Ann Williamson

Handmade Designer Women's Apparel

Photo Shoots

Smithsonian’s Craft: Fashion + Home

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I’ve been calling the Smithsonian’s fall show, ‘Craft2Wear,’ but it has a new name. They’ve added in artists from the home-dec world so have updated the name to ‘Craft: Fashion + Home.’

It’s coming up soon! October 5 – 8. I’ve been running up the down escalator getting ready. So much to do!

Here’s a couple pieces I’ll be bringing.

The fabric for this jacket had gorgeous Hokusai waves, which you must know I love. But alas, each wave crest was a different bright color, beautiful in the original kimono, but not at all the look I was after. I cut out the colored parts [saved for a future project!] and rearranged the rolling wave parts.

Jacket with Hokusai waves made from kimono silk

The back

Jacket with Hokusai waves made from kimono silk

Below, a long ‘trench coat,’ sewn from a very cool deep, deep purple with a floral design in deep reds, greens and oranges.

I cut the scraps into squares and appliquéd them along the bottom panel. I love how the floral images are abstracted by cutting the print into random squares.

Trench coat of kimono silk with appliqued squares along the bottom panel

The camera in my phone has its own very specific ideas of how to record colors. Sometimes its guesses are right on the mark, other times not so much. I spent a bit of time wrestling with it trying to accurately record the lovely subtle colors in this coat. They still weren’t right, so I tried to adjust it in photoshop. Although better, it’s still missing the mark.

If you’re near Washington DC October 5 – 8, please come to the show! And see this coat’s true beautiful and subtle colors. And all the other jackets, coats, skirts and scarves that I’ll be bringing.

A detail shot showing the appliqués.

Detail of Trench coat of kimono silk with appliqued squares along the bottom panel

Another way to have accurate images and colors. Hire a professional!

I had another fantastic photoshoot with Mario Gallucci last week. So much fun! He’s processing those gorgeous images and I’ll be posting them soon.

Photoshoot with model

For more information about the Smithsonian show ‘Craft: Fashion + Home,’ check it out here.

Photo Shoot 2023!

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Photo shoots are so much fun! Everyone’s attention is on making my clothes look as fantastic as possible. What could be better? The model, her hair and makeup, her movements and poses and especially the way the clothes look and hang, how the lights hit, all working together to emphasize my work and make it look its very best.

I contacted Mario Gallucci, a photographer new to me, whose gorgeous pictures on his website confirmed he would be right.

Also Kerrin Birchenough, a stylist I had used before and knew from experience that she would be perfect.

And beautiful Flo, an aerialist [!!!] who was eager to model. A few moments on her instagram page and I knew I wanted to work with her.

At the shoot, first thing, work out lighting and mood with Mario. Next, get Flo ready. Stylist Kerrin and her assistant Lilly on the job.

The ritual cleansing of the feet. We were all doing our best to keep the paper as pristine as possible.

Camera settings adjusted.

At last, lights camera, action!

Flo was on fire! So good. After many beautiful poses and impressive movements, we moved onto the second piece.

For this one, a new look. A blond wig! Below, in mid-prep, working through a 1980’s big hair look.

Hair and makeup complete, dressed in my long coat, the ‘wind machine’ [otherwise known as a fan] blasting. Flo channels a hot, dry and dusty desert wind.

Moving like a dancer, she struck pose after pose. On the monitor you can see how the lights flash a yellow color for each shot.

Number three had a beach-ocean feeling.

We were on a roll, all working together with gorgeous results.

With only an hour to go within our scheduled time, we started on the last look. We were going for the look of a deep, dark, renaissance painting. The photo assistant adds a bit of reflected light for extra shine.

And done! We did it! So many fantastic photos to choose from.

Thank You Beautiful Flo! Expert Kerrin! And especially the very talented Mario Gallucci, photographer extraordinaire.

Next up, before they are ready for viewing, I’ll go through all the shots and choose my favorites for Mario to process.

Stay tuned.

Video Shoot

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I had so much fun working on videos last year, I wanted to do more. And since I’ve been sewing lots of new pieces for the Smithsonian Craft Show, April 20-24, I easily had enough for a shoot.

First step, have enough clothes. Second, find a space. We choose the fantastic Holocene, a Portland venue that cannot be beat.

Next, make sure a stylist is available and willing. Happily Kerrin Birchenough had time and wanted to help. My first time with her, she was great and did an excellent job interpreting my requests.

And a model! Someone who can move with ease and have a good time doing it. All of that, and looks beautiful too.

We ended up with two photographers. Here they are scoping out the equipment, the space, the light, what should be where and how to make it all happen.

Lots of waiting while things were set up.

Then, one, two, three, go!

Start moving.

We shot four looks with four different outfits. Such a rush. So much fun to see my clothes in action.

Below, our lovely model attentively listening to instructions.

I’ve always loved photo shoots. Videos are all of that times ten. The action and moving makes such a difference. I could have gone on all day and into the night, so much adrenaline.

Such a beautiful girl! And a good sport, fine with all of our requests, no matter how many times we asked her to go up and down those stairs.

Now, a long pause for the video production. Editing, putting together music with the movement, tweaking and adjusting, it will take a while.

Can’t wait!

I want to link to a youtube video.