Stylist and Set Designer: A day in the life
Image Credits: © Stylist Anna Mackie, Photographer Lewis Rhodes |
Anna Mackie-East is a stylist and set designer working on interior and still life photography. With a love for colour, form and texture, Anna utilises materials and composition to create aesthetically arresting imagery. Clients have included luxury brands such as Anthology, Artists & Objects, Bacardi, Brook + Wilde, Casa Vogue, Ted Baker, and many more.
Keep scrolling for a stunning gallery wall of Anna’s work, below!
Words: Anna Mackie |
I have been working as an interior and prop stylist for the last six years. I studied fashion at university and worked in a few different areas of the creative industry before deciding to revisit education to study interior design. I had become increasingly interested in spaces, interior and product design. I realised that I wasn’t as interested in clothes but, instead, in the set design they are shot in. I freelanced a bit on residential and commercial interiors projects and then found a job as an interior stylist and knew instantly that was what I wanted to be doing.
Styling to camera is very different to styling for real life spaces. I am much more comfortable styling with a 2D end goal – it’s just much easier to control and to perfect. But it’s also a skill not many people understand and therefore it’s quite niche. Styling real-life spaces has a whole different set of requirements – such as function! An interior stylist’s job is to work to the brief of the client and enforce the brand identity as well as to enhance and develop it. I think it’s almost impossible not to put your own spin on it (and hopefully that’s what you get hired for!) and I would say I lean towards mid-century modern aesthetic. I have often tried in earnest to be minimal but I have accepted that I really am a maximalist when it comes to interiors - but I am able to edit and curate at the same time!
Flexibility and variety are two things I love about my job. My favourite days are at the prop houses, shopping on the high street and travelling all over to do a location recce as well as actually being on shoot itself, of course. I also love the conception stage; Pinterest and mood-boarding, and actually designing and drawing sets as well as selecting furniture and accessories online. But there’s no hiding away from tedious desk days doing admin, planning logistics, accounts and invoicing and talking to potential clients and PRs. Admin days are just as important as shoot days - we have to pay bills and it can’t all be fun. I really can’t stand it when stylists (and any creatives) are asked to work for free or for reduced rates. No one would ask a plumber or a lawyer to work for free or less than their rate because the budget is small /non-existent. But that’s another topic for another day.
Sustainability and recycling is key to our industry and something everyone really does seem to be aware of and care about as the alternative is to create a lot of waste. What we do is generally very temporary so making steps to be more sustainable seems to be high on the agenda nowadays.
My inspiration comes from a myriad of sources such as Sabine Marcelis, Pierre Yovanovitch, Barbara Hepworth, Tom Dixon, Pierre Paulin, David Adjaye, John Pawson, Kelly Wearstler, David Chipperfield. It’s not an easy profession, but I do think a variety of work experience is key. A linear career path doesn’t actually help in this instance, in my experience. You need lots of references and skills to draw upon to be unique. You need to be ambitious and willing to push yourself out of your comfort zone and make work your priority. An imagination and resilience will serve you well!
www.annamackie.com
Follow Annie Mackie-East on Instagram via @annamackiestylist
