In between his busy commercial calendar, Charlotte photographer Mark Hanson makes sure shooting self-assigned work is part of his monthly routine. Mark has been looking to expand his lifestyle and fashion portfolio, and knew a crew he could put together to make it all happen.
One of the best parts about self-assigned work as a photographer is the ability to fill any other roll you’d like as well. Taking on the creative director and art director roles helps me stay innovative and fresh, while also scratching the itch to shoot exactly what I’d like to shoot.
Mark became inspired after he came across a vibrant location in Concord, North Carolina that was versatile enough to execute multiple concepts in the same space.
Since the entire production of the shoot was based around the scouted location, Mark devoted meticulous storyboarding to each shot so he and his crew all knew exactly what needed to happen. Wardrobe stylist, Whitley Hamlin and hair and makeup artist, Jami Svay worked hard to make sure every piece of clothing and pallet specifically matched the location desired for the shot. The duo, along with the rest of the crew, seamlessly worked together and ended up being invaluable as challenges arised throughout an intense day of shooting.
Mark was prepared. He had the crew, a location, the perfect plan, and a strong sense of inspiration. As the team rolled up to the site, they were excited to work, however, they quickly realized that they weren’t going to be able to shoot their project at the location as planned. An influx of crowds and increased traffic congested the area and made production impossible.
After only a second of panic, the team ended up across the street, a small distance away from the original spot at a location that ended up working even better than the planned one. Because of the intense preproduction planning, all changes were easily noted and Mark was back on the path to updating his portfolios.
Soft taupe knits, floral button-downs, and a gray felt floppy hat gave the team a fresh ensemble to fit the model and compliment the town’s scenery while evoking the right fashion and lifestyle feel. Mark ended the day with what has turned out to be some of the most popular photographs in his portfolio. His favorite part of the entire process was working with a great team and a great model.
A stylist friend of mine recommended model Isabel Crowe for the shoot. She can effortlessly transform between fashion and lifestyle looks, which was the kind of flexibility we would need. Thanks to my amazing team, the shoot went very smoothly and we were able to create everything I had imagined.
So far, Mark has showed the images to various ad agencies and there has been some serious interest in using them for magazine editorials. Mark is always excited to direct his own work, and can’t wait for the next project he sets up.
See more of Mark at markhansonphoto.com.