When a photo shoot comes down to luck, when plans go wrong, and you need to turn on a dime; when you’re all decked out in silver and stone native to the area; when you’re hoping for an emerald-green wall and end up with an elegantly trashy backdrop, but still pull off the alchemist’s trick of turning something into gold!
Profile of the Month
A crazy deadline, a daring clothing choice, an improvised studio: Skilled jeweller Bénédite Séguin dove with both feet into this bold portrait session we suggested to her, with just one week’s notice! We should note that our photographer, constantly looking at fashion magazines for inspiration, had a “wide-leg trousers and jacket” look in mind. Of course, in Vogue or on the catwalks, a jacket worn by itself no longer raises any eyebrows, it’s such a common thing. But hey, it’s not every day that one trades a shirt for bare skin. It’s a willing and decisively daring woman who joined us on a spring-like Monday, in a small empty room in a non-descript building in downtown La Malbaie, ready for the experience. Beyond having worn this outfit for an evening at home to see how it moved and what it felt like, beyond the loving words of a boyfriend who encouraged her to go for it, what is especially striking is the fearlessness and confidence this woman has. And you say to yourself, fearlessness and confidence: two truly delightful qualities to have!
If I don’t dare to do things at 38 years old, when will I dare?
Right away she says that during photo shoots, she’s usually in the background, behind the invisible line of the lens belonging to the photographer who immortalizes her creations, which she makes sure are straight and properly positioned on the people modelling them in front of the camera. This time, the spotlight is on her. We went so far as to choose this room for its trashy-looking, emerald-green back wall, which we felt echoed her Joaillerie Amulette brand nicely, given that it is inspired by nature and native plants. It also provided wall-to-wall green visuals. But, on the day of the shoot: surprise, surprise, we found the wall painted in a coat of primer! No problem. We turned on a dime and, you guessed it, used the big white wall in this great space. We also found a little corner, almost a hallway, with a trashy and unpainted look, that had concrete floors lit with the hard light of fluorescent bulbs. Didn’t we tell you Bénédite was fearless? She’s not scared to play the game. Indeed, she plays it well. Her look is reminiscent of a grungy Kate Moss. The difference being that Bénédite has the body of a real, self-assured woman, one that could definitely teach the fashion industry something! She looks so great during this portion of the shoot that, at times, we can easily imagine seeing her in the pages of Elle, and even Rolling Stone.
Another toss of our model-for-a-day’s head and her freshly-cut hair, and Bénédite Séguin goes from looking like a dishevelled, sassy rocker to looking like a cheeky French actress, with a simple change of outfit. An evening gown made in Quebec, and time enough for a few last shots and lighting set-ups. At times, it’s as if we’re in a bright studio, at others we’re playing with light Rembrandt-style on the natural, laughing face of a go-getter who, in another time, might have inspired Botticelli or Da Vinci. But, being a 21st-century girl, her portrait was made by our Canon R5, with RF 24-70 2.8 lenses.
While the backdrop, lighting, and clothes may have changed, two things stayed the same:
1.
The joy of creating something together, and expressing ourselves with this shoot.
2.
The magnificent jewels Bénédite worked hard on all week to be able to wear to the session, the fern a symbol of spring-time renewal and hope in a unique silver jewel, her neck encircled by a spectacular piece of green labradorite, along with earrings, bracelet and ring. She is beautiful and bold, inspired and talented! Learn about her artistic process, and the history of her passion for jewellery, and most of all, her passion for nature, native plant life, orchids, and Quebec’s biodiversity.
Making-of Bénédite Séguin Photo Shoot
