Destination Studio Z

from Studio Z Magazine ~ spring:summer 2018

**Destination Studio Z ~ What makes a Studio Z destination photoshoot such a great experience? Fun, food, clothes, locations, makeup, and that special personal touch!**
photo: studio z photography; makeup; krista kemp; hair: kelsi levingston; styled by: cassie mcbride; model: sophia castaneda

If you’re like me, then you know what it’s like to have a touch of wanderlust in your soul – the desire to explore new and unique places, experience different cultures, try new and exotic food – all of this, by nature, is in the heart of every fellow wanderluster.

This experience feeds that desire, but is also about so much more. It’s the experience that you create – the memories that last forever, the times you share with people you love, and meeting and connecting with new people.

Over the last couple of years, we’ve planned two to three destination trips each year. Originally, these were model team events only, but popular demand has brought us to add a new type of destination trip open to all ages, but with limited spaces.

However, our Chicago trip is exclusively offered to our senior model teams. Each summer we take two days and stay right in the heart of the city. We create styled shoots with different looks, along with having hair and makeup artists on board to style the models. We travel to different parts of the city each time we go, and make sure we plan for amazing food, and even a little shopping too! This trip is so much fun, and such a great experience for everyone involved.

Another location we’ve traveled to the last couple of years is Palm Springs, California. I have so much love for this place, and for our trips there! The California sun and the eclectic areas have me hooked. This past January, we revamped the experience. Myself, along with a group of six other nationally recognized photographers planned this trip together. We each brought models from our own area, which gave the seniors the opportunity to meet new people their age. We partnered with different boutiques, including Avon’s very own Vintage Love Boutique – who made the trip there to style them personally.The seniors modeled the styled looks across the shoot locations. As always, we also had hair and makeup artists. We shot at so many amazing locations, likeJoshua Tree National Park, SalvationMountain, Moorten Botanical Gardens, and The Weekend House in downtown Palm Springs. We loved it so much, we decided to make it something we do each year, with seniors, and also with other age groups as well. For our first all-ages exclusive trip, we headed down to Destin, Florida for a collaborative shoot. If you’ve never seen the beaches in Destin, they’re among the most beautiful beaches in all of Florida! White powdery sand, and turquoise water, I was ready to move in! This was a shorter stay, with shorter shooting times compared to PalmSprings. We had one primary day with our five models, who ranged in age from high school sophomores to college kids. We had a styled shoot in the morning in a beautiful, beach side town, and then an evening shoot on the beach leading up to sunset. We partnered with hair and makeup artists, along with two boutiques. The second day of the trip we had a private photo shoot with my own model and her mom in some gorgeous locations. For this session, because it was her own personal photo shoot, I helped her style her looks so that she had outfits and accessories that reflected her own personal style. We had so much fun, and I absolutely loved this day!

When we travel together for our destination photo shoots, I believe it carries several meanings for the girls and their families. For some, it’s meaningful parent/kid bonding, for others it’s a fun trip with friends. When it comes to seniors, they’re dealing with the anxiety of facing the end of a huge chapter of their lives, and while it’s exciting to think about going off to college and starting that new chapter, it can also be overwhelming and, let’s face it, a little scary. These destination trips help in giving them an amazing experience to add to their senior year that they will never forget. For the parents that come with them, I can’t even tell you how meaningful it is to spend that extra time with their kids before they go off to college. The models also love the fact that they meet and get to know people from different parts of the country. They make new friendships, and often those friendships stay with them well beyond the trip.

I’ve asked the seniors that have traveled with us for past destinations what they felt they gained from these trips, and while they mentioned all of the above, they also talked about how it makes them feel about themselves. They’ve gained so much confidence, and see themselves in a brand new light. For me, hearing this is what makes my heart content. It’s the root and purpose of what I do, and the reason I love my job.

**destin, florida ~ febuary 2018**
photo: studio z photography; styling: elle rae boutique; makeup: derricius breon; hair: kraig ‘kuttin up;’ model: addi haessig

**slab city, california ~ january 2018**
photo: studio z photography; shirt: desert republic; jeans: vintage love; jacket: forever 21; makeup: naomi ramirez; styled by studio z; model myah mcdonald

jettin’ off?

Don’t Forget Accessories You can never have too many because you never know what might be needed on the fly. When you’re traveling you can’t pop home and grab something, so if you think you might use it, bring it!

Bring Bra Backup For girls, always remember to bring both a strapless bra and a sticky bra. These, especially the sticky bras, are always a necessity.

Invest in a Steamer Bring a steamer when you travel, clothing is always wrinkled coming out of a suitcase! These are relatively inexpensive, and make a huge difference.

Static Solutions Another travel must, fabrics are prone to static when all packed together, and this is a quick fix. You can purchase Static Guard, or bring dryer sheets to rub down your clothes.

**palm springs, california ~ january 2018**
photo: studio z photography; vest: vagabond vintage; shirt: ralph lauren; jeans: pac sun; rings: acne; bracelets: earthbound; shoes: vans; makeup: jami cox; hair: genevieve gian; styled by: cassie mcbride; model: austin salinas

**destin, florida ~ february 2018**
photo: studio z photography; styled by: studio z; model: addi haessig

Document Your Trip With experiences like these, you’re going to want to take photos and videos along the way to remember the experience. You can use your phone, or a Polaroid camera to add a cute, vintage feel.

Bring Comfy Shoes When you’re going to a place where you’ll be doing a lot of walking, like a city, bring comfortable shoes in a tote bag so you can slip them on between locations. You don’t want to be stuck walking 20 blocks in heels!

Keep Connected Stay in contact and attend meetings about the trip. Make sure you’re up-to-date on travel plans and daily itineraries.

jettin’ off?

This article is from:

Studio Z Magazine ~ spring:summer 2018