On The Town: If I Must Exhibition & Fall Trend Preview

Last night was a two-for with local photographer Boswell Hardwick's If I Must exhibition and Neiman Marcus' Fall Trend Preview. The looks, as well as the photographs, were so chic. 

For the fall, expect to see (and want to purchase) bold golds and metallics, fall florals, velvet EVERYTHING, chokers, adorned shoes and dramatic eyes. For the fellas, you will see a lot of browns (from camel to whiskey), velvet, 70s swagger, attitude tees and statement top coats. As you can see in the photos below, the oh so fabulous team at Neiman Marcus styled all of these trends perfectly; I almost died when I saw that metallic skirt. 

I'd say it's worth it to take a walk through the store and look at the mannequins--there really aren't better dressed mannequins around town. Also, if you haven't seen Boswell's work head over to Neiman Marcus this weekend! It will be on display until Sunday. See, two great excused for you to pop into Neiman Marcus this weekend. You're welcome.

Industry Spotlight: A Conversation with FYT Production

You may already be familiar with the name Christian O'Grady, as he was our Industry Spotlight when the blog first started, and he's a fixture in Detroit's fashion community. Since then, he has taken his photography business to the next level and partnered with his partner-in-crime and in life, Victoria Zegler. Read about what they are doing in the photography world, and get a good sense of their personalities and what they might be like to work with in this interview-turned-conversation.

DGG: Tell us about yourselves, Christian & Victoria.

Victoria Zegler: I spent a good chunk of my college career studying photojournalism at Central Michigan University, where I also worked as a staff photographer at Central Michigan Life, the universities independent student-run newspaper. My senior year was spent as photo editor, where I was able to travel to Radio City Music Hall to cover the 2013 NFL Draft, and it was incredible.

Christian O'Grady: College for Creative Studies is where I graduated and during my time in school, I spent a semester in New York City assisting on commercial shoots, in major photography studios, and interning at Details magazine while attending a studio program through Parsons. Traveling to other places is one of the most inspiring things to me. It feeds my creativity.

VZ: I also got to study abroad during my time in college, living in Bangkok and backpacking through Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. I’ll never forget the beautiful beaches, authentic street food and buckets of alcohol. Only in Asia do they serve you alcohol in BUCKETS.  

CO: You have a lot of funny stories from your travels, those are my favorites!

VZ: After I graduated, I started working for the Detroit Pistons for our good friend Dan Lippitt. Working for such a big corporation with such a large following in a fast paced environment was an awesome job to throw myself into after college.

CO: Dan introduced Victoria and I. Dan has been one of my mentors, it was great to get a technical education from CCS but getting on the job experience with Dan was one of the first photography-related jobs I had. We would do shoots several times a week and then retouch side by side and learn from each other. That time working with Dan made me into the multi-faceted photographer I am now. My work from when I was in school was meticulous and very time consuming. Dan showed me ways to shoot extremely fast, and that is an incredible skill to have when you need it. 

University of Michigan Chef Gala, 2014, (Victoria Zegler)

DGG: Tell us about FYT Productions.

VZ: We had been flirting with the idea of working together officially by merging our different photo backgrounds since last year.

CO: FYT officially launched at the start of 2015. Victoria and I, started a blog where we could show potential clients our combined work, which we also post through various social media to gain exposure.  

VZ: We want to show people that we’re offering a service that is deeper than just taking pictures.  With Christian’s background in studio work and mine in visual journalism, we’ve come together to tell stories that are inspiring, cinematic and character-driven.

CO: …and with each project we craft them in collaboration with our clients from development throughout post-production.

VZ: It was with that idea of a unique experience that the FYT brand was invented.

CO: Everyone asks ‘What does FYT stand for?’ I like to say, FYT changes dynamically because we change based off of the needs of our clients. My favorites are Future You Is Thankful and Follow Your Truth.

VZ: Mine is Forget Your Troubles, I thought of that one!

CO: Our clients range from designers and artists to small businesses and large corporations.

VZ: All of them are different, but one thing that ties them together is that they each have a story, one we want to share with crafted imagery.

CO: FYT offers continuous brand specific content in the form of compelling photos and videos.

VZ: We are available for hire for events, environmental portraits, public relation interactions, music videos, promotional videos and other photo or video applications where the client is looking for professional quality.

DGG: For designers, photography is an essential part of business, but for other companies who may offer services and not products, hiring a photographer might not be on their radar. Why should a company that provides a service hire, photographers or use photography for its business?

CO: Everybody and every brand in existence has the opportunity to control their online image. 

VZ: We help craft that image and tell the story our client wants to share with their audience.

