"Louise Mason"
Meet the Photographer & Model
Louise Mason is based out of New York City, Philadelphia and sometimes Los Angeles. Her editorials, The Angel That Turned it’s Back and Techno Circus have been featured in other editions of Bold and Beyond Magazine, including a cover spread. She is a fine art, architecture, fantasy, nature, fashion, self-portrait and occasionally event photographer, as well as a cinematographer. In addition to the camera, she is a fashion and costume designer, editor as well as a model and actress. She is excited to share her latest fashion editorial, Stripes Forever with the world.
✦ Style & Identity
What’s your signature as an artist?
In addition to A sense of mystery, sadness, tension, texture, detail, elegance and suspense with strong colors, there is also technical precision patterns and dynamism. I try to create a sense of visual depth through shadows and some highlights at the very least. There is also a sense of reservedness, poise, resilience and sophistication while still having attitude. In other words, not boring. Also, cinematic, hence my cinematography work.
Tell us the story behind one image you’ll never forget?
Sure. In my current Bold and Beyond cover issue’s Stripes Forever editorial I used some of my same textiles(fabrics) in my genre bending, multi award winning feature film having its New York City screening debut on July 4th at 8:30 PM at the Producer’s club in midtown, Sewing A Nightmare, for costumes, specifically for pants I had designed with the non-shimmery blue striped dress, and for a skirt I had designed that is the same fabric used in the light blue bodice on the different dress. Out of the two dresses I will always remember the photo of me in my light blue striped bodice dress because it looks so different on from the skirt for my movie given my variety of draping and construction techniques. It’s nice to see the same fabric in all different ways, especially on me for the sake of personal sentiment and archival purposes. There is still a slight 1970’s Missoni influence in both.
✦ Process & Perspective
How do you prepare for a shoot? Any rituals or must-haves?
I love to listen to music, especially songs that go with the theme of the shoot. A good playlist is big for me.
✦ Legacy & Impact
What do you want your work to say about you, even when you’re not in the room?
I have a unique, sensitive, raw and vicious style from the way I took to dealing with all sorts of turmoil.
What do you want to be known for—as a photographer and as a creative?
As a creative I would like to be known not only has a designer and photographer but also a film maker, editor and actress.
✦ Style & Identity
What’s something about you people don’t usually see in your work—but should?
I am also a black and white darkroom photographer. People are always surprised because so much of my work has vivid colors. Usually in photography lands photographer either pick black and white work or color work. It is rare that a photographer would love both.
What projects are you working on next?
A fashion film, more fashion collections, another short film to go with Sewing a Nightmare and of course more collaborations with iconic artists in the media.
How did you start to work in the fashion and lifestyle portion of the entertainment industry?
It was textiles. My very first job was working for my Pop(grandfather) in Philadelphia at his business, International Packaging Products, that made reusable bags for mainly local bushiness’s deliveries. I got to do all sorts of cool stuff and then eventually I worked at a place called Infinite Textiles and Design in New York that had provided fabrics to Journeys, Pac Sun, Stussy, Volcom and many other of the big SoCal skater brands and then at one point Calvin Klein, all while working on my own fashion design collections as well as costumes on the side. Through making mood boards I got into photography then filmmaking. I had done some modeling for hair products too.