Photographer / Creative Director: Femibranded
Collaborator / Creative Partner: Philip Manga, Matey Akwetey
Location: Downtown Lexington, KY
Deliverables: 20 Editorial Images
Style Reference: Modern Vogue / GQ Editorial
Camera Settings: f/4 – f/11 (environmental depth control)
1. Project Overview
The goal was to create a high-fashion editorial series rooted in timeless menswear, executed in a modern urban environment. The intent was to blend heritage tailoring, brotherhood, and editorial storytelling into a cohesive visual narrative that feels equally at home in Vogue, GQ, or a premium brand campaign.
Rather than forcing a rigid concept, the shoot evolved organically through collaboration, trust, and shared taste.
2. Creative Intent
The vision was clear:
Recreate classic eras of style without making the images feel costume-like. Treat downtown Lexington as a character, not just a backdrop and
produce images that feel editorial, not posed to maintain authenticity, movement, and real interaction
The reference point became what we jokingly called “the intersection of Vogue and Gucci”, a shorthand for elevated taste, intention, and restraint.
3. Pre-Production & Collaboration
This shoot was built through ongoing dialogue, not a single planning meeting.
Key elements of pre-production included:
Pinterest boards for visual alignment, open styling collaboration (vintage suits, hats, textures)
Flexibility in group size (3–5 models)
Location scouting across downtown Lexington
Allowing styling to lead composition, not the other way around
Philip led styling with vintage and classic pieces, while I focused on visual cohesion, framing, and editorial rhythm. This trust-based workflow
allowed the shoot to scale naturally from a solo concept into a group editorial narrative.
4. Execution Strategy
Environment Downtown Lexington provided:
Architectural texture
Neutral stone backdrops
Urban rhythm without visual noise
We intentionally avoided overly recognizable landmarks to keep the images timeless and transferable.
Technical Choices
f/4 – f/5.6: Subject-forward editorial portraits with environmental context
f/8 – f/11: Group shots and layered compositions where structure mattered
Natural light only — no artificial lighting introduced
Movement and interaction prioritized over static posing
The technical decisions were driven by storytelling needs, not gear performance.
5. Visual Language & Styling
Earth tones, tweeds, wool, and tailored silhouettes
Vintage hats as visual anchors
Layering to add depth and hierarchy
Real expressions, laughter, and shared moments preserved intentionally
Rather than correcting imperfections, the edit leaned into character and texture, aligning with modern Vogue editorial standards.
6. Post-Production Approach
The edit philosophy was editorial restraint:
Controlled contrast
Muted saturation
Natural skin texture preserved
Emphasis on fabric detail and tonal harmony
Clean upscale for print and digital use
No heavy retouching.
No trendy color grading.
Just timeless polish.
7. Final Deliverables
20 Vogue-style editorial images
Group and individual compositions
Print-ready and web-optimized formats
Suitable for:
Editorial submission
Portfolio use
Brand campaigns
Model portfolios
Website case studies
8. Outcome & Reflection
This project reinforced a core belief:
The strongest images come from shared vision, not rigid control.
By allowing the shoot to evolve stylistically and logistically, we created images that feel lived-in, intentional, and elevated. The result is a body of work that reflects trust, taste, and timelessness.
9. Key Takeaway
It was a creative collaboration built on:
Conversation
Respect for craft
Clear taste alignment
Confidence in execution
