Dedicated Follower of Fashion

A Small Piece of Advice

Over the past year, as many of you know, I've amped up my fashion career. I'm still suffering multiple career disorder, I work in PR, Digital Strategy, Brand Consulting and Fashion Journalism but my favourite of all my "careers" is still Styling and Photography.

It's something I'm very good at, I'm brazen enough to let you know that, and honestly, the proof is in the pudding.

I've worked with a lot of up and coming designers, many of which I'm lucky enough to call friends, and I am fortunate enough to never have the business side of what I do effect those friendships. Until recently.

I was hired by a friend to produce a lookbook for her new line. As a friend, I offered great rates, pulled in other professional colleagues and produced a stunning set of photographs. A sample of these photos are above, the results of a full day of shooting and styling out on the beach, a shoot that had me waist deep in water, fully clothed and giving my all. A shoot that now, thanks to non payment, I can only share with you on this site with really obnoxious watermarks.

The reason I share this story is simple, it's a lesson I've learned now and a mistake I won't be making again. Always, always, work with a contract. I don't care if your client is your Grandma (well maybe that might be the exception...!) if you don't have a contract, there is no way to ensure your time, energy and creative product will be rewarded properly and when it's not, the process is emotionally exhausting and honestly a little heartbreaking.

In this particular scenario I am within my rights to pursue the client in a small claims court (according to my lawyer) thanks to some richly worded emails, however I'm not going to. Why? Because this is my art, and at this point I don't want my client to have access to these gorgeous photos. Not after everything that we have been through. In my opinion, my client is not deserving of my work, and I'm retaining my dignity and integrity by not doing this, in my own special way. Maybe it's not the best business choice but it's the choice I'm comfortable with.

Anyway, I hope you can enjoy my work, despite the watermarks, and take this whole experience as lesson for everyone in the creative industry...contract, contract, contract!

Kelsi x

Styling and Photography: Kelsi Smith

Hair and Make-Up: Amber Ayala

Assitant: Tiara Henry

 

 

 

Dear Dany....

I've been coveting the Dany shoe for a long time, and it had been a very long time since I wanted something so materialistic, so badly. Thankfully Mr Styles' best friend reads this blog, saw what I wanted for Christmas, et voila.

My new best friend.

We can talk hours, they lift me up when I'm down and they look fierce, what more does a girl need...? Perhaps a pair in silver?!

Dany: Jessica Simpson: $69.99

Kelsi Smith.

The TMinx Lookbook - Part Two

Cocoon Tee

Here's the second set of photo's from the TMinx lookbook. This time we have the Basic's collection, great simple t-shirts with unusual twists, I predict the cocoon tee (a sleeveless tank with extra volume) and the Loose Cut Tee (a simple, soft v-neck with wide draping shoulders) will be huge sellers.

Available from October.

Long Tank

Loose Cut Tee

Long Tank

Cocoon Tee

Long Tank with Print

Cocoon Tee

Designs: TMinx

Model: Kaysea Boston

Styling: Kelsi Smith

Photography: Kelsi Smith

Special Thanks: Erica Leigh Macaranas, Cirrus Alpert.

TMinx - Look Book - Part One.

I spent the past week in Las Vegas visiting all the shows from Magic, to Project, to Capsule sooo many clothes, well, over indulgence is the key to Vegas! I'll be sharing my discoveries with you a little later!

I spent most of the week with my dear friend and client Yvonne, the designer behind t-shirt line TMinx, short for Treacherous Minx. I'm so in love with her line (I only work with lines I actually love) and I wanted to share with you the lookbook I shot and styled for the new t-shirts.

This will be in threes part. The first set is the Geometrics collection. Each tee is an original cut, in a trendy wide, cropped silhouette, in the softest jersey ever, sourced by Yvonne. Each t-shirt features an original illustration based from vintage sewing patterns illustrations and juxtaposed with a retro geometric pattern (I own three of these tee's from a previous collection...and I LOVE them!) 

They'll be fully available from October - but check the website to buy other designs! If you have a store and are interested in purchasing a wholesale order please contact Yvonne directly: Yvonne at Tminx.com.

Designs: TMinx

Model: Kaysea Boston

Styling: Kelsi Smith

Photography: Kelsi Smith

Special Thanks: Erica Leigh Macaranas, Cirrus Alpert.

Holiday Romance by Stylesmith

It's been a long time coming...and a little late, but the Stylesmith Spring/Summer Collection is here. Inspired by travel, romance and literary wonders, it's a pretty little collection for the whimsical fancy-full fashionista.

Accompanying the collection was this fun editorial shoot, styled and photographed by me, with dresses from Debutante Clothing and modeled by Gretchen and Kaysea. We had a lot of fun shooting this incredibly girly shoot..I hope you enjoy.

 

 

 

 

The Stylesmith collection is available for sale right here.

To view the full shoot and collection check out the nifty lookbook (you can also see it right below!)

By Kelsi Smith