BEAUTY & HAIR PHOTOGRAPHY May 2017

Veerle Van Look’s photographs mix the playful colours of the 60s with today’s abstract posed fashion photography. The cover of her oeuvre appears to be bright and glamorous, full of girly models who look straight into the eyes of their fictional opponents. Always almost natural, but never spontaneous, these young women get framed into a minimalistic universe and directed towards the uncommon. Where the fashion photographer reaches out and offers a helping hand through extravagant locations and luxurious props, Veerle leaves them standing alone in front of the camera with nothing but her directions and styling to hide behind.

Portraits of beauty are captured with make-up as the best mask available. Standing against a plain background, the models are consistently guided into a controversial or unusual pose. Bending as mannequins, they act as a face for a certain time, style or personality.

Veerle’s professional eye is focussed on the movements of the model’s body in search for a posture or expression that reflects her intentional concept. The photographer’s work method continues in post-production. Veerle handles the raw images as a blank sheet of paper on which she puzzles every piece into their true order. Everything is thought through in advance, created to keep the digital options open.