The story behind our fashion shoot ‘Playground Attractions’ by Just Sean

Photographer Just Sean shorts the story behind Playground Attractions, the fashion shoot in our current edition, and we, exclusively, share some additional shots with you.

“With the year that was in it, I wanted to do one last editorial photo shoot before the end ’21 which would stir some joy. With the possibility of further restrictions coming in before or over the last few months of 2021, the quickly approaching festive season was feeling quite grim. I felt the need to create something that would make me feel more positive about the remaining few weeks of the year.

I reached out to a very talented up and coming stylist Eoin Gavin, to see if he was interested in collaborating on a project before the end of the year. After a video call with Eoin where we discussed a number of concepts, I knew I was very excited to start on this project with Eoin. It was obvious we had similar ideas for a shoot, but Eoin really captured the essence of  what I had wanted to do with.

With Playground Attractions, we wanted our models to engage with their inner child, escaping the grim realities of adulthood and the current pandemic for at least one morning. Our model waits for her friends to arrive to the playground since it’s the only place in their area where young adults can gather. The playgrounds’ bright colours and surrounding red brick houses, shows a sense of community, but there is still a feeling of sadness and restricted locality which rings true for a lot of 2021.

“With Playground Attractions, we wanted our models to engage with their inner child, escaping the grim realities of adulthood and the current pandemic for at least one morning.”

We assembled a wonderful creative team on the day who really captured our vision, Aliona on makeup and the ladies from KOMB Professional Hairdressing Castleknock, really were a pleasure to work with. They really understood our vision and made it reality. Ros Model Management provided us with three models on the day, Jessica, Olan and Nasreen who really captured the essence and spirit of the shoot. On this shoot the entire creative team managed to vicariously relive our childhoods through our models, it really was a wonderful shoot to be on, if not a little chilly.

The wardrobe the models wore on the shoot from designers Natalie B Coleman, Joanne Hynes, Sharon Sweeney, Colin Burke, Simone Rocha and Cecilie Bahnsen via Havana Boutique, Fi Carroll and Aisling Duffy, really added the splash of color and playfulness to the shoot which helped this come together so well. Together with the help of all the creatives on the shoot and the designers works, what Eoin and I had discussed creating, came to life the moment the models stepped onto the playground. It was by far one of the most rewarding shoots of 2021. With a special thanks to my lighting assistants Ailbe and Karolina without whom lighting and logistics for the shoot would have been impossible.”