LONDON RUNWAY
BEHIND-THE-SCENES AT THE OLLI PHOTOSHOOT Candice recounts her experience at the Olli Photoshoot back in October of 2022, providing a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the shoot. Having moved to New York City for my Songwriting masters program only two months prior in August of 2022, it would be an understatement to say that I jumped headfirst into this bustling city. Despite having been in NYC prior in 2019, my month then only provided a glimpse of what the city had to offer, not to mention the torrent of changes post-Covid. This time around, with my stay extended to two years for my program, I wanted to throw myself further out of my comforts and take advantage of the opportunities I would never have seen myself doing back home. That's how I found myself volunteering for this photoshoot advertised on a Facebook group with a bunch of strangers, zero modelling experience, and a boatful of nerves. But what an experience it turned out to be! My initial nervousness quickly dissipated as I met the girls one by one. Everybody had different backgrounds and levels of experience, and they were all either equally nervous or reassuring!
The table was full of accessories, such as a disco ball helmet, a pink basketball handbag, and an assortment of colourful, funky sunglasses. We shot inside this gorgeous high-rise apartment in Long Island City and outside of the roof terraces where panoramic views of the city could be seen. As the sun was setting, the temperatures dropped and the wind was near unbearable. However, even with the flying light reflectors and whipping hair, everybody kept hyping each other up and helping out to get the best picture for each other. Everybody even indulged me in learning and filming a TikTok dance challenge to Beyoncé's "Cuff It". I definitely left with a core memory and longlasting friends. It was a great introduction to the city and a leap of faith that I needed, not to mention the great photos and confidence boost! If you're moving to a new city, join a random photoshoot, public hangout, or Facebook group (always prioritise your safety of course!). Immerse yourself in everything the city has to offer, and you'll be finding yourself making all these memorable memories before you know it! The tops are from Made by Olli. They are up-cycled pieces from old sports jerseys, Nike tops, or athletic laces. The designs featured a mix of corsets and straight-neck crop tops. The overall aesthetics of the shoot was a mix of athletic retro and Y2K. You can find the brand on Depop @oliviabshank or Instagram @madebyolli_. You can view Candice's works on Instagram @candice_x9.
