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“The definition of successful people is simply ordinary people with extraordinary determination. You cannot keep determined people from success.” — Mary Kay Ash
These wise words from the founder of eponymously-named cosmetics giant Mary Kay help explain how Dallas-based photographer Alicia Stepp finally landed an assignment with the Texas-rooted company. Last fall, Alicia helped the global brand launch a new product, the Hydrogel Eye Patch, around the world. The shoot was years in the making for the very determined photographer.
This was my first job with Mary Kay! My agent and I had been “courting” them for a few years and they were reminded of my work a short time before hiring me at a Found review in Dallas.
The pitch was to create a fresh, invigorating, and inspiring look at a brand-new eye patch product. I believe this is one of Mary Kay’s first products in the area of patches. They were very happy with the work!
Though Alicia had just one day to get her deliverables — and worked alongside someone who was shooting video for the launch, mind you — she received some patches before shoot day to get a feel for the product.
I was able to sample the Hydrogel patches in advance of the shoot in order to get a sense of the texture and shine and to plan for lighting of the product and packaging.
The patches are very hydrating and their benefits include moisturizing, cooling, soothing, and depuffing the under-eye area. They are very refreshing!
The work was used on their website for their global launch and also internally for their consultants.
Not only was the shoot brief, it only featured one model and took place in a cozy section of Equilateral Studios. As such, Alicia had to be on the ball. Since everyone else involved with the shoot was locked in, including the model, Alicia’s job became that much simpler.
The biggest challenges were working within a smaller space and on a tighter timeline in order to accommodate shooting motion with only one model.
The model was Aubrie Williams of NY & LA Model Management. She is absolutely stunning and was very easy to work with. She took direction very well and made my job easy!
Another person who made what could’ve been an incredibly stressful project a little easier was the executive producer, Jessica Cramer, who cobbled together a varied and diet-conscious spread. That helped put Alicia, who has to be careful about what she eats, at ease and allowed her to produce the kind of work that satisfied the Dallas-headquartered business.
Jessica is such a wonderful and thoughtful producer and had the most incredible and accommodating craft spread I’ve experienced on set. I have some dietary restrictions and it was so amazing to be able to have so many choices, including vegan and gluten free craft fare! Yum!
Credits:
Studio: Equilateral Studios
Executive Producer: Jessica Cramer
Art & Motion/Production Supervisor: Rick Ramirez
Senior Art Producer: Karin Saucedo
Creative Director: Todd Dalton
Art Director: Chera Chaney
Model: Aubrie Williams
Makeup: Keiko Takagi
Hair: Walter Fuentes
Styling: Doug Voisin
Nails: Heather Fitzgerald
Digital Tech: Daniel Simpson
1st Photo Assistant: Austin Lochheed
2nd Photo Assistant: Jasmine Green
See more of Alicia’s work at aliciastepp.com.
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