Written by: Suzannah Olanrewaju-Gabriel, MA Fashion Photography London College of Fashion

As part of The Everyday and The Epic brief on the MA Fashion Photography course, I created '1 of 1'.

The Everyday and The Epic is shown in photography in number of well-established ways. The everyday can be illustrated through an everyday snapshot of your family or personal album, whereas the epic may be referred to as witnessing epic events like the 9/11 which are extra-ordinary.

For me, my series 1 of 1 was both the epic and the everyday. The women pictured are epic in their own rights, but they have been captured to look like ‘everyday’ people through the styling choices I adopted.

The interview process allowed me to gain in-depth knowledge into each of the women’s experiences as creatives in the digital age.

We spoke about mental health, body image and the pressures we place on ourselves to be consistent.

We also spoke about the heightened number of influencers who edit their images excessively and how as creatives, we are trying to move away from that phenomenon.

Claire-Marie is a MUA. She is still undertaking education in Make-Up. Claire-Marie does not post retouched images as a MUA. This was refreshing to hear because Instagram is a place where everybody wants to put their best work out there, and this typically includes some retouching.

The photo says: I love showing real beauty, raw beauty, natural skin.

Another creative who sets boundaries on what their photographers can edit is Martinda. Martinda is planning to embark on her undergraduate studies at London College of Fashion, UAL in September where she will be studying Fashion Styling and Production.

The image says (from top-left to bottom right):

1. ‘Sometimes, if I see a fitness motivation post. I can leave [Instagram] feeling motivated, or I can leave feeling rubbish.
2. ‘A lot of people portray a certain lifestyle on social media that is not true and that has an impact on impressionable people’.
3. ‘I just try to keep it as honest and transparent as possible’.
4. ‘Instagram is a good place for photoshoot inspiration and fashion in general’.
5. ‘When I’m telling the photographer how I want the photos edited, I would never say ‘make her waist look slimmer’ or ‘make her face look better’.
6. ‘I’m happy the way I am… I don’t constantly think about how I can change my body’.

Elena is a beauty therapist, model, and actor. I described Elena as a ray of sunshine, because like the other women I met, she had such a pure heart.

We discussed bodies and the changes she has experienced with her own body.

The photo says: you know you shouldn’t compare yourself because everybody is different.

Olga is a Photographer and Videographer who has industry experience. My encounter with Olga almost felt like opposites, where I am tall, and she is short.

Although we are on opposite ends of the height spectrum, our experiences were almost synonymous. I could identify with a lot of the things she said. This made creating her print that much easier, as I could place part of me in the creation.

The photo says: You don’t have to fit into the mould to feel good about yourself.

Alice owns her own company and is a stylist. This image shows a radiation of love. Alice is learning to love herself and is projecting that self-love into the universe.

Najat is a Muslim Photographer, who also calls herself a creative.

The photo says: when I compliment a female about their skin, their outfit etc. it gives me a confidence boost because I just made a female feel good about herself, now it’s my turn, and it gives me empowerment.

This image is one of my favourites. I loved the digital as it was, but I believe the purple thread truly does make the image warm and comforting to look at. The thread’s material combined with the jumper worn in the image was completely unintentional but works so well for me. Xenia was also so lovely to work with. I enjoyed my encounter with her.

Xenia’s image says: choosing who can have a perception of me gives me a lot more comfort.

Julia is a violinist, and her covers are amazing! Julia is such a cheerful woman. Our interview was full of laughs and excerpts which would work as bloopers.

I have used bubble wrap to illustrate preservation of oneself.

1 of 1 has recently been featured in Kaltblut Magazine.

Related Links:

For more photography by Suzannah, visit her Instagram page

Check out the talent’s Instagram accounts (in order of appearance):

• Claire-Maire
• Martinda
• Elena
• Olga
• Alice
• Najat
• Xenia
• Julia

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