Going solo by Kim Rance
After years of working with the FAME Team, Clipso founder Terry Calvert, Clipso art director Darren Fowler and TIGI’s Inspirational Youth team, it’s time for me to direct a shoot on my own…
From passing pins to Terry Calvert at the age of 17 to being guided by TIGI’s Nick Irwin on an Inspirational Youth shoot, I’ve always had an incredible art director to work with. Being part of the FAME team allowed me to work closely with Errol Douglas, who always encouraged me, as well as with photographers Andrew O’Toole and Desmond Murray and Toni&Guy’s Sacha Mascolo-Tarbuck. To say I was nervous working with such talented people would be an understatement.
The first time I did my own image for a Clipso collection was when I was 19 years old. I had done a show with Terry a few months previously and he said to me a week before the shoot: “I want you to do exactly what you did at the show.”
I was thrilled, and extremely nervous! I knew my model so I understood exactly what to do with her hair. It felt brilliant after years of assisting to be working on a model by myself. The day went to plan and I still look at the picture and feel over the moon with it. Terry always pushed you and threw you in at the deep end. Although I would be scared, I always thought he must know I could do it to have this much faith in me. It gave me confidence.
Now it’s time for me to give it a go as my own art director. I can’t wait to take everything I’ve learnt from all the icons I’ve been lucky enough to work with to create my own collection.
I’m doing two test shoots at the end of the month to try out ideas and I’m working with a make-up artist and a clothes stylist who I’ve shot with previously and are emerging talents. The three of us email each other mood boards to gather the story together so we’re clear where we’re going. The most important thing I’ve learnt is to make sure the whole team is clear on the aim of the shoot, otherwise it will be mayhem! But I’m not going into too much detail about what I’m doing as don’t want to ruin the surprise!
After my test shoots I’ll go for the big one for Clipso and for Terry, a collection and entering awards. Watch this space!
Kim x
* Kim Rance is a hair stylist at Clipso
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