Interview - Dimitar Krkaliev

For the Spring Issue of Mylookbook photographer Dimitar Krkaliev and his team produced the most beautiful spring beauty photos. I was so excited the minute I saw them as he had so perfectly captured the whimsical essence of Spring we had chatted about and envisioned for the shoot. 21 year old 'Dimi' (as he prefers to be called) is based between the Gold Coast and Brisbane. Currently working as a commercial photographer, he's worked on everything from fashion and beauty, to most recently shooting 9x World Kickboxing Champion Nathan Corbet.

I absolutely LOVE interviewing creative people to find out what inspires them and what's involved in what they do. I took the opportunity to find out more about Dimi and his world of photography...

How old are you?

I'm 21 years old.

Where do you live?

Currently based between Gold Coast / Brisbane.

Did you formally study photography?

I briefly studied photography however I dropped out after 2 terms as Istarted to pick up work!

What have you done (jobs/work experience) so far to this pointing yourcareer?

So far I have shot a few fashion stories along with some label lookbooksand a couple of advertising campaigns.

When did you first become interested in photography?

I had an interest in photography from a very early age but didn't startto pursue it until late high school.

What was your first camera?

My first camera was an old Soviet Union film Rangefinder which wasoriginally my mothers.. still works till this day!

What camera do you use now?

I currently use a Nikon D3x as my main body.

How you would describe your style of photography?

I would say my style is commercial and very clean.. in a way I try toshoot everything as an advertising campaign.

You work in a number of different fields including fashion, lifestyle,food and beauty, do you have a favourite area?

My favourite area would definitely be fashion.. all the prep work thatgoes behind the scenes to get just one shot which looks right is what reallykeeps me interested and motivated to pickup the camera more and more.

How hard has it been to build a career as a commercial photographer?

It's very difficult, there is a lot of talented people out there with agreat eye and competition is always very high. If you're passionate about itthen the difficulty is all part of the fun of trying to stay ahead!

Which photographer’s work are you most inspired by?

Steven Meisel, Ben Hassett, Nigel Parry, Hugh Stewart, Don Flood,Melissa Rodwell & David Mason are all photographers who heavily inspire me.

If you had to choose one lens which one would it be and why?

85mm prime. Hardly ever leaves my camera and is just perfect for my eye.

How important is Photoshop in your final images?

Post production is just as important as taking the actual image thesedays, photoshop plays a very important part in my work flow.

Can you explain the process of a professional shoot from taking thephotos to the final product we get to see?

It's a long process - Starting with negotiations, creative talks,scouting locations, casting talent, booking make-up artists and stylists tofinally shooting the gig. After that is a lot of editing to get it just rightand have the final image as perfect as possible for the client. I'm very luckyto have a great team I regularly work with who make it all possible!

What has been your most memorable photo shoot and why?

The shoot which is a real highpoint to me is actually one I just shot aday before this interview. I had the pleasure of working with 9x World Champion- Nathan Corbett on a promo shoot for one of his sponsors. I have been a hugefan of his for many years and after watching him on t.v since I was in earlyhigh school it was an absolute trip to be working together.

What websites/blogs do you visit for inspiration?

Ben Trovato Blog, A Photo Editor, TheOnes2Watch, Verve Photo and MelissaRodwell's blog are my top recommendations.

Isthere anybody or anything you would love to photograph?

I would like to photograph Lara Stone, she has such a unique look andwould make any story a stand out.

Forthe Mylookbook beauty shoot, can you tell us about your team and what theycontributed to the shoot?

For the shoot I really have to thank the team which contributed to haveit all come together. Kathryn Edmonds (www.indigojoker.com) did a fantastic jobon styling, Sally Rutten (www.sallyr.com.au) for her outstanding make-up andMelissa Davies from Viviens models for being an absolute delight to shoot.Kathryn, Sally and myself regularly work together - I couldn't thank themenough for what they bring to the table.

Whatwould you like to be doing in 5 years from now?

5 years from now I would like to be based out of New York city andregularly working with top international magazines.

You can see Dimi's photos in the spring issue of Mylookbook and visit Dimi's website here: http://www.dimi-k.com/

Chatting with Cydney and Dallas from Stone Cold Fox...

Today’s Q&A is with 24 year old Cydney Morris and Dallas Wand, two childhood friends who combined their creativity to create Stone Cold Fox, a clothing, accessory and home ware label that right now has fashion bloggers and stylish celebrities buzzing with excitement, desperate to own pieces from the girl's exclusive collections.

Based in California, both Cydney and Dallas believe in quality over quantity and each item is hand made to order. Their vintage boho garments are made from the most luxurious fabrics and attention to detail is their highest priority. The girls intention is to produce unique and timeless pieces that will last forever... I'm sure we'll be hearing lots more about the girls and their gorgeous label in the near future! Here's a little introduction for those of you who haven't already...

What year did you launch Stone Cold Fox?

We launched in 2009

How many people currently work in the business?
There are only the two of us, not including our seweing help.

Where can we find your products to buy online?
All items are available to buy through us, or on www.revolveclothing.com or www.shopplanetblue.com

You seem to have blogger and celebrity fans right around the world, who are your biggest celebrity fans?
Yes, the girls from High School Musical, Alicia Silverstone, the girls on The Hills, Lindsay Lohan, Chloe Sevigny and all the good blogger girls!

Who would you like to see wearing your designs?
Kate Bosworth, Laura Stone, Kemp Muhl, Georgia May Jagger.

