Commercial: Russian Calendar Girls 2013 (DaNu Radio 87.7 FM) | Zorz Studios

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!

The sponsor of this theme is Cmple, offering cable installation. I weaved the web out of their cables the night before the shoot.

The sponsor of this theme is Cmple, offering cable installation. I weaved the web out of their cables the night before the shoot.

Sponsor: Maximillion Realty. I wanted to create a warm and cozy atmosphere. One of the lights projected the shadow of a window which was cut out of a carton.

Sponsor: Maximillion Realty. I wanted to create a warm and cozy atmosphere. One of the lights projected the shadow of a window which was cut out of a carton.

Sponsor: Dnipro, international shipping courier. My theme became a Baroque outfit with the dress skirt made out of two types of shipping bubble wrap with the use of wire frame to maintain the form.

Sponsor: Dnipro, international shipping courier. My theme became a Baroque outfit with the dress skirt made out of two types of shipping bubble wrap with the use of wire frame to maintain the form.

Sponsor: NetCost Market, a supermarket chain. To get the hat, I drove to Long Island to my long-time friend and client, Anya Caliendo, the designer of this Caviar hat. The model was covered with the fishing net.

Sponsor: NetCost Market, a supermarket chain. To get the hat, I drove to Long Island to my long-time friend and client, Anya Caliendo, the designer of this Caviar hat. The model was covered with the fishing net.

Sponsor: U-Mode Hair Salon. This shot took 3.5 hours to nail the shadows down. I almost got desperate in disbelief that I couldn’t make it… Two pieces of carton were used to create shadows on the face, and another piece placed in the corner behind to get a vertical pillar of shadow. Seemingly simple things may really tire you down.

Sponsor: U-Mode Hair Salon. This shoot took 3.5 hours to nail the shadows down. I almost got desperate in disbelief that I couldn’t make it… While trying to nail THE shot, asked the model to just hold one piece of a carton for an alternative look.

Sponsor: Kings Highway Vision Center. No Photoshop here. The model (and I was so unfair to her charming beauty!) is standing behind a bed sheet. I cut out the shape of sun glasses and brought her silhouette by back-lighting through the sheet.

Sponsor: Kings Highway Vision Center. Making up to my unfair treatment of the model’s beauty in the main spread…

Sponsor: GrandPrix Motors. This shot took two days. I was not happy with the first session and when trying to fall asleep at the end of the day, a vision of Atlas dawned on me so I send a midnight SMS and asked the models to return the following day. The wheel was too heavy and they would not hold it gracefully for a single moment. We had to tie the wheel to a cable and climb the wall above to hold the wheel hanging. Cable removed in Photoshop.

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.

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.

Sponsor: Khortytsa Vodka. Smoke created by a fog machine, with a bottle and ice (the one that didn’t melt overnight in that cold studio) on a draped table in front, forming a “continuity” with the fog.

Sponsor: Khortytsa Vodka. Smoke created by a fog machine with a bottle on a draped table in front.

Sponsor: Trinity Printing. The simple concept is “the print is so real”. In practice, hair blown by two fans in front and to the side of the model. It still had to be supported and held up by two wires (removed in Photoshop).

Sponsor: Five Star Liquors. I build a column of plastic martini glasses, attached to the wall with a scotch tape. The concept was to direct and spread the light in a fanning way, hence the fan in model’s hands.

Sponsor: Five Star Liquors. I build a column of plastic martini glasses, attached to the wall with a scotch tape. The concept was to direct and spread the light in a fanning way, hence the fan in model’s hands.

Sponsor: Rasputin Restaurant and Cabaret. Cabaret says it all. Unlike all other themes in this project, I used a single source of directional light to accentuate the contrast and “paparazzi” feel. Another brave soul covered with goosebumps in a cold room (a heater helped little).

Sponsor: Rasputin Restaurant and Cabaret. Cabaret says it all. Unlike all other themes in this project, I used a single source of directional light to accentuate the contrast and “paparazzi” feel. Another brave soul covered with goosebumps in a cold room (a heater helped little).

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).