Over the last six months it has become very clear in my mind how I want to promote myself as a fashion inspired bridal photographer; who I want my future Brides to be and what I want to do for them. Therefore I felt it was time to completely re-design the About page to reflect these changes.
Being a highly visual person is some what of an occupational hazard, so the images that would accompany the text on the About page were equally important to me. The obvious option to most to adorn an About page of a photographers website would be to use photographs but not to me as I’m always in search of something different.
I wanted something that would capture the elements that influence me, tie together the colour scheme of the overall website as well as take reference from what has and will always inspire me – the fashion world. To me the obvious option was a fashion inspired illustration and so my quest for the perfect fashion illustrator began.
One day back in March that quest lead me to Brooke Hagel’s Instagram account and then on to her fabulous website. The images that caught my eye on Brooke’s Instagram account were not only her stunning fashion illustrations, but her beautiful bridal illustrations too. I was very excited that I had found an illustrator that worked in the same two industries as myself. But, what really caught my eye was some of the wording on her own About page – “Sex and the City”, “Vogue” and “Barbie”! Her client list read like a list of my favorite things. I had found my illustrator.
Brooke is a New York based fashion illustrator who whilst studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology began her career as an intern in the wardrobe department of Sex and the City. Since graduating she has worked for Harper’s Bazaar and Esquire magazine and now illustrates for the likes of Vogue, Teen Vogue, InStyle, Dior, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Barbie, Gap, Pandora and has collaborated with New York Fashion Week and The Met Gala.
With all of this knowledge and experience, after just a few emails and the sharing of a Pinterest inspiration board, Brooke understood what I was looking for, which was to illustrate the five main elements that influence who I am and my work, including fashion, travel (to date I’ve visited 54 countries) and the bridal industry represented by an issue of Vogue magazine, a globe and a bouquet of peonies, which are my favorite flowers.
As well as all things spiritual, I’m a big believer of angels and love anything to do with Doreen Virtue and avidly read the likes of The Secret, Angels Prayers and Miracles Now, elements which are represented by the angel wings and then finally the unicorn is an insight into my fondness for all things whimsical, playful and pink! Then completing my illustrations was my penchant for little black dresses and leopard print ballet pumps.
After a few weeks of proofing and polishing, my illustration was complete. It is everything I hoped it would be and so much more. Brooke supplied a digital copy for my website and the original artwork came by post, beautifully packaged and wrapped, which I am going to frame.
It was a total pleasure working with Brooke from beginning to end. She is extremely talented, as well as intuitive which helped the whole design process flow seamlessly and always had the perfect advise and solutions when needed. I’d highly recommend you take at look at her fashion and bridal Etsy’s shops, as well as follow her on Twitter to read all about her exciting new projects which one day could include a personal illustration all of your own.