CO: There are so many social media avenues that need constant updating. When you are trying to represent your brand identity online you want to showcase it in the best light.

VZ: Figuratively and literally in the best light. 

CO: Yes! That’s right Vic. 

VZ: Let’s say for example a PR company wants to improve its image, rebrand. We could start with environmental portraits around the office to show the work atmosphere, as well as show its employees in a more dynamic way than typical headshot.

CO: Then Victoria will come in and use her photojournalism background to capture the story of an event this company is sponsoring. 

VZ: We know how to pay attention to the light, the angle, the lens selection, the background, the signage, to create a specific look.

CO: That’s where we get back to brand identity. If you keep hiring us, it’s consistent brand identity.

Futuristic fashion spread, Styleline Magazine, 2012 (Christian O'Grady)

DGG: What is the importance of quality photography in world full of Instagram amateurs? Why should a company hire a photographer vs. trying to do it themselves?

CO: Everyone has a camera in their pocket in our modern society and everyone knows basically how to take a photo. The difference is we as professional photographers have the opportunity to use advanced equipment to make thousands of photos a week. All of that practice over the fifteen years of combined experience we have lets us focus on every facet of the photograph to create impactful imagery.

VZ: Making images vs. taking photos…

CO: Exactly! When she needs to, Victoria will get like two inches from the ground in some sort of deranged yoga pose to get the angle she wants for a shot. That’s because she wants to control her background to make the photo look as interesting as possible.

VZ: That’s one example of the many different decisions we are constantly making as we photograph.

DGG: Why should a fashion company hire you? What do you bring to the table that other photographers won't?

CO: Working for a fashion magazine, Styleline, for 5 years as the main contributing photographer gave me the amazing opportunity to plan, prep, and photograph over fifty unique fashion spreads. All of that experience gives me the ability to understand the potential problems of shoots, and ways to work around those issues. 

Detroit Pistons, 2014, During the pregame fan hand tunnel following Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. (Victoria Zegler)

DGG: What does your office space look like? 

VZ: Our office space is part office and part photo cage. We have a desk that we sit across from each other each with our own iMac and a clutter of papers, memory cards, and computer hardware. We have a white board with all of the current client projects we have going. The perimeter of the room is filled with lighting equipment, camera gear, a charging station for our multitude of batteries, eleven photos from Christian’s collection of work hang on the walls.

CO: We still want to put up more art - it’s a work in progress.

DGG: Describe your style.

CO: Victoria loves to dress in simple black garments. I try to get her to wear color because her personality is very colorful.

VZ: I wear more than just black. I like things that are comfortable, that have a great flow, and pieces that create shapes.

CO: My style is still taking shape. I’ve been trying to work on a utilitarian futuristic style for the past couple of years. It’s an ongoing project of collecting pieces that I love. To me, it’s important that my clothing is made for function over form.

DGG: What is your most favorite article of clothing you own, and why?

CO: My 1883 Wolverine boots are beloved. They are extremely functional work type boots with a two tone grey on brown outer and a rubber sole with amazing traction. The only problem is they squeak on smooth floors. My Craine&Love black t-shirt is another favorite because it feels amazing and I have to keep up with Vic on wearing black.

VZ: Pshhh. My favorite is a vintage piece my mother handed down to me. It’s a red sleeveless dress that falls just above the knee with white polka dots all over it, and a belt around the waist. I always feel so young and full of life when I’m in it. Not to mention all the twirling I can do when wearing it!

Portrait of a woodworker, Jose Regueiro, 2014

DGG: How do you take your coffee?

VZ: Tea is more my taste preference, and I’m not big on caffeine. Tazo Passion tea is my favorite, especially when it’s on ice!

CO: We are doing drink orders? Okay, I’ll take a Smart Water, the one with the nozzle, and a Rehab Monster Energy drink, Peach or Lemon. Thanks. 

DGG: Annie Leibovitz or Mario Testino?

VZ: Mario Testino! 

CO: Yeah, me too.

DGG: Action photography or product/portrait photography?

CO: Portraits are my favorite, especially environmental portraiture.

VZ: Put me right in the middle of the action!

CO: That separation is what makes us such a strong team. I’m strong where you are weak and vice versa. 

Industry Spotlight: Student-Run Magazine Reaches Larger Audience

Founded in 1999 at the University of Michigan, SHEI started out as an Asian pop culture magazine with the first few issues consisting of mostly article-based material and little photography. Since then, it has evolved and become more fashion focused. In 2013, SHEI was inducted into the University’s Student Publications Department as the first new student publication in more than 25 years and was named one of StyleCaster’s top 15 college fashion publications. DG3 spoke with Anna Fuller, the current Editor in Chief of SHEI Magazine, to see what all the fuss is about.

