LONG BEACH, USA
LONG BEACH, USA
Tell us the inspiration behind the shoot.
I wanted to do a styled shoot that featured two real-life couples showcasing love, joy, and fun in honor of Pride. I call my styled shoots “pops,” which would be a “pride pop crawl” where we would photograph modern couples in all different parts of Long Beach. My male couple featured the blues, greens, and purples, while my female couple were the oranges, yellows, and reds. Individually, they were their own entity, but collectively they were the completed unity of the Pride Flag.
Why was creating this shoot important to the team?
I see SO many styled shoots but not nearly as many LGBTQ+ styled shoots. I hear stories about how couples are turned away or simply feel underrepresented in an industry that should be serving everyone equally. As creatives, we NEED to make a better effort to “normalize” and encourage more LGBTQ+ bliss.
Inclusivity, community, and kindness are SO important to me, my art, and my business. I wanted to be rallied around with individuals who also felt the same and wanted to make sure that all love was showcased and especially in the month of June. I intended to have something special to celebrate Pride and do it in a way that instilled a sense of joy and everyday love. All of the vendors felt the same and loved providing their art for this beautiful pop. I could not have been happier with how it all turned out, and we are honored to put out more love and light into the community!
What are the key styling elements of the styled inspiration, and who brought them to life?
There were SO many elements, but I will start with the most important-the colors! I wanted to celebrate Pride in a modern and fresh way. The goal was “Pride” and not “Party City Pride.” When I explained my vision to the vendors, they interpreted and executed exactly what I was hoping for.
From Sarah’s two-toned invitation suites. To Alex’s textured ombre, asymmetrical arch, and detailed touches like her florals cascading on the lapels of the suits and a heart-shaped bouquet held by the couples. The makeup and hair provided by Ruby and Jessie were light and fun and meant to give a California vibe. The streets of Long Beach provided our backdrop. Chosen with intention, Long Beach is one of the most inclusive and gay-friendly cities in California. I loved the industrial feeling of all the brick and notes of the pride flag/rainbow sidewalks on just about every corner. We could have made SO many stops with Long Beach’s many murals and notable locations, but we could only choose a few!
We began at “The Falconer” and made our way to the downtown area, where we stopped and lit off a parade of rainbow smoke in front of a 70’s teal van that looked straight out of Scooby-Doo. Lastly, we stopped our “Pride Pop Crawl” at Grey LB, a historical studio built in the 1900s that was the chef’s kiss to an incredible day.
Photography & Coordinator by Emily B. Photo & Pop Up Shot Club
Calligraphy Spilled Ink Calligraphy
Florals Alex Telson Designs
Hair Ruby Whalen
Hat Target
Make-Up Jessie Gaston
Studio Grey LB
Suits Friar Tux
