Looking at the Factory Café from the outside,
one may not think that on the inside there is a world of olden charm and rustic
eclecticness waiting to be discovered. The café houses aged
machinery and all sorts of antique collectables which add to the ambience and
atmosphere of the setting which is further enhanced by their award-winning
coffee. The café generously allowed the twelfth phase of #ProjectScouted to
be shot on location, which was the perfect set for us to shoot our Top 5 girls
in the "Day of the Dead" concept thought up by Jerome Stoffels.
With
the Project now being twelve phases in and with only one more phase to go until
we choose our winner, the #ProjectScouted team thought it was time to step it
up a few notches. The girls, so far, have posed and worked on their own. But
this phase saw us introduce two male models, the Brissett twins, into the mix
for the girls to experience what it is like shooting with other models. The
Brissett twins are an awesome pair to work and never did their energy or
patience waiver as the shoot went on for the most part of the day. They brought
fresh charisma to working with each girl and their posing was always on mark
doing justice to their exquisite makeup. These guys are definitely ones to
watch as they take their #BrissettTwins brand forward and Lee Folkard Photography was extremely grateful to have them on board. You can read more
about these identical twins on our blog.
Jerome
is a maverick when his camera is in his hands, giving his undivided attention
to the subjects he is shooting while still allowing for them to experiment with
and explore the theme on their own. Of course, model and guest judge in the Project,
Iman Sheik, has also become our resident director; offering her expertise to
the girls and giving them the reassuring guidance to get that perfect shot. Roy
Esterhuysen of Firsthouse Photography and Blush Boudoir and Simphiwe Kevin
Mkhwanazi of Streetpulse Photography also made quite a duo in expertly
assisting Jerome to get the lighting perfect. Its one of the most entertaining
things to listen to photographers talk about the technicalities of the trade.
Through trial and error; Roy, Simphiwe, and Jerome turned the Factory Café into a production
set where breathtaking art was created.
This
phases's concept could not have been a success had it not been for the
mezmerizing skill of makeup artist, Charelle McAllister, of Makeup by Charelle.
Everyone on location was captivated by the precision and attention to detail
that Charelle works with and it was an amazing experience to get to watch her
in action. The models were transformed into gothic but beautiful creatures
within a few hours. It was Charelle's craft that brought the "Day of the
Dead" theme to life. To attest to her talent, she hasn't done this kind of
makeup in ten years and didn't do a trial before the shoot, but no one would
ever say so when looking at the images.
Teaming
up with Charelle on hair was Kezia Myatt of Make-Me-Up, who created simpler but
gorgeous hairstyles for the girls to compliment the dramatic and powerful
makeup. These ladies have brought such value to the Project and their talent
has left us all awe-struck.
There
were many interested onlookers who also came by, along with guest judges Lyle
Young and Se-Anne Rall of the Tabloid Newspapers who also brought her adorable
daughter along to the shoot. Family members, parents, siblings, and even models
from past year Projects and past phases of #ProjectScouted came by to show
their support and soak up some of the magic that was present on location.
Without these brilliant people, the Project could never have been such a
success.
Everyone
involved in #ProjectScouted has turned into a family and the shoots have become
events that we all look forward to spending our days at. Having spent so much
time together, there's undoubtedly melancholy lurking beneath the surface of
all the excitement because it will soon come to an end. No matter who the
winner turns out to be, we all walk away from this 2014 Project with amazing
and wonderful experiences and memories. We have all grown in our own crafts and
specialities whilst also growing as individuals and friends.
images by: Simz (One of our #ProjectScouted photographers)
