Artist Biography
When I was 14 years old I picked up my first camera and the rest is history. During high school, I never dreamed of being able to be a photographer as my full-time job but after completing 4 years at Endicott College as a photography major, I can’t imagine doing anything else. No matter what kind of shoot it is, my happy place has always been behind my camera. I have always been a very creative person, so during my shoots I love to think of new ways to elevate sessions, by bringing in new angles, framing, compositions, or locations. Throughout the 7 years, I’ve been involved with photography, I have tried many different genres, with each new genre I feel that I have learned something that only taking those kinds of pictures would teach me. I started with landscape photography, I moved to sports photography, then weddings and family shoots, to studio photography, and last but not least my new niche, location-based fashion photography.
Rachel Cardillo | Photography BFA
Rachelcphotography50.mypixieset.com
Instagram: @rachelc_photography
Thesis Abstract
My body of work focuses on combining fashion and photography to make editorial-style images. I use dramatic poses and a series of different outfits and locations. I chose to take my subjects out of the four white walls of the studio and into different locations because I wanted to be able to explore using artificial and natural lighting. In addition, I wanted to transform a space into a place where art can be created. I believe that I and my models have more opportunities to try new things contributing to a less produced, real look. In taking my photography out of the studio there would be many more things that I could not control. Working outside the studio and having less control, it made me more aware that not everything in life can be controlled or go to plan. This not only gave my work a more authentic feel but also made me a better photographer as I needed to be able to pivot in a new direction at the last minute when certain things weren’t working the way I wanted them to.
Another intention I had was to make this series more inclusive compared to what is often seen in the fashion industry. Growing up seeing the typical blonde skinny girl being the only one used as the standard of beauty it was hard to be confident in myself. For my project, I chose to use models of different body types and races. I wanted to demonstrate that the fashion industry can be more inclusive. In recent years, more progress has been made towards diversity and inclusion but not enough. I love doing fashion editorial- work, it upsets me to know the industry I want to enter is so closed-minded and biased with who they chose to represent them. This body of work will be my way of trying to make a difference. My goal with these images is to prove that there is beauty in everything and everyone