Okay, so, Prada Villains 2012… man, that was a project. Let me tell you how it all went down.
First things first, I saw the campaign online. You know, the one with all the super intense looking models? The vibe was just so… evil chic, I guess? I was immediately hooked. I wanted to recreate that aesthetic.
The Concept: Basically, it was all about capturing that dark, edgy, powerful feel. I didn’t want to just copy the photos, but to translate the overall mood into something of my own.
Finding a Model: This was the hardest part, seriously. I needed someone who could pull off that fierce, almost intimidating look. I spent ages scouting around, asking friends, even considering strangers I saw on the street (okay, maybe that’s a bit much). Eventually, a friend of a friend was game. She had the perfect look – strong features, a bit of an attitude, and she was actually really into the whole ‘villain’ concept.
The Wardrobe: I’m no Prada designer, obviously. So, I had to get creative. I hit up a bunch of thrift stores, looking for pieces that had that high-fashion but slightly twisted edge. Think structured jackets, dark colors, maybe a hint of leather. Also raided my own closet, obviously. Accessorizing was key – bold jewelry, dark makeup, stuff like that.
The Location: I needed somewhere that looked both polished and a little bit… off. Ended up finding this abandoned warehouse sort of thing on the outskirts of town. It had these amazing concrete walls and some really interesting light. Getting permission to shoot there was a whole other thing, involved a lot of sweet-talking.
The Shoot: Okay, here’s where things got real. I’m not a professional photographer, but I know my way around a camera. I played around with the lighting, trying to create a dramatic, almost theatrical feel. We tried all sorts of poses – intense stares, power stances, a bit of smirking. Lots of experimenting. We blasted some dark electronic music to get in the mood.
- Lighting: Used a single strobe with a softbox for the main light, and a reflector to bounce some light back into the shadows. The natural light coming in from the windows was also a big help.
- Camera Settings: Shot mostly in manual mode, messing around with the aperture and shutter speed to get the depth of field and exposure I wanted.
- Post-Processing: This was where I really brought the ‘villain’ vibe to life. I used Photoshop to darken the images, boost the contrast, and add a bit of grain. Played around with the color balance to make everything look a little cooler and more sinister.
The Final Result: Honestly, I was pretty stoked with how it turned out. The photos weren’t perfect, but they definitely captured that Prada Villains mood I was going for. They were dark, edgy, and just a little bit unsettling.
Lessons Learned: This project taught me a ton. Not just about photography, but about styling, art direction, and even a bit about managing people. It was a lot of work, but totally worth it. And, you know, it’s always fun to play the villain for a day.
Biggest takeaway? Don’t be afraid to experiment and push yourself outside of your comfort zone. You might just surprise yourself with what you can create.
