Bratz Lookbook Photoshoot

Today I did the photoshoot of my Bratz dolls for the lookbook. I stuck with the idea of creating two looks per Bratz doll, so 8 in total. This shows a good variation and doesn't over do it with random looks that might not be as interesting and exciting as others for the sake of having loads of looks.

When visiting home, I spent a while coming up with the lookbook outfits through physically changing the outfits several times to get them how I liked and through looking back at my research.

The looks that I decided to go for were night out, winter glam, summer vacation, date night, casual shopping day, punk chic, prom and NYE. When photographing, I took into consideration props and furniture, backgrounds (the photographs with white backgrounds will have backgrounds and scenes edited into them), poses and angles which shows the outfits and details well.

The photoshoot took a lot longer than expected as I wanted to get good photographs to work from for every look. However, the process was overall really enjoyable and I truly felt like I was back in my childhood again, which shows that Bratz dolls should be celebrated as they meant a lot to me and others of my age (the target audience) as kids.

Below shows my favourite 2/3 photographs from every look.

Jade:

NYE:
The background imagery that will be edited into these images will be party themed; confetti, lights, disco, drinks, music.

Punk Chic:

The background imagery that will be edited into these pictures will stay black, red and white themed, with music and crowd/concert scenes possibly.

Sasha:

Date night:

The background imagery that will be added into these images will consist of a warm background, fairy lights, soft and warm colours, wallpaper, hearts.

Night out:

Cloe:

Prom:

The background imagery for this will be sparkly and minimal.

Vacation:

The background imagery added into these images will be holiday themed; beach, sea, sunny warm colours, blue skies, sand.

Yasmin:

Casual shopping day:

The background imagery added into these images will be shopping mall themed, or outdoor settings will shops in the background.

Winter glam:

After photographing the 8 looks I also photographed the 4 dolls together in interesting scenes and compositions:

Statement of Intent

This year I want to focus more on producing work that focuses on things that I am actually into and have loved throughout my life, rather than briefs which tackle something I'm not necessarily that interested in but needs more design attention.

I think it's important to create work that I actually like as it makes me excited and motivated, rather than work that others may like more. I have found that over the past 2 years, when I've created work focusing on personal interests, it has been a lot more successful and enjoyable. This is part of the reason I got better grades in second year than first.

My areas of interest include things that I loved as child that I have carried throughout my life and continue to have a big passion for, animals and the importance of them, style and image and how we can represent ourselves through this, and mindfulness and well being as i'm big on self care.

The work I enjoy creating most is usually more design for print than design for screen. I have always been more of a hands on designer and really enjoyed in the past when my projects have been more production and technique based, such as publication design, zines, stickers, textiles, screen printing and foiling.

However, I am really interested in how animation and motion graphics can be added to other material such as posters and logos. This would be fun to explore more, as I touched on it a little bit in second year and had fun with it. A mix between design for screen and production would also look good in my portfolio as it would show that I'm capable of more, even though I do prefer production and technique based work.

The research methods that work best for me include a variety of different sources, rather than just using the internet for everything. I really enjoy visiting places and going on days out as a way of research as I feel like I get a lot more out of it and i'm more open minded when doing it. I find that internet research can be too restricted and opinion based sometimes. I also enjoy watching and listening to things such TedTalks, 99u, Spotify podcasts and more. Keeping myself out and about also stops me from hitting creative blocks, so I'll continue to use a variety of research methods that keep me active and excited throughout the year.

My time plan for this year is to try and complete around 3 briefs by January/first term, whilst working on COP, then the other 7 when coming back in the new year. I will allocate certain days of the week to certain modules so I am working on everything evenly and not forgetting about the other module.

Bratz Lookbook Themes

Lookbook theme ideas (top 20 ideas, brainstormed with peers):

-Casual
-Day out with the girlies
-Date night
-Slumber party
-Clubbing/night out
-Lazy day
-Shopping
-Sports/walking/hiking
-Walking the dog
-Dinner/fancy meal out
-Vacation/summer
-Prom
-Halloween/costume party
-Birthday
-Winter
-Work wear
-Punk
-Beach//spa
-Concert performance
-NYE

From the list of lookbook outfit ideas and themes, I need to see which themes I have the most appropriate clothing, objects and accessories for and possibly buy some more if needed. When deciding on a list of themes, discussing the themes with peers was useful to see which themes they found more interesting and relevant than others.

Overall, my top 10 favourite look ideas are date night, clubbing, vacation/summer, day out with the girlies, slumber party, winter, prom, work wear, spa and sports. I feel that this these are the most interesting and varied.

My plan originally was to do 10 different looks, however that means 2/4 of the Bratz dolls would have one extra look. So I will either do 8 (2 looks per Bratz doll) or 12 looks (3 looks per Bratz doll).

