Written Somethings

Creative Director: Huney Studios (@huneystudios)

Photographed digitally by Tiger Saysavanh (@tigersaysavanh) and TIRZA on film (@tttirza)

Artist: Matthew Worku (@1matthewworku)

Model: Melody Tekle (@melodytekle)

Written Somethings is an editorial photoshoot for Matthew’s ‘s poetry book “You Can Call Me”. The idea was to create an outdoor bedroom for Matthew’s thoughts and written somethings to soar beyond the clouds. The goal was to create an intimate setting that reflects the Author’s mental state and ambience while writing. The sky is the limit for love, pleasure, nostalgia and everything in between.

Matthew’s book releases on October 18th, treat yourself to his prose and get your copy.

Layered Identity

This shoot is about layered identity. We pick and choose which features of ourselves to share and which ones we put on as a facade for the public. The paint on the skin symbolizes parts of ourselves that we cover or manipulate before they’re seen by others.

The variety of fabrics represent the different facades. Satin reflects light while appearing polished, while others are more opaque and matte. There are also half transparent ones that are used to layer on top of opaque fabrics. The combinations are endless and they reflect human nature, our phases and challenges we endure.

What type of paint do you use, one that covers or one that glitters?

Creative Direction: HUNEY STUDIOS (@huneystudios)

Photographer: Tiger Saysavanh (@tigersaysavanh)

Talent: Dashawn Blackwood (@dlblackwood) and Triple (@678triple9.8212)

(Burning) The Veil

Inspired by Frank Ocean’s “blonde”, the concept of this shoot is to embrace the emotional, softer sides of being human without linking it to femininity and linking femininity to weakness. The veil represents the brave face many men put on to hide their vulnerabilities and the pressure to behave “masc” and strong at all times. The act of burning the veil is meant to be rebellious and empowering, as you accept your true identity without wearing any facades.

The model (Danny) is pictured wearing accessories like a pearl necklace which is typically adorned by women but he wears them for his admiration of their beauty and nothing else. Other elements like having a tank top on or the leather jacket while being shirtless under, represent becoming comfortable with oneself and presenting the same version that you are when you’re alone and sharing it with the world - little to no fears attached.

Another element inspired by “blonde” is the theme of nostalgia and how Ocean often recalls on past lovers and past summers. The shot of the Danny burning the film negatives has a triple meaning:

  1. Literally burning past memories as time and his brain distorts their accuracy, are memories meant to be factual?

  2. The sadness he feels through recalling past joys. Pictures are a snapshot of a perfect moment and reality always loses in comparison.

  3. Burning down a past identity, a former self. Starting fresh and as a the version of himself he has always imagined.

Concept, Direction and Stylist: Huney Studios (@huneystudios)

Photographer: Ricardo Gonzales (@ricvrdo.g)

Model: Danny Simpson (@wavegodszn)


Resisting Temptation

On the theme of resisting temptation, we wanted to create a concept that played with the themes of being a “good samaritan” and the struggle to give into temptation for immediate gratification and such. Within this series, we wanted to capture the common expectation of following norms like keeping a stable 9-5, getting a degree and following the conventional role of a straight-edge samaritan; While being tempted to break free and define oneself outside of mundane achievements. This shoot is all about finding a balance between your comfort zone (ex. the dress shirt) while tweaking it to fit your personal needs and making your own purpose out of it (ex. styling the shirt with gold accents that aren’t typically embraced in a corporate world). The ski-mask represents hidden or veiled identity. Playing your role in society when need be, while understanding this doesn’t and could never encapsulate you. Feel free to view these photos with your own interpretation, I prefer to view them in this order which mimicks the process of breaking free.

Creative Direction and Stylist: HUNEY STUDIOS (@huneystudios)

Photographer: Treschelle Gibson-Serrette (@Suppressed_intuition)

Talent: Velow (@velow1k)

Lookbook for Thread X

First time being a creative director and face painting, as a collaboration with Treschelle Gibson as the photographer. The idea is to create a form of living art parallel to the hand-painted faces by myself. The one-line face paint is lifted from 2-D art from the clothing and often my sketchbooks, onto living, breathing people, walking canvases if you will. Props like the transparent frame, paintbrush and palette explain the cross-over between pages onto real people, the meaning of “art” being so fluid and surpassing mediums. Enjoy. (P.S. salmon and yellow dress shirts are available for sale for $70 CAN, check the main blog for more photos)

Stylist/Clothing/Art Direction: HUNEY STUDIOS (@huneystudios)

Photographer: Treschelle Gibson-Serrette (@Suppressed_intuition)

Models: (salmon pink) Dashawn Blackwood @DLBlackwood, (yellow) Keenan Roy Davies Hull @Keenan.Hull