Walking through Victoria Square i noticed massive vinyl sign with a familiar face on it and one of NI’s most popular websites. I decided to poke my head into other peoples business as i usually do and here’s what happened when i interviewed Sugahfix.com‘s Katrina Doran
What went into arranging the Decadence Photoshoot? How did it differ from other photoshoots?
The main difference about organizing Decadence was how quickly it was put together. I’d usually take about a month from concept to shoot – Decadance was a week! We’d had a meeting with Victoria Square who, based on seeing the Rock Star shoot, agreed to create a ‘Sugahfix.com loves Victoria Square’ graphic featuring fashion from Victoria Square retailers. They had hoped to have the graphic up for the Christmas lights being switched on so we went into overdrive to pull it together. On the Friday before the shoot I wasn’t sure if it was actually happening at all! We were checking out locations and viewed three possibles in the morning with Terry Furniture in the back of our minds as the best location so then and drove to Portadown and confirmed everything. Texts on the way back confirmed bookings and then we were off. Then on the Saturday was the weirdest situation for me going into a shoot, as I had to pick clothes that day to use on Monday. Usually for a shoot – you’d look around and make a list of potential outfits and plan everything ahead, right down to the accessories. I had to just completely wing it and hope for the best – I remember feeling a bit sick before I left the house incase there was nothing that fitted the brief but I shouldn’t have worried!
How do you go about coming up with the themes for photoshoots? What inspired Decadence?
The theme for Decadence was a classic Christmas party dresses shoot – taking in all the trends of the season including sequin, sparkle, studding etc. Lots of jewel colours and no black! The idea of Decadence was a last flourish to end the Decade – a celebration! We also wanted the shoot to look Christmassy but without being obvious and sticking a big Christmas tree in it – it had to be classy Christmas – not tacky Christmas – so the huge metallic bauble-like lights at Terry furniture were perfect.
Many different outfits are used during the shoot, how do you decide how many to go with and which to go with? Is there much pressure in selecting these as they can make or break a shoot?
The clothes completely make or break a shoot – they are the substance – everything else falls into place around them. I would always aim for around 12 outfits – I usually have a lot more – I think we had 3 or 4 more dresses that weren’t used but we got the best ones on the day. The clothes were a mix of designer, high street, boutique and local fashion designers – Una Rodden, lizzie Agnew and Grainne Maher – it was a real ‘best of Belfast’ concoction!
Is there any highlights or lowlights from the shoot?
Highlights would have to be seeing Caroline in that shimmering Mathew Williamson gown draped across the sofa – she looked like a modern day Cleopatra. There was also a moment – near the end of the shoot – it was about 6 pm and we should really have been wrapped up but we got Caroline into the teal dress from House of Fraser and the little sequin cocktail hat by Grainne Maher Millinery and once she got in front of the camera she was completely on fire – I’ve never seen so many amazing poses in the space of five minutes – that girl knows how to work a pose! Can’t really think of any low moments – you rarely get a low moment on a Sugahfix set 
And do you have a shot or outfit that you like best?
My fave shot was actually one of the first shots of the day – under the bauble lights with the purple sequin Lipsy dress. Caroline was in full flow already and getting some fab shapes but I felt we needed some movement in the hair so Lee got on the floor with a hairdryer and blasted the hair from below to give it an ‘wind machine’ effect. Jess and I refer to this shot as the Vogue cover – as it’s so stunning it wouldn’t look out of place on the cover – and just to prove it – there is a thing on the web where you can add a photo so it’s on the cover –and it looked damn good! That ‘one shoulder up’ is a bit of a signature pose for me – I love it! The shot is just stunning.
What’s next for Sugahfix in the New Year? Is there anything we should be excited about?
OMG there is sooo much to get excited about in 2010! But if we told you – we’d have to kill you! All shall be revealed!
So there you go! That’s a bit of an insight into a professional photoshoot and a little taster of Sughafix.com.
To see all pictures from the shoot please click here and to visit Sughafix click here
Photography by Jessica Weber, Model – Caroline Davis, Make-up by Paula Fraser, Hair by Lee Stinton at Paul Stafford Hairdressing, Art Direction and Clothes Styling by Katrina Doran for Sugahfix.com