Bratz Photoshoot Research

Since I plan on visiting family this weekend where I will have access to all of my old Bratz dolls and Bratz furniture, I plan on doing the photoshoots then and possibly bringing things back with me if needed. So, it was important to do some research into existing Bratz doll photoshoots and advertising material.

Photoshoot research:

@dollease
I love the work of Joshua (@dollease), I found his work useful to look at as he puts emphasis on appropriate background scenes and scenario, which makes the photographs look a lot more realistic and fun. I love the shots in which he adds a fake background in the back as he pairs the outfits really well with the backgrounds he chooses.

His use of props (phones, furniture, makeup products etc) with the dolls is also really affective in giving the overall photograph and concept more personality. I definitely think using props will work really well in communicating each different theme and look successfully.

@martincantos

I find Martins work particularly interesting through the way he pays close attention to the little details in every doll look such as hair and makeup. He often creates Bratz doll looks inspired by celebrities which is different to what other Bratz artists do.

His photographs are also really well shot which I need to try and achieve through mine as well with the right lighting and editing. I have been a fan of Martins work for a long time.

@officialbratz

Of course, it was important to look into the actual Bratz advertising imagery and Instagram page. I found some really interesting images which combine what both Joshua and Martin do in their work, even though their work has more of a personal, funky touch. 

The official Bratz imagery focuses more on Bratz with furniture, props and several dolls together in different scenarios, which works well in promoting the separate accessories and furniture which often come separate to the doll.

Photography Induction

Today I had attended the photography induction which I found overall really useful. I'd already had photography inductions before but I felt this would be useful as a refresher to re-jog my memory on certain things, which it did. I also just love photography.

I have my own canon camera at home and plan on doing some photoshoots for certain projects outside of uni this year so knowing how to take a well shot photograph is important for me, as well as using the university photography facilities.

Photographs I took this afternoon:

Photoshoot 1- Practicing taking still life photographs of objects, making them look more interesting than they actually are:

Photoshoot 2- My COP practical from second year (re-brand of Wet n Wild makeup brand), these photographs can be used on my portfolio after some editing:

Collaboration Ideas

I have started to come up with some ideas for collaborations for my studio briefs. At least one of the collaborations needs to be external (outside of the course) and one needs to be internal (with someone on the course)

Ideas for collaborations:

• Collab with a photographer would be really fun, and I feel that photography is often a huge part of graphic design. Last year I took part in a photoshoot for a photography students project (Nikita). The project was based on race in fashion and she contacted me through a mutual friend, so it’d be great to collab with her as we got on well and the photographs came out great. 

• For the panda brief, I think collabing with a printed textiles student would be really interesting, some funky panda inspired prints would work really well as I’m thinking of creating maybe a publication and posters. My house mate Emma is on the printed textiles course and she said she would be more than happy to help me with this so I’m looking forward to it. Her work is really abstract and different which I love.

• For the Bratz doll brief, collabing with a creative advertising student/copywriter would possibly work as the project aims to celebrate the Bratz doll through a lookbook, so a copywriter would be useful.

• For the internal collaboration I’m thinking working on a live brief would work as we could go through a list of graphic design live briefs/competitions we’ve both found interesting and then choose one to work on together.

Bratz Lookbook- Further Ideas

I have now started to think more into the Bratz doll lookbook brief and come up with more ideas of how I could make it really interesting, also thinking about audience and the message I want to portray. 

Photograph my old Bratz dolls in the outfits and in different scenes with furniture etc. All of my Bratz doll stuff is still at my nans- visiting this weekend so take photographs then and bring stuff back to Leeds. Make the photographs look really cool and interesting by putting the dolls in different scenes with their furniture and accessories etc..research into dolls/toys photography.

• Celebration of the bratz doll through a look book. A copy write would be needed...

• Audience ? A celebration for young adults of my age and what Bratz dolls meant to us, as they’re not cool and popular anymore since new dolls have come out since then. Lovers of Bratz dolls!

Do 10 looks in the look book so 10 different outfit pictures. But only illustrate 4 of the looks (one for each bratz doll; Chloe, Sasha, Jade, Yasmin). Or 8 different looks so two for each bratz doll. Ask peers for what they think would work best.

The dolls:

-Sasha: dark hair, dark skin 

-Chloe: blonde hair, light skin

-Jade: black hair, light skin

-Yasmin: brunette hair, tanned skin 

Sasha, Chloe, Yasmin, Jade

Jade, Yasmin, Chloe, Sasha 

• Illustration of a clotheless Bratz doll and then create stickers of the clothes so you can dress her up yourself (several copies of the clotheless one)

• Could you receive one of the outfits with each look book perhaps? This would be a nice little touch. Displayed on a little hanger in the look book?

Research into the work of Martin Cantos for inspiration and ideas when photographing my Bratz dolls and the outfits: