We caught up with Camilla Seckin a featured stylist on Keep The Wolf's fresh talent page. KTW has a exclusive interview with Camilla, revealing information about her new venture and what it really takes to be a up and coming stylist in London.
Tell Keep The Wolf a little about yourself
Im a freelance stylist doing the editing of a print biannual magazine called Rosamunde. Its a arts and culture magazine so I am taking on the role as editor, art director and fashion director.
Where are you from?
North london originally, now residing in Surrey
What are your general non-professional interests?
To be honest as sad it sounds, fashion is it. Fashion is my interest but its also my career. Other from that I like knitting, I enjoy reading and even though Im not keen on social networking I enjoy looking online to see live streaming of fashions shows.
What does fashion mean to you?
Fashion means being trend aware, but even more than being trend aware, I'm intrested in the styling aspect especially the form.
Will this be incorporated into your current project?
It is, my current project is the new magazine and the first issue is called the nudes and the body. Im really intreseted in form both female and male, which comes through in my work. I think I understand shape and form quite well Ive got the knack from my Dad who used to run lots of shops in London markets, Camden and Portabello. He is able to look at someone and know their size just like his mum, my Gran who worked for Chanel she could just look at somebody and was able to cut a pattern for them freestyle (she didnt work with patterns)! Chanel flew her out to Paris and she stayed for a while but as she was accustomed to Turkey and her past life she soon returned.
Who are some of your favorite designers?
I like Erdem I was really lucky to meet him this year I'm a big fan of him and his work, I also like Celine, Chloe and Chanel ( karl) . Not forgetting Mccqueen, full respect to Sarah Burton! Before the royal dress her first season as head designer ... well she was outstanding, I think even though everyone has said that she is a very talented designer and has the essence of Mccqueen but hasn't stolen it.
Who are some of your favourite stylists?
I like Katie Shillingford, even though its an obvious one I love Nicola Formaichetti before the whole lady Gaga styling he actually helped me with a project when I was an undergraduate
How did that come about?
I contacted him ( laughs) keep in mind this is pre Lady Gaga times so i had a chance to talk to him, I was doing a hat magazine at the time and I liked his styling with headwear so I contacted him and we did a interview.
Who are some of your favorite photographers
Paolo Roversi, an obvious but I like him ! Wendy Beavan, Sarah Moon and Lee Friedlander
When did you realize you wanted to become a stylist?
Believe it or not I wanted to be involved with fashion from the age of nine and my family use to rinse me for it, because I use to rock all these mental clothes when I was younger. So I was lucky as I knew straight away and choose to do my all my school levels and university courses in fashion related courses.
Tell us about your first ever shoot?
I started doing fashion shoots in AS photography class , I would work on film because thats how we were taught never on digital. I use to do things like cross process images like shoot on slide film and process it as normal images so you'd get a really distorted end product and i still love doing it now.
Describe the general process you go through to style and shoot?
I start with referencing images, even though I don't want to copy I get inspired by things i see, so i make a image bank on my pc and note where images are from. Then I source photographers who i think would suit the shoots which is followed by a meeting where we going through the reference images and ideas. After that we would normally call in make up and hair stylists to put there ideas in because its all about collaboration. We need to make sure everyones working on the same page and has the same vision which is a another positive thing about having these meetings . I am also able to ask advice on different things, which allows everyone to put in they own specialisms making it a really strong end product. I prep the shoot by contacting press PRs, source designers and the garments then shot then and finally send them back . In-between this process you probably change the concept serval times along with the mood board. Although you have one thing the rest may be its constantly changing.
How long does it usually take you plan a shoot?
It depends what its for, you could be asked to do something for a client with a week intill the deadline.
How about your magazine ?
I've given myself two months which seems like a really long time but I'm shooting twenty fashion stories, so on top of all the other production of the magazine its really not long.
We are testing some of the shoots but the bigger production shoots are impossible to do, so we are working step by step sending things back in forth, skyping and having meetings as much as possible.
The communication is key to having a good outcome !
How long does a shoot usually take?
It really does depends what your shooting and the production, its normally a all day job, you would normally get on location early before that your probably still prepping so Id say a normal shoot is ten till six. But before and afterwards your normally doing things so it can be a very really long day.
What are some of your accomplishments as a stylist?
I've been published in a couple of publications, Elle, Ballad Of, WGSN, Runway passport, The other side, My fashion data base, BBC, AMCK, Woolfson and tay, Don't panic.
Where do you take inspiration from / where do you get inspiration for shoot ?
I take inspiration from fashion and art magazines probably more of the art side as im really interested in arts and culture not forgetting books, literature and unconventional things.
Is this a possible theme for your magazine?
Yes this issue is based on fragmentation of the body because I was interested in literature of the body. So on the whole a little unconventional like the magazine we aren't going do the conventional topics .
Who would you say has the best dressed shop fronts/ windows regarding decor and styling?
Selfridges and Harvey Nichols windows, the styling is always great. But theres a shop in North London called Cha cha cha based in a attic everything is hand picked its like a secret treasure trove, they have gorgeous designer vintage. Episode in London is another I like how they work the clothing. Theres a new shop that opened in Muswell Hill North London where im originally from, its a cafe and you can buy clothing there too i love the poka dot mannequins which she did herself making it have a really cool retro look. A common favorite would be Topshop ( flagship oxford st) The manniquins are outstanding they always have interesting graphics and instore merchandising.
What matters to you most as a stylist?
Its really important that all the prep is done for my shoot, so organisation! Although things can change on the day . Narrative is very important to me and understanding why you have those garments infront of you along with having a coherent story throughout the images
What's your favorite part about being a stylist?
Shoot days ! Even though you can prep to your blue in the face some how it can go wrong, so I enjoy the crazy spontaneous panicking of changing garments and shoot ideas. I love seeing the final images and the whole process come together.
What has been your favourite part about planning the new magazine ?
Well planning all the shoots as I have got some really good names involved with the magazine.
Can you give us some names ?
I cant sorry (giggles).
Are you sure ?
Sorry cant give you names but they are big in the creative scene and we have a eclectic mix ... Basically I'm working collaboration and commissioned based for the magazine so collaboration Im either shooting, styling and booking make up and hair, or I am working with a creative team where Im art director and styling then Im bringing other people in. Commissioned based I am working when I'm commissioning people to do different things, they are mainly illustrators who are doing visual responses to the theme of my magazine.
Will there be a event ?
Yes they will be a event, I'm running a symposium event in conjunction with the magazine where academics and scholars respond to it through papers which they will be presenting. coinciding with the symposium I am putting on a exhibition which will promote the creative output to the who magazine.
What does the future hold for Camilla Seckin ?
Well I am hoping the magazine goes well so we can distribute on a larger scale, thats what id like to do . Its universal I think it can be translated into another language easily as its mainly images so has potential to be stocked internationally but the first step would to get into some more stockist in the UK, then get the next magazine out for January 2012 along with freelance styling which i love !!
Is there any one you would love to work with in the future ?
Yes i like to work for Muse magazine I love what they do , I think I'm suited to the italian magazines so Muse again and Vogue Italian.
We at Keep The Wolf are really excited to get our copy of the Rosamunde magazine that Camilla is working on and many more issues that she will create in the future. We will be the first to let you know when Rosamunde will hit the shelves this August along with any future projects Camilla pursues .