On Boxing Day 2016, Dee Wilkie and I had coffee to talk about a future fashion issue for CreatedHere. I knew I wanted to explore the local fashion industry, without really knowing where to start. Years ago I had visions of a photoshoot featuring local designers' work on the foggy banks of the Fundy Bay, but never knew how it would ever become a reality. It turns out networking totally works. Between my googling and her real-life contacts in the NB fashion industry, we could actually see a fashion magazine taking shape, with a unique photoshoot at its heart. Lattes empty, It was time to make some calls.

Once we got photographer Lance Kenneth Blakney on board, next up were models and designers. Everyone we approached was excited at the prospect of having their work featured in an all-local fashion magazine, and were game to give of their time to make it happen. Before we knew it we had 5 designers, four models, a photographer, stylist, makeup artist and photo assistant on the team.

Finally, on June 24th, after a hundred emails back and forth with everyone involved, we all arrived at Trinity church for a rundown of the day and to get hair and makeup ready. It rained most of the day and I got so many texts saying "Are we still on?" and all I could think was "There is no way I am organizing all this again!" So we went for it.

Photographer Lance Kenneth Blakney talking with photography assistant Stephen Mainville and co-organizer Dee Wilkie

The girls got their game faces on and we headed to Tin Can beach in the South End of Saint John, NB. The rain cleared and the fog stayed, which actually resulted in ideal lighting and a moody atmosphere that we all thought suited the shoot perfectly.

It was a chilly day for June, and the models were champs, huddling up in blankets while waiting for their next turn. Lance kept up a brisk pace and didn't let up the whole afternoon. I ran back and forth between the shoot site, the dressing site at a local church and the tent where the food was. Turkey wraps, homemade cookies and fruit kept the crew's energy up.

Interestingly enough, we had to walk around the carcass of a giant sturgeon. Many were quite fascinated, many were disgusted. Such is life on the coast.

I don't want to give away too much... You'll find Lance's gorgeous shots from this day and much more (but not the sturgeon) featured in Issue #6, which is coming out in less than two weeks. I am so excited! This issue is all about the local fashion industry and will feature people in the New Brunswick fashion industry you didn't know you didn't know. The magazine will launch on October 28th at the Transition Fashion show in Fredericton and TBA at Exchange on Germain in Saint John.

You canpre-order the mag here!

So many thanks to those who participated in making this shoot a reality! I can't wait to see it in all its printed glory.

xo MH

Behind-the-scenes at CreatedHere's fashion photo shoot

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