When my friend Mia asked me to shoot her bag collection, I knew this wasn't going to be a typical product shoot. Each piece she makes is one-of-a-kind, these are hand-crafted mini bags built entirely from shredded and repurposed fabric scraps. No two are alike, and that's exactly the challenge: how do you photograph something that's equal parts fashion accessory and textile sculpture?
We split the project into two directions. For the studio work, I wanted the bags to feel almost like art objects - floating against a deep black background, lit in a way that brought out every knot, fray, and layer of fabric. These pieces have insane texture, so the lighting had to work hard to make you want to reach through the screen and touch them. For the lifestyle side, we took to the streets on a grey winter day in the city, which ended up being the perfect contrast, that moody, overcast light against her bold, tactile designs just worked.
The brand sits at the intersection of sustainability and avant-garde fashion, so the images needed to carry both of those feelings at once: raw and handmade, but also desirable and editorial.
Looking for a photographer for your fashion or product brand?
I specialize in product photography, fashion photography, and brand content creation for small and independent labels. Whether you need clean studio shots for your e-commerce, editorial lifestyle imagery for social media, or a full content package for a new collection launch, I'd love to hear about your project.
📍 Available for shoots in Lviv, Ukraine and beyond.
📩 ellen@ellenchernevich.com
