Our Halloween & Fall Fashion Shoot: Trick Or Treat!

Last month we chose six of Project ReWear’s Ambassadors from ages 2 to 11 years old to model in our first fashion shoot. Highlighting some of our favorite Halloween costumes and fall fashion pieces, we had chosen two pretty locations in Westlake Village, CA, and would shoot fall looks in the lush vineyards at the world-famous Stonehaus, before going to Berniece Bennett Park in the First Neighborhood to photograph the kids running through the verdant green belt in Halloween costumes.

Our photographer, Emily Perez, drove in from LA to shoot our models, Jade, Lulu, Niko, Hunter, Kaydance, and Jonny, who were dressed in some of our high-quality, preloved pieces perfect for our Californian, autumn weather. Starting at the Stonehaus as the sun was slowly going down, the vineyards had a soft glow lending themselves as the perfect backdrop. We proceeded quickly knowing that we had three challenges: Younger children who could have a meltdown at any moment and refuse to have their photo taken, a setting sun and therefore losing valuable light, and getting everyone changed and to the second location together on time.

We were on due course and having gotten the fashion images we wanted at the Stonehaus, all of the children were taken by their moms to the bathrooms to change into their Halloween costumes. Easy. We’re on a roll. What could go wrong? Or so we thought. As we began our convoy to the park for our second look, the wheels began to fall off the bus. All of the moms wanted to take their own cars and most of them had made it to the next location, but two were missing. Worried about a setting sun, Emily rapidly assembled the children that were present and began shooting, while a frantic search ensued for the remainder of our party. Back at the Stonehaus, Kim had found them and was racing to our second location with the missing moms and kids in-tow, scrambling to get all the models in front of the camera and simultaneously lugging a couple of big pumpkins as props to the park. 

The sun was rapidly setting and the children were losing steam, when our model, Jonny - dressed as Freddy Kruger, curiously looked in his Trick or Treat bag and found a ring pop. 

The other kids were thrilled and did the same, and thankfully the candy treat seemed to do the trick. We were able to convince all of the children to do one last shot and to run towards Emily in the same direction at the same time. While the ring pops might have left the kids’ mouths stained in brightly colored hues, we got the pictures we needed and it ended up being a successful and fun photo shoot. 

With special thanks to our wonderful team . . . Emily Perez for taking brilliant photos, our Ambassadors - Jade, Lulu, Niko, Hunter, Kaydance, and Jonny for being so well-behaved and enthusiastic, and to the moms and grandmoms who brought the children to the shoot and were helpful and patient. It really does take a village and we’re lucky to be surrounded by some pretty awesome folks who support Project ReWear and the shift to thrift. They are definitely our treat!