Red vs. Blue
My favorite thing to do is to just show up at a friend’s house and make up a photo shoot as we go.
Frequent collaborator Harlowe was ready at her house with several outfit choices, and we ended up doing what I might call a study in color. We began with a red tank top that was flattering enough for her dating profile pictures without going overboard.
Red is the most noticeable color to the human eye. According to color theory, it tends to indicate high importance, commanding attention, which is why red lights and stop signs feature it. It can also raise the viewer’s heart rate, which isn’t always a bad thing.
In pop culture, red tends to also be associated with heroism and excellence. There’s a good chance you’re favorite superheroes display the color proudly, as do winners of awards and red carpet galas. Choosing a color like this, for Harlowe meant draping her in the same associations, which seemed fitting for someone like her.
The photos in red are dynamic, energetic, and bold. I like to think that you can hear her laughing just by looking at them.
Then, we switched things up and went all blue (except for her hair, of course, which remained its usual shade of red). We kept the blue jeans and swapped the shirt for a bra to create a more intimate look.
Blue is a cool color, relaxing and pleasant to look at. Harlowe’s energy naturally adjusted to reflect this change in temperature, whether due to my direction, her own vibe shift, or both. Her hair flowed down to kids the lace embracing her, and her jeans sat unbuttoned to offer a peek at matching panties. It was an effortlessly sexy look, marching the casual nature of the outfit.
She still included some movement in these photos, bringing her pin-up sensibilities to an otherwise candid style, making it her own.
Whether in red or blue, I love the way she pops against the white walls and soft, natural lighting. We continued the shoot in other outfits and changed our approach accordingly, but these colors were so strong and full of personality that they suited Harlowe the way nothing else can.
