loved the styling in this session, it has a magical feel that i wish i lived in everyday! maybe if i just throw some glitter around my house it will give the same effect..

AH, MORE SNEAKS!

wardrobe: Public Image

wardrobe: handmade by Maddie Flanigan

photography: Valerie Petralia

styling / makeup: Brandy Swope

model: Maddie Flanigan

CAMERA PEAKS

photography: Valerie Petralia

wardrobe: Public Image 

styling / makeup: Brandy Swope

model: Maddie Flanigan

A CHARMING VINTAGE SNEAK

 

 

some instagram snaps of the day. this was suuch a fun shoot, we had so many beautiful things to play with. this was another team effort with the amazing photographer Valerie Petralia who recently introduced me to Public Image who graciously let us borrow the lovely vintage dress to style and shoot. when i stopped by the hip little shop i found a perfect pair of glittery peep-toes (which came home with me - the good deal was un - deniable) and was completely in love with the place. you'll have to check it out, it's full of hidden treasure. we also shot some unbelievable handmade pieces by the incredibly talented Maddie Flanigan. this girl is insanely good, it's hard to imagine without checking out her work.

stop by soon for some serious photo sneaks!

A SUMMER SHOOT

with styling photos sprinkled in..

wardrobe: American Apparel
photo: Valerie Petralia
styling/makeup: Brandy Swope

STYLE SHOOT SNEAK

my gorgeous friend, Monica, came down to visit from Pittsburgh last month and i was immediately thinking of styling her the moment she told me she was planning to come. 

she's a smart, goofy, free, funny spirit in a model's body.. and i knew she would be perfect to shoot in some pretty beachwear around ft. lauderdale. 

JUST A FEW PHOTOS

GROOVY IMPRESSIONS.

so this is what i've been up to lately... a spring/summer 2012 display window in our school. this was a "group" project so you can say that i appreciated the experience, but i'm really glad it's over. some of us worked our butts off pulling this thing together so thanks guys, couldn't have made it through without you. our overall theme was "1970's geometric interior shapes + patterns / manifesto". the design evolved r e p e a t e d l y throughout the 2 week process but i'm pretty happy about the way it turned out. bold, colorful, and beautiful! totally should see it in person. and sorry for the not-so-amazing quality of photos but until i'm into developing my portfolio in a few weeks, instagram will have to do. by the way instagramers, follow meh. @brandayy

the perfect name for my blog.

i've been going through the dictionary page by page trying to find the perfect title for my blog. and so far, i've found some good words but not a lot has really jumped out and smacked me in the face yet. let's see - wanderlust which means to desire to roam or travel, to understand one's very existence (which actually, is utter perfection and is what inspired me to find something better than my stupid name. ya know, i just mean it's boring. and i'd like to find a good word or two that represents my work.) anyway, the best word i've came across so far is - persnickety - which is too particular or precise; fussy. i like it. i guess we'll see after a few more nights of exploring through the dictionary.

and, as far as persnickety goes, this is a floor plan i sat nights up working on last quarter. you can't begin to see the detail i put into this and once i get a higher quality camera (and the original piece back from my professor) - i will show you persnickety.

drawing by brandy swope.

accessory/beauty displays

projects from weeks ago. the first is an accessory display. at first everything was quite separated and . . proper-looking. the end result was much nicer i thought. the second is a beauty display. fresh flowers and a $2 beach mat from cvs. yueah.

styling/design by brandy swope.