Sponsor: Yoga Spot. Simple concept of balance -- water and fire (some may think of hot yoga, too). Fire cans in the background, wet hair and tunic on the model with sprinkled water drops on the body. Considering the then-unheated studio in November, she was a trooper... with goosebumps.
In many regards, Russian Calendar Girls 2013 was my Project of the Year 2012—by intensity, time constraints, diversity, creativity, volume of work, number of models and team members involved, and finally, by my input as an art director and stylist. Everything was shot in four sets within an eight-day span, involving 13 models, and one re-take.
Since I’ve been asked this so many times at the calendar unveiling party last night, will say that each theme was fully developed by me, without discussing with the sponsors (it is safe to admit it now). It also would have been much easier and less stressful had I had an art director and a stylist on the team but at least I had an opportunity to fully conceptualize and realize my vision, from hand-picking the wardrobe, to crafting the props and details of outfit, to suggesting makeup and hair styling. I also chose to shoot most of the themes in a tight corner room of an otherwise enormous studio, not to use typical glossy and even lighting, and envisioned the output entirely in B&W—an unprecedented step for DaNu radio, the organizers of the Russian Calendar Girls 2013 project. This is not my personal project but a commissioned work with sponsors involved. However, to be able to better function and express myself, I had to trick myself into thinking of it as my personal art project. With few minor reservations left from the sponsors, I was quite able to let my imagination flow. 🙂
Photos appear in the order taken and have an insight on how and why they were made. Check them out by clicking a photo and reading the note in the gallery!
Producer: Danu Radio 87.7 FM Photography, concept, art directing, and styling: Zorz Studios Photographer’s assistants: Jp Sevillano, Fedya Zavodylenko, Inna Kolinchenko, Lou Amling, Anna Maftser Hair and make-up: Erik, Olga, and Tatyana of U-Mode Salon Wardrobe: SoHo Boutique (in part) Host studio: Candy Kid Photography
UPDATE 1: Look at this sharp-looking and ravishing promo created by Pavel Kubin of CUBEinART!
UPDATE 2: All my Facebook stories about mad-tight timeframe, sleeping in the studio, 12-14-hour shoots, beautiful models, a talented and supportive creative U-Mode Salon team embodying my ideas, four photographer assistants, a pile of lighting equipment and props, my modest efforts in styling and crafting, smoke, and ice – everything was publicly unveiled in the printed calendars at the radio’s Client Appreciation Party at cabaret Rasputin. Here’s a copy of the calendar and the televised news coverage by Russian-American TV station NTV America (in Russian).
Ed "Zorz" Hafizov is the creative director and lead photographer of Zorz Studios, a photography and filmmaking studio serving creative clients, couples, families, businesses, and event hosts in New York City, New Jersey, the Poconos, and beyond. He creates daring portrait, boudoir, wedding, mitzvah, event, and commercial photography for clients from Alaska to India. His work earned multiple Fearless Photographer™ awards, Rangefinder Grand Prix recognition, top 50 US wedding photographer and top 10 New York wedding photographer honors, plus features by Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Huffington Post, PopSugar, The Wall Street Journal, and other publications. He has also photographed Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Known for combining creativity with a willingness to take unconventional approaches, Ed creates original artwork with personality, emotion, and lasting impact.
