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When Davis says she can find inspiration for a photograph anywhere, she means it. For this photograph, “We spontaneously pulled over behind a strip club because I loved the way the brush looked. Annelise exemplifies a perfect model in that even in a less-than-glamorous situations she still looks effortlessly powerful.”
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“We shot this image for Rumors Boutique on the fly at a friend’s house. Models always amaze me with their ability to become a hair and/or makeup artist in a pinch. This goddess needs not a stitch of makeup, but her ability to make it happen is quite impressive to me,” Davis says of this look-book shot.
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“Richmond’s Modelogic is such an inspiring staple of Richmond,” Davis says. They have been wonderful in setting up some models that I work with like this angel. One of my favorite parts of shooting is being able to surround myself with endlessly positive, creative and giving people, like Elle Bass and Steven Ramirez.”
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Davis says that dancers are some of her favorite people to shoot because they’re so good at making lines and angles with their bodies — and that’s always what she’s looking for in a model. “Egbert’s understanding of his body makes an inspiring photograph.”
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“I had the absolute pleasure of working with the talented genius Liz Clancy on this one. It's a rare find, but she is the entire package: wardrobe stylist, makeup artist, hair stylist, photoshoot DJ, art director, sanity provider.” Here, Clancy was able to translate Davis’ notes of “broken-doll-who-is-seeking-vengance” into something tangible and totally cool.
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For Davis, shooting fashion bloggers is a “treat” because they “not only style themselves but are also well-versed on how each product is being photographed.” She had a lot of fun with Rebecca and Cath of the Crystal Press, saying, “It was really fun to see them feed off of each other for energy and inspiration.”
I’ve been here almost a year, and if there’s one thing I can say for certain after 365 in the 804, it’s this: Richmond is packed full of super-talented, creatively minded folks. I know — revelatory. And yet it bears repeating. The motivation to produce, dedication to quality and commitment to collaborating that I’ve seen from so many creatives is so inspiring, especially to a newcomer like me.
That community is also what keeps local fashion photographer Bree Davis so enamored with Richmond. The 2012 VCU grad has cultivated a community of stylists, makeup artists, models and designers that has allowed her to create and shoot fashion-fueled fantasy worlds in her off hours, building an enviable portfolio of seriously sick fashion editorials.
Those off hours are quite precious for the hard-working hustler. After spending a full year juggling a full-time job as a copywriter at Need, a part-time position as a personal assistant to the owner of a local hair salon and building a freelance social media management client base, Davis knew it was time to make some choices and prioritize her projects. So this past April, Davis made the professional leap to focus full-time on social media management for local brands like Goatocado, Elle Style Studio and Haberdash.
And while her freelance life keeps her busy with work, Davis is now able to spend more time coming up with concepts for look-book photo shoots, like the one she recently shot for RVA (by way of Georgia) jewelry designer Rebecca Holt, or the one she put together for Arts District women’s boutique Mod & Soul.
She gets her creative energy from collaborating with these fellow fashion lovers. “I love to mix and match a team to make something unique for someone’s specific vision,” Davis says. She says there’s a momentum that starts when a creative team gets together for a photo shoot, where she’ll suggest a basic idea and flesh it out with each team member’s vision adding a new element to the overall concept.
As for her personal preferences when it comes to shooting fashion, Davis says she is drawn to “simple, clean images with pops of color … I like an image to be sassy and have some attitude, whether it’s in the model’s personality, the clothes, makeup or colors we use.”
Davis’ ultimate dream is to merge her social media management work with fashion, helping designers and brands grow their fashion businesses in an organic, thoughtful way. “I love social media because it’s considered but quick,” Davis says, and fosters a sense of community and support that — surprise! — she loves.