If you weren’t doing this right now what other career paths could you see yourselves in?
Dallas would be an interior designer and Cydney would be a dog walker.

Where do you find your inspiration?
From the fabrics we see, the places we have been and easy living.

What is the most exciting accomplishment for Stone Cold Fox so far?
Some of the press we have received, moving into our new location, and just doing what we love to do.

What has been the hardest thing about launching your label?
Lack of time and money.

What has been the most satisfying?
Having the best wardrobe.

What music are you loving at the moment?

We love No Doubt, Brian Jonestown, and all Reggae.

What’s the last book you read and loved?
Kelly Cutrones book “She’s Pretty Rad”.

Where do you shop online for clothing, accessories, home where?
ETSY!

Any words of advice for other aspiring designers?
You have to be very self motivated, and have original ideas. Just move at your own pace, there is a lot of pressure to move fast, and taking it day by day is the best way to go.

www.thestonecoldfox.com

Hawaiian Style

As my own Hawaiian experience draws to an end, I was so excited to interview 'Gypsy' designer Kate Ruggiero. I'm always so intrigued and inspired by people who make bold decisions to change their direction in life to follow a dream... I'm sure you will love her story and her creativity as much as I do!

Where did you grow up?

In the suburbs outside of Philadelphia, PA.

How long have you lived in Hawaii for?

3 and a half years.

What inspired you to start Gypsy?

Living in Hawaii I spent a lot of my time outdoors. I would have have afternoons to daydream and my mind would be constantly spinning with stuff. I really wanted to start creating a bikini that I felt was perfect for me. I thought it was crazy that I live in a tropical place and yet had the hardest time whenever I went bikini shopping. I could never find something for me, something simple but sexy. I found tons of Brazilian cuts and a lot of the same old stuff. So for fun I thought I'd start sewing and make myself something. I was gifted a sewing machine from a few close friends for my 30th birthday and started learning right away. I thought an easy start would be to work with stretch fabrics and ended up deconstructing a few pairs of my favorite underwear to create my favorite pair.....

What are 3 words that would most describe Gypsy?

Follow your heart or my pure bliss, or modern romance, classic - sorry its hard to pin it down to 3 words!

Tell me about your life before this?

I worked for a reputable fashion photographer for 5 years while living in New York and honestly loved it. It was an amazing opportunity for me; I handled photo shoots, learned photo retouching and worked with so many talented and inspiring stylists and artists’ everyday. But that pace of life was so stressful and I was ready for something new. When I moved to Hawaii I worked on a few productions and worked for one surf photographer here on the north shore.

What would you describe as being most unique about your label?

Each piece is one of a kind and I try to make something you will NEVER see in a department store. The fabrics are all so different from what you would normally see and I try to keep the design classic but sexy and a bit different from your basic boy short or standard Brazilian cut. Since each piece is hand cut and hand sewn here in Hawaii, each one is unique.

How long have you been doing it for?

I was given the sewing machine in July 2 years ago. I started learning and designing and the 'official' launch date of Gypsy was last May. I had a designer showcase at Etown Studios, a really adorable boutique here in Chinatown for First Fridays Art Walk. The line sold out over the course of the month and I knew it was something that made people happy!

Are you self taught in design and sewing or did you go to school to learn?
I am self-taught but also have some amazingly talented peers out here that I have been learning from over time. I knew basic sewing from growing up and having been taught by my mother but everything else I have been learning along the way. There is so much to learn and so many new directions to grow in so it's something I am really excited for the line.

After spending 2 weeks here in Hawaii I'm so inspired! You must have an endless supply of inspiration all around you living here, what else inspires you?

I've been blessed to travel a lot and those journals and photos always help, but mostly my family. I have 2 older sisters, 3 nieces and parents whom I'm very close to. Being so far away from them, if I'm in a funk I find a phone call always brings me back to myself. I am also endlessly inspired by photography. I find one good photo that somehow hits a feeling for me and that's enough. Ms Daeja Fallas has tons of those photos for me.....

If you weren't here in Hawaii doing this, what do you think you would be doing right now?

Living in Italy working in a flower shop or learning to become an excellent baker. Random I know but there is SO much I want to learn to do and somehow all those daydreams involve me living in Italy and Spain.

Do you plan on extending the label to cover other items of clothing or accessories?

The next step for gypsy is introducing a swim piece into the line. I'm very excited as I'm currently working on a bikini, which will come out in the coming months. I also have tons of ideas for clothing pieces and extending Gypsy further. I have clothes I want right now, classic favorites that for some reason are SO hard to find so I sketch and daydream up those next pieces for someday too... I dream about having a small boutique someday to feature the lingerie, swim and clothing separates.

What do you love most about living and working in Hawaii?

The sunshine and hearing the ocean when I fall asleep.

What are some must do things for anyone planning a trip to Hawaii? 

Swim at Eternity beach, go camping under the stars, eat poke, pick plumerias (frangipanis), go shell hunting at Keikis at sunset and spend the afternoon hand making a lei…

Where do you see yourself or hope to be 5 years from now?

I see myself experiencing so many more adventures and am so excited for all that is to come. I am the worst at predicting what will happen or having a 5-year plan. I like to trust that whatever happens is the right thing for me and I trust that I will be truly blissfully happy. That being said, I would love to be taking many more travels, learning to cook better and expanding Gypsy to include an amazing swimwear line and eventually be looking for a little space to call my shop!

Thank you Kate!

Be inspired by 'Gypsy'...

www.madebygypsy.com
Lookbook photos by Daeja Fallas