Test Shoot with Tess G

East Williamsburg, New York

Tess is on the main board at Bicoastal Management in Los Angeles. I had asked the agency about models who would be in New York for an afternoon of test shoots, and she was in the city when I reached out. Tess is fantastic to work with.

Tess, half-length, arm raised overhead with hand folded at wrist, opposite hand on hip, oversized black satin longline button-front shirt, black trousers, black and white, New York studio test shoot, makeup by Schanica, photographed by Scott Parker P

Tess, full-length, both fists raised to collar, oversized black satin longline button-front shirt, black flare-hem trousers with front seam and ankle slit, black pointed-toe stiletto heels, black and white, New York studio test shoot, makeup by Schan

Tess, full-length, hand in pocket, cream canvas overalls with allover hand-painted black peace sign print, black strapless bandeau top, black lace-up Dr. Martens boots, New York studio test shoot, makeup by Schanica, photographed by Scott Parker Phot

Tess, three-quarter crop, arm raised with hand resting in hair, cream canvas overalls with hand-painted black peace sign print, black strapless bandeau top, hard directional sunlight, New York studio test shoot, makeup by Schanica, photographed by Sc

Tess, full-length, arm raised with hand in hair, one leg raised mid-step, cream canvas overalls with allover hand-painted black peace sign print, black strapless bandeau top, black lace-up Dr. Martens boots, hard directional sunlight, New York studio

Tess, full-length, leaning forward with hands reaching toward boot, cream canvas overalls with allover hand-painted black peace sign print, black strapless bandeau top, black lace-up Dr. Martens boots, silver band ring, hard directional sunlight, New

Tess, full-length, seated on wooden stool, body turned with gaze back toward camera, grey multicolor tweed pinafore mini skirt with frayed hem and silver button detail, black ribbed turtleneck, cobalt blue strappy lace-up stiletto sandals, New York s

Tess, full-length, seated on wooden stool, legs crossed, grey multicolor tweed pinafore mini skirt with frayed hem and silver button detail, black ribbed turtleneck, cobalt blue strappy lace-up stiletto sandals, New York studio test shoot, makeup by

Tess, full-length, seated on wooden stool, head tilted with hand at nape of neck, grey multicolor tweed pinafore mini skirt with frayed hem and silver button detail, black ribbed turtleneck, cobalt blue strappy lace-up stiletto sandals, New York stud

Tess, full-length, seated on edge of wooden stool, knees together, grey multicolor tweed pinafore mini skirt with frayed hem and silver button detail, black ribbed turtleneck, cobalt blue strappy lace-up stiletto sandals, New York studio test shoot,

Tess, three-quarter crop, one arm raised overhead, cream textured blazer with baroque tapestry lapel and pocket trim, black deep-V bodysuit, black fitted mini skirt, wide black leather belt with silver D-ring buckle, New York studio test shoot, makeu

Tess, full-length, direct gaze, cream textured blazer with baroque tapestry lapel and pocket trim, black deep-V bodysuit, black fitted mini skirt, wide black leather belt with silver D-ring buckle, tan pointed-toe pumps, New York studio test shoot, m

Tess, full-length, blazer pushed off shoulders and hanging on arms, cream textured blazer with baroque tapestry lapel trim, black deep-V bodysuit, black fitted mini skirt, wide black leather belt with silver D-ring buckle, tan pointed-toe pumps, New

Tess, full-length, blazer pushed off shoulders, hand raised to nape of neck, cream textured blazer with baroque tapestry lapel trim, black deep-V bodysuit, black fitted mini skirt, wide black leather belt with silver D-ring buckle, tan pointed-toe pu

Tess, full-length, both arms raised overhead, one leg lifted, cream textured blazer with baroque tapestry lapel and pocket trim, black deep-V bodysuit, black fitted mini skirt, wide black leather belt with silver D-ring buckle, tan pointed-toe pumps,

I was fine-tuning some new lighting patterns, and Tess was the perfect subject. She moved through different expressions, giving the camera lots of options. Schanica did makeup and kept it even across the full session. When the portraits were done, we moved to the clothes Tess had brought. She showed up with fun clothes and lots of ideas.

The first nine frames are black and white. That was a post-production decision, not a shooting one. Tess builds strong shapes when she poses, and color can compete with shape for attention. A few frames in black and white help show off what Tess was giving that day.  

The clothes covered a wide range. A black satin shirt, oversized and longline, worn first closed and then open over a black turtleneck, with flare trousers split at the ankle and pointed stiletto boots. After that, cream canvas overalls printed all over with hand-painted peace signs, worn over a black bandeau with scuffed Dr. Martens, shot in hard sun against a white wall.

The afternoon ended on tailoring. A grey tweed pinafore flecked with red and blue, frayed at every edge, over a black turtleneck, with cobalt lace-up heels that pick the blue out of the weave. Then a cream blazer with baroque tapestry lapels over a black bodysuit and a belted mini, worn on and then pushed half off the shoulders. The whole shoot ran in a New York studio in a single afternoon. Bicoastal kept two frames from the day for her book, one portrait and one full length. I delivered both in black and white. The agency runs them in color.

Test Shoot with Tess G

Commercial Photography