Let’s start with the five Ws:

• Who is the audience?

College-aged students, young professionals interested in fashion and popular culture, people of all ages who appreciate artfully done photography and well-written journalism.

• What does it cover?

Each issue has a theme. For example, the most recent was "The Movement Issue." The shoots/articles were on topics such as fabric movement, day to night looks, music movements, up and coming designers/brands, physical movement, etc. In general, our magazine covers current fashion trends, articles on local and national topics including music, social trends and popular culture movements.

• Where can it be purchased?

We sell our magazine locally, at SHEI-sponsored events and at our office on campus. We started selling the magazine online, but we are currently working on revamping the website. Our goal for the coming months is to get five businesses or retailers near campus to sell the magazine in-store. 

• When does it come out?

We produce two issues per academic year—the first comes out in December, the second in May. 

• Why do people read it?

People read SHEI Magazine because the University of Michigan does not have any fashion-based programs, therefore there is a large gap in resources available for students to access high-fashion content. Our staff consists of almost 150 students. Readers in the Ann Arbor community are stunned to find out that our publication is 100% student run. The quality and content of each magazine is timelessly beautiful. 

DG3: Tell us about SHEI and your role with the magazine.

Anna Fuller: We have nine departments, each consisting of between 10-30 members: photo, fashion, literature, graphic design, finance, sales, marketing, public relations and web. Creative, branding and business are executive positions, along with EIC.

Most board positions are one-year terms. My term is from May 2014-May 2015. Prior to EIC I held two executive positions, Fashion Editor (Sophomore year) and Brand Development Director (junior year). My freshman year I was a fashion team member and I had the opportunity to be the head fashion assistant for SHEIfest, our end of year fashion show.

From the departments I listed above (9 teams), any student is welcome to join any team they want, no experience necessary, though we do have an application. I loved being on the fashion team and being Fashion Editor because I love being on set for shoots, styling models and working with the creative team. 

People are mislead when they hear "fashion magazine". Students think they don't have anything to contribute if they are not "fashionable" but that is not the case. Because we are completely student run we need people with all different skills, from photography and graphic design, to sales and finance. I like to say "there is a place for everyone at SHEI!"

DG3: Can people outside the university setting to get the magazine?

AF: The magazine will be available online in 2015. As a new student publication, all our finance must be done through the University, so we are working on getting all the kinks out on the business end.

DG3: What does a typical issue look like?

AF: Each issue usually has six photo shoots (6-12 page spreads) and six feature articles (500-1,000 words). We work with many of the local retailers and salons to outfit models and provide hair/makeup. We've also worked with regional/national businesses, including Shinola, CAT Footwear, Hush Puppies, The Vintage Twin, and we have plans for expanding our network to more high-end retailers. Our website does more local features—street style, store highlights, best-dressed students, restaurant reviews, etc.

​

DG3: What are you trying to provide to your audience with the magazine?

AF: As mentioned, the University of Michigan does not have a fashion program and Ann Arbor has less of that big-city feel where new styles flourish, like New York or even Chicago. SHEI provides the community with an outlet for fashion, innovation, creativity and self-expression.

DG3: You mentioned that StyleCaster named SHEI one of the top 15 college fashion publications. Congratulations! Tell me a little about that and how it's helped SHEI.

AF: I'm not sure how StyleCaster made their selection of magazines, we weren't even notified until someone saw it online. The recognition has been great for SHEI—our online presence is expanding every day—we have more web viewers than ever before! I've also done interviews with Her Campus and College Fashionista that has given SHEI a lot of additional press coverage. 

DG3: Does SHEI's website have a blog and if so, how has that helped the magazine?

AF: We are in the process of relaunching our website and transferring from a blog-formatted layout to one that is more user friendly and organized based on content and subject. Our marketing and PR teams this year have been rock stars on our social media outlets—Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat and Tumblr. We have built a strong team of writers, photographers and stylists to add new content to the website everyday. I'm really impressed by how much our online presence has grown in the past year. 

DG3: Can you tell me anything else about SHEI that I might have missed?

AF: Only current U of M students are on the SHEI Magazine Staff (including our models) – that's what makes us so unique! In addition to two magazines per academic year, SHEI hosts a number of events, such as The State Street Fashion Show—in partnership with the State Street Association of Ann Arbor, Launch Parties for each new issue, SHEIFest (fashion show), Our Annual Charity event, and the Lily Grace Cosmetics Fall Fashion Preview.