Erica Sashin: From Set to Telluride

Oct 14

STYLED FOR ‘LOVE, RENDERED’ PREMIERE & PROFESSIONAL PORTRAITS

WHEN LOVE, RENDERED MOVED TOWARD ITS TELLURIDE PREMIERE, I HAD THE RARE PLEASURE OF SEEING THE FILM THROUGH FROM ITS EARLIEST DAYS ON SET TO ITS FIRST MAJOR PUBLIC MOMENT.

I WAS A DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY ON THE FILM, AND LATER HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH PRODUCER ERICA SASHIN ON THE STYLING, IMAGERY, AND PREPARATION AROUND ITS RELEASE.

THAT CONTINUITY MADE THE WORK FEEL ESPECIALLY REWARDING. I ALREADY UNDERSTOOD THE WORLD OF THE FILM, THE CARE BEHIND IT, AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ERICA STEPPING INTO THIS NEXT CHAPTER AS IT MET AN AUDIENCE.

WE BEGAN WITH AN EDITORIAL PORTRAIT SESSION AT MY STUDIO. WITH ONE OF MY FAVORITE HAIR AND MAKEUP ARTISTS ON SET, I PHOTOGRAPHED ERICA IN MY GARDEN, CREATING A SET OF IMAGES FOR THE FILM’S FESTIVAL RELEASE THAT FELT SPECIFIC TO HER RATHER THAN OVERLY MANUFACTURED. THE INTENTION WAS PRESENCE: POLISHED, CINEMATIC, AND RECOGNIZABLY ERICA.

BEFORE SHE LEFT FOR TELLURIDE, WE ALSO SPENT A STYLING SESSION IN HER HOME CLOSET. RATHER THAN BEGINNING WITH A SHOPPING LIST, WE BUILT FROM WHAT SHE ALREADY OWNED. WE PULLED APART FAMILIAR PIECES, TRIED UNEXPECTED PAIRINGS, AND CONSIDERED HOW EACH LOOK COULD MOVE BETWEEN THE PREMIERE, PANELS, DINNERS, AND THE QUIETER MOMENTS IN BETWEEN.

I CREATED A LOOKBOOK AND PACKING LIST FROM THAT SESSION SO THAT WHEN ERICA HAD ONLY 24 HOURS AT HOME BETWEEN A SHOOT AND HER DEPARTURE, THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT TO SOLVE. THE LOOKS WERE MAPPED, THE OPTIONS WERE CLEAR, AND SHE COULD PUT HER ATTENTION WHERE IT BELONGED: ON THE FILM, THE PREMIERE, AND THE EXCITEMENT OF THE MOMENT!

THAT IS THE KIND OF STYLING WORK I CARE MOST ABOUT. NOT SIMPLY ARRIVING AT ONE STRONG LOOK, BUT CREATING THE CLARITY AROUND AN IMPORTANT APPEARANCE SO SOMEONE CAN SHOW UP FEELING PREPARED, COMFORTABLE, AND WHOLLY THEMSELVES.

HER WORDS BELOW DETAIL THAT EXPERIENCE:

“WHEN I FIRST WORKED WITH RACHEL, OUR INCREDIBLE CINEMATOGRAPHER, SHE SAW ME IN PRODUCER MODE: CONFIDENT, COMFORTABLE, AND SAFELY BEHIND THE CAMERA. WHEN SHE TURNED THE CAMERA ON ME FOR OUR PORTRAIT SESSION, LET’S JUST SAY I NEEDED A LITTLE MORE DIRECTION. BUT WITH HER WARMTH AND EXTRAORDINARY EYE (AND MAYBE A LITTLE PROSECCO), RACHEL TURNED THE SHOOT INTO A LOVELY DAY WITH BEAUTIFUL PORTRAITS TO SHOW FOR IT.
WE ALSO SHOPPED MY CLOSET FOR TELLURIDE, LAUGHING, PLAYING, AND PUTTING TOGETHER SOME GREAT OUTFITS—ALL FROM CLOTHES I ALREADY OWNED! RACHEL PUT IT ALL INTO A BEAUTIFUL LOOKBOOK, SO I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT TO PACK AND HOW TO WEAR IT ONCE I GOT THERE.
OUR SESSIONS HAVE STAYED WITH ME IN THE BEST WAY: I’M HAVING MORE FUN GETTING DRESSED AND GETTING A LITTLE BRAVER ABOUT WHAT I PUT TOGETHER. I HOPE I HAVE ANOTHER EXCUSE TO WORK WITH RACHEL AGAIN SOON!”
ERICA SASHIN, PRODUCER, LOVE, RENDERED