Off the Cuff: Tickle Trunk Unleashed

Before I begin profiling artisans and designers as I had mentioned last week, I have been meaning to write a piece on Shi Studio’s fashion photography shoot that took place late summer. The experience was so fun and rich it deserves a brief story.

It was late evening, chosen for the fantastic slanting rays of sunshine. I was able to round up a couple of gorgeous friends; two professional models and two novices to the modeling camera. We pulled up separately to Snorri Gunnarson’s studio, which is in an industrial area of Victoria with a derelict essence. I was already dressed fully in a steamy cowgirl Shi Lasso Line outfit and thus garnered a couple of interesting looks from passing vehicles. The show had begun.


Kyla (leather wonder woman for Shi Studio) and I madly placed clothing and accessories on all available surfaces within the studio as our models arrived: Sarah, Danielle, Sage and Victor. We exchanged introductions with a slightly nervous energy as we began to settle into the space.

Snorri Gunnarson is a renowned photographer, highly recognized for his landscape photography which can be viewed at www.snorrigunnarsson.com. The studio, which is also shared with Clare and Jeff (fantastic photographers in their own right) is both basic and professional with a perfect shoot room.

All a flutter with the excitement of the tickle trunk unleashed we decided that the lighting was perfect to head to the train tracks for some Western Lasso themed shots. We piled into vehicles, forgetting to put our seatbelts on with that random feeling of teenage freedom. Just before pulling away I halted the jeep to rush inside. I had forgotten an essential photo shoot ingredient; Prosecco (wonderful Italian Champagne). One of the best parts of the Prosecco, beyond the sparkly bubbles, was the presentation. All we could find to keep it on ice was a small children’s sandcastle bucket.

Shooting at the tracks was pure fun. Snorri was incredibly focused while Jeff assisted running cords and lights down the tracks from the jeep. Laughter and steamy eyes were the mood. As the light shifted it was time to head back to the studio to complete the shoot.

Kyla and I developed a rhythm of dressing and accessorizing while also facilitating the presentation of the outfits in front of the camera. The models were in their element and had eased into the flow of the shoot. We were capturing some great images.

The other snapshot I get to take away from this memorable event is this; Louis Armstrong “It’s a wonderful world” drifting from an old blaster radio, surrounded by lovely people, giggling and Prosecco in a hot pink sandcastle bucket.