Velvet and Suede

The last time I wore velvet was probably in, like, 5th grade and it was likely in the form of purple track pants or something – yikes. But as a still life photographer now, I really appreciate the richness of the fabric and how beautifully it shoots. I've already totally abused my blue velvet sofa in the sense that it appears in many of my at-home shoots, as a backdrop. And it works so well. With velvet, you have to really know how to light it. In the wrong light, it can be dimensionless and just absorb or reflect all of the light. There's very little I hate more than flat, blah lighting.



This mini velvet clutch is from Mary Katrantzou's latest line and can be found on Lyst. It's ridiculously cute (note, it will just barely not fit an iPhone 6+!) and has a removable strap, which is always a nice bonus. I love shooting accessories these days and I knew it would shoot well in the tiny bit of time my couch gets lit like this (basically between the hours of 6:00 and 6:15pm). It's always hectic when you have just that sliver of time to get your shots. Then the magic is gone. I wanted to highlight a sick (and slick) pair of suede tie-up heels in this lighting too. These have that minimal feel with an extra touch of femininity.

(Other: Self-Portrait Dress)

Disclosure: The clutch was a gift from Lyst. See their full line of bags here. The shoes were a gift from Alexandre Birman.