In conversation with Rachel Jo, the founder of Party with Chloe in Toronto about the process behind her soulful romantic ballerina styled photo shoot at Berkeley Bicycle Club event venue Toronto.
What was the first spark of inspiration for this style shoot?
Usually, I search images and get inspired from all the media. One day, I looked at pictures which capture ballerina’s movements. Without any decorated backdrops, the beauty of movement can create the most romantic and feminine statement. The most of the wedding shoots are very calm so I want to add subtle and graceful movement of ballerina to this styled photo shoot.
What is the storyline of this creative style shoot?
The ballerina is the most romantic dancer that most of girls dream to become in their childhood because of delicate beauty of a ballerina. It is not too late to fulfill that fascination and become a ballerina on your wedding day.
We started our concept from the graceful but hidden strong movement, classic but simple, elegant and delicate lines, feminine ethereal layers and romantic emotions of French ballerina. Colours were controlled within pale pink, grey, white and touch of gold.
How did you become so talented at tablescaping and what skill set do you feel is needed for this art from?
I was trained academically in interior design and I was a professional interior designer in many different cities; Seoul, Boston, New York and Toronto. I worked on various projects such as hotels, restaurants, retails and condominiums world-wide. From those experiences, I got good eyes to mix and match various colours, textures, patterns, scales and space. Also seven years experience in event planning and design made me more solid in tablescaping area.
How critical was the location to this project?
The location is the most important part of the shoot and event since it is the whole background of the shoot or event. The Berkeley Bicycle Club has the gorgeous classical architectural details and also provides history and intimacy. It was amazing place to capture from darkness to brightness with the fabulous classy architectural details.
How did you assemble your creative team?
After I created the initial concept, I searched for the vendors who can be fit into this shoot and understand my vision and thoughts about this shoot:
A very expressible and soulful model who is a dancer at the same time, a photographer and a cinematographer who can capture the beautiful movement with their poetic way, a florist who can create gorgeous romantic floral arrangements with elegant lines, lush greens and sophisticated floral touches, a cake designer who can created a beautiful feminine cake and desserts which are inspired from the ballerina’s elegant movement and feminine delicacy, ethereal bridal gowns which has ultra-famine and romantic with layers of lace and tulles, furniture with classic details in white and clear which can provided classic and modern look at the same time, feminine linens and sophisticate classic detained tabletop rentals, a make-up artist and hair designer who can create illusion of ballerina with gorgeous bridal accessories, jewellery designer with simple and feminine jewels, a calligrapher who can add classic touch with handwritten wedding invitation and stationary and a classy venue. Some of the vendors have lots of experience with me to work on various weddings and they always have amazing abilities to create best outcome for any concepts.
What were you most pleased about in the final version of this project?
Everyone understood my vision and poured their hearts and creativity into every detail to create this soulful romantic ballerina styled photo shoot. The outcome was really satisfying and it was very successful to be featured on WedLuxe.
What were some the places you found inspiration when you began the planning process?
I usually found the inspiration from the couple’s story if it is a wedding. I usually found the motive from their jobs, hobbies, the things that they love. Once I found their unique concept from their story, I get more inspirations from various media. I can always get inspirations from everywhere – traveling, daily experience, hobbies, exhibitions, art, fashion, food, movies, media, social media and images.
In what order do you build the creative layers in a creative project like this?
Initial concept design, design development, building up the creative team and planning details. Usually I start from initial concept with the inspirations and narrow down the concept and develop more details. Then, I build up the creative team and discuss and plan more details.
If this was a real wedding what elements would you build out a ceremony and reception from this style shoot?
I planned this shoot with the normal wedding process. Ballerina’s leotard scene is ‘getting ready time’. The scene with the white tulle dress, the asymmetrical floral arch, the big floral arrangement and ceremonial furniture set up were for ‘the wedding ceremony’. Dessert table and reception table scene for ‘the wedding reception’.
How closely did you work with the photographer and videographer to ensure the vision translated into the end product?
I worked closely with photographers and videographers but I always tried not to over-walk their freedom of creativities. I usually spend more time to check photographer and videographer‘s portfolios before I choose them. Also I really think vendor’s personality is very important. The most vendors that I love to work with have the perfectionism and they are always over my expectation whenever I ask with any concepts. When I have trusts for their abilities, I usually discuss the whole concept and details that I think crucial. Then, I trust their creativities.
PHOTOGRAPHY • Celine Kim Photography, CONCEPT CREATOR, PLANNING AND STYLING • Party with Chloe, FLORAL DESIGN • Flower 597, VENUE • Berkeley Bicycle Club, STATIONERY DESIGN • Cecile Lau Calligraphy, GOWN • Wins Design, JEWELLERY • Gwen Park Designs, ACCESSORIES • Laura Jayne Adornments, LEOTARD • Ainslie Wear, HAIR STYLIST • UNO JO Bridal Hair, MAKEUP ARTIST • First Brush Makeup, PAPER EYELASHES • Outer Beauty, FURNITURE • Luxe Modern Rentals Inc., LINEN • Linen Closet, CANDLES • Yummi Candles, TABLEWARE • Plate Occasions, CAKE DESIGN • Bloom Cake Co., CINEMATOGRAPHER • Derek Chan Films, MODEL • Alayna Kellett
