Last month I had the pleasure of doing a photo campaign for the danish jewellery brand Winberg Jewellery and a couple of days ago the pictures finally launched online.

Loosing my cool. To seem like a pro, and like i've done it a million times before I should probably stop writing now. But I was once a kid searching for information on how to do this and that, how a photoshoot come together or you name it - so I feel like its my responsibility to share stories.  Maybe one need to be reminded that its normal to feel frightened about a task, and that nice things sometimes come together just by making a call or knock on a door. 

Process. The founder, Lea Winberg, and I had (sometime last year) worked together on defining the visual identity of her brand, and it was a lovely job to do for me personally. Nevertheless I was quite chocked, when Lea all of a sudden called me and said she wanted me to be the face and person of an upcoming shoot she was planning. I freaked out a bit because I still identify myself as a photographer more than a potential motive. So it took some negotiation and pampering before I decided to say yes to the challenge.

The thought behind the photos. One of the things that comforted me was the fact that Lea is such a kind person with great aesthetics in her designs, and the fact that she wasn't searching for an experienced model to be a canvas she could showcase her design on. She actually wanted me and the person that I am to shine through in the campaign and it simply made me so happy. What a kickass compliment to get?

So with that I thought to myself that it couldn't go all wrong then. Even if the pictures would end up looking like a terrible failure it would still be me... looking terrible, but still me and that would be good enough. So I (wo)manned myself up and had a very teaching, great and fun day together with the team. No doubt that it also made me a better photographer to get in front of the camera and to feel how it is to be guided and instructed to do certain things.

MUA. One of my best girls, Mie Frederiksen, took good care of my face and did a beautiful make-up. I ain't the type that knows how to 'contour' (go look it up, I did as well, first I thought it was "kentaur"..) or knows what suits my face in general, so I often just go for simple steps like loads of lotion and a bit of mascara... and after that I don't actually know what the f I'm doing anymore. So I had to trust someone to fresh up my face, and Mie was just perfect and professional. Mad probs to you dear M! 

So the pictures are finally out, and I'm proud of the process and its result. It's quite challenging to pose naturally with bling in front of your face and in your hair and every way, I must admit. But most importantly its a true honor, that someone wants to trust me their business with my face and personality all over the place. Not sure I believe it yet. 

If you want to see more go visit: 
Winberg Jewellery website,  Facebook, Instagram
Mie frederiksen, Instagram, website

Thank you for stopping by,
Alona 

Kinfolk Gallery, cph. Iphone6. 

Dinner. Thursday 28th of April I had the opportunity to join a dinner held by B&O Play and Kinfolk in the new Kinfolk Gallery. The occasion was a joined event; the celebration of the launch of the long awaited A1 speaker from iconic B&O Play designed by talented danish Cecilie Manz Studio, as well as the celebration of the first event and dinner ever held in this new Kinfolk space in Copenhagen. 

Kinfolk Magazine is todays leading independent lifestyle magazine, aiming to give "ways for readers to simplify their lives, cultivate community and spend more time with their friends and family" - Kinfolk

Fall 2015 Kinfolk relocated its HQ from Portland to the heart of Copenhagen. Personally I have kept an excited eye on the process of this HQ coming together in my city. So it was quite honestly a great honor and experience to be seated together with Kinfolk and such an iconic danish company as Bang & Olufsen, for a joined event. Not to forget to have been given the possibility to talk with people that pose such an influential and defining inspiration for so many people working in the creative field of design, visual identity, sound, aesthetics and lifestyle.

Iphone 6.

After everyone greeted each other by the hand, which sadly happens quite rarely in the field of design, fashion and media, the mood for the night was set. I would describe it as, personal. The dinner was cooked by Mikkel Karstad, and served all family-style. In perfect alignment with the conceptual and ideational DNA of Kinfolk. But somehow I was still surprised that the table was set by the Kinfolk team itself - even founder and editor in chief Nathan Williams was involved by carrying the dishes out as they were ready to be served. No one too fancy to bring a plate. It encouraged us all to get involved around the table and it felt warm and family-like.

