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Have you ever been to a portrait meetup or on a photo walk? I hadn’t either when photographer Icy Li invited me to be part of a collaboration between Portrait Meet DC, and local boutique Sassanova of Baltimore.
Portrait Meet DC brings together creatives – photographers, bloggers, models – anyone who wants to create art and/or content – and in a whirlwind few hours facilitates a free-for-all photo session. It’s a ton of fun, and a great opportunity to meet new people.
For this event last month, nine bloggers and models got the opportunity to each style two looks from the beautiful merchandise selection at Sassanova. Store owner Angela Tandy even coordinated indoor locations with local businesses all along the photo walk to keep us out of the cold! It was wonderful how welcoming the stores and restaurants were to our presence – a perfect example of people in the ‘Smalltimore’ community supporting each other.
Read on for the path we took and details on the two looks I styled – everything except the shoes are available at Sassanova of Baltimore.
Our photo-walk around Harbor East
Arhaus: This upscale furniture store was full of little mis-en-scènes that were perfect for posing. The glamorously styled living and bedroom nooks were a cool mix of glamorous and modern, with unique chandeliers, large gilded mirrors, and faux-fur accents.
Taco Fiesta: One of the most fun aspects of the event was the challenge of working with the environment to get the shot. I took advantage of Taco Fiesta’s neon sign for some colorful lighting on my face, while others made use of the breezy patio area outside.
Tagliata: The beautiful courtyard sunlight led to some terrific shots by a teal vintage car on display, and by the wrought-iron gate. Tagliata is also one of my current favorite Baltimore restaurants – the Bolognese is the star of the menu.
The Elk Room: This hidden-away speakeasy was one of the most fun locations – the bartender made us mocktails, and we got some great group shots. I’ll be back for a real version soon!
Roy’s Hawaiian: I’m still floored by how kind and generous Roy’s was to our group – they made us a whole platter of sushi and apps, and a flight of cocktails. The spread was fun to pose with (and even more enjoyable to eat afterwards).
Harbor East Waterfront: What’s a photo walk in Harbor East without a stop along the water? This is where some of my favorite shots of the day were taken, including one on a bench under a cherry tree by Ashraf Faden that made it into Sassanova’s recent Baltimore Sun ad!
Gordon Biersch: Our final destination, it felt great to sit down, sip a beer, and pretend to play some cards – kudos to Raymond Javier for being ready with the excellent prop.
Thank you to all the restaurants and retailers that supported the event!
Look One
This Parker blouse instantly caught my eye for its crisp, classic poplin designed with a series of quirky features. The multiple details (striped, corset-waist, split-collar, gathered sleeves, and peplum) would normally make my head spin, but somehow it all worked together to put a twist on a classic striped shirt. With so much going on up top, I styled it with simple Tara Jarmon black jeans, and a wicker Serpui clutch with pink pomp poms for a touch of color. I echoed the theme with black pom pom hoop earrings, and kept the shoes classic with vintage-inspired M. Gemi stiletto pumps.
Look Two
Milly has been one of my favorite designers for years, ever since I found one of her vintage-inspired silk dresses on eBay as a frugal grad student. This fun and figure-flattering embroidered dress only reinforced my love for the brand’s bold, playful flair. I styled it with a lime green Serpui bag with the coolest faux-horn-and-bead shoulder-strap, and kept the shoes low-key with classic M. Gemi Lustro pumps. It felt like pure spring – especially under the cherry trees by the water.
Thank you to all the talented photographers I had the pleasure of meeting and working with, some of whose work is pictured here. And thank you to Portrait Meet DC and Sassanova for organizing such an amazing afternoon!
And there’s more – this Saturday, April 28 I’m walking the runway for Sassanova at Baltimore’s annual spring fashion show in Harbor East, FashionEasta. It’s a huge, not-to-be-missed event – and it’s free! More info here: FashionEasta2018.com.
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