I’ve been obsessed with editorial fashion photography all my life. Bold, fearless photographers like Helmut Newton and Annie Liebovitz captivated my imagination. I was so drawn to the sprezzatura–the effortlessness of their work. It was so peculiar, so edgy or intense, yet looked like it happened that way naturally. It seemed like those photographers were just always in the right place at the right time.

Although the style of my work is night and day from hers, Lindsay Adler’s ethos really resonates with me, and I’ve spent many hours studying her photography lectures. In one of her classes, she mentioned scheduling a creative day once a month to shoot something that is not for clients, but develops your own concepts and creates the type work you really want to sell.

At first it felt indulgent to set “work” aside and plan something elaborate for myself, but I’ve come to realize it’s not just for fun–it’s an investment in my professional development and my brand.

As an artist, I’ve found my most inspired work comes when I collaborate with others. I have a long bucket list of fellow creative professionals whose work sparks my soul. For my last concept shoot, I teamed up with Molly Allen of Made in Amador, who designed a pair of bold dahlia and eucalyptus crowns for my muse and her horse. Made in Amador floral designs have that sprezzatura I love. Molly colors outside the lines. Her pieces have a certain wild abandon to them, yet they always feel balanced and down to earth. Nothing could have brought my vision together more perfectly.

As my business grows ever more booked and my own concepts develop further, I realize it’s quite an effort to put together a styled photoshoot! Although I haven’t hit the once a month mark this year, I I’ve been incredibly energized and inspired by the editorial work I’ve done and I can’t wait to start planning my next project.