I tell this to picture how down to earth, delicate and sincere these guys are working - even after 5 years since the company's foundation and a whole lot of success later. It gave me a whole other level of inspiration and respect for this business. This made me reflect upon how I have been feeling about marketing in generel on social media. Let me elaborate. It's important for me to state that this post is no way near sponsored and by that also totally impartial (not that B&O or Kinfolk would need my promo anyway, but). So these are my personal views and phrases. 

Give and take. Watching this journal post from a rather analytical perspective: Yes. I took pictures and I wrote about this evening for 'free'. I did so because I was not asked to. I was happily seduced by intelligent elements, such as no encouragement posting pictures or using a specific hashtag in return for the experience - and its interesting that this, atm is what motivates me. 

I have used a couple of years in the media field already, turning down an endless amount of offers of products in exchange of photos on my Instagram account and a caption telling how much this product changed my life. So why did I turn each one down? This 'classic' approach to SoMe brand marketing seems unimaginative and straight provocative to me (let me just clear out that doing commissioned work is another thing than doing these promo posts). Because.... It take form as the exact opposite of a sincere recommendations or guidance, when telling to use a specific product only because you were paid to have this opinion. It is permeated by interests and screams 'I love it because I was paid to do so'.

Who do we want to be. I'm quite determined about that the person and the values I pose on social media, should by all means reflect the same ones as I practise in real life. I would never give my mom or a friend or even a stranger on the street asking for help, an answer I was paid to give. Most people wouldn't. And I think we need to incorporate this mindset in the digital-life with its current massive presence in our life. In all levels and forms. Anyway, luckily what I sense is that more and more developed a well-trained eye for this kind of marketing and we are more rejective towards it. I don't want to feel pushed to promote, neither 'used' as a consumer. I want my mind to be seduced by stories, feelings, experiences, quality, but most importantly, get inspired and activated to create and add value to the collective myself.

An approach. And this is exactly the feeling I got from the gathering held by B&O and Kinfolk. They straight-up upgraded people to sensuous human beings from being just consumers. They give and they make you want to invest yourself in return, without loosing anything. To give a tangible example it was liberating to experience a dinner place card with my simple name handwritten on it, not followed by a hashtag and a line of instructions of how I should spread out content on social media. To you guys.

My recommendation. So my point is that I wrote all of this simply motivated by a very rich personal experience. Consisting of different elements such as the the unconditionally approach, the conversations I shared with people twice my age and also these elaborating thoughts I have had in the realms of the evening. Finally I do so because I  actually want to give my recommendation of  these two companies and the people behind as I appreciate what they create and how they do it. What makes the bigger difference is how a vision is carried out and how it makes us all feel. 

Last thursday left me feeling humble. Thank you. 

adidas Originals SS16 campaign. Last month the widely anticipated NMD runner from adidas Originals had its release in Copenhagen and it was quickly a sold-out. The campaign is part of the international 'future' campaign (maybe you recognize the mantra "I'm never gonna fall in line. your future is not mine") which I personally think is the strongest visual and digital campaign adidas has done in many years. 

Being stoked about the campaign and as the incarnated adidas girl that I am, I was quite psyched to be asked to have my face (and feet) in the NMD_Copenhagen campaign for adidas Denmark and to be working with some of Copenhagen's best photographers. The people inspiring me everyday in photography. The campaign and the NMD's were launched at an exhibition at Space 10 to top it all off.

This post contains a few of the pics that made it through the cut for the campaign and some lighter outtakes. Hit this link to watch the flip video made out of all photos from the campaign.
All photos in this post are taken by Abdellahn Ihadian.   

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- The past empowers the future

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- Made for the urban normadic lifestyle

adidas Originals NMD_Copenhagen

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