Here was my first festive campaign shoot and it happened to be Singapore’s national day! While the studio had a seasonal national day-ready box of props, it was still the first shoot of this account. Moreover, we hadn’t worked with any accounts with a similar aesthetic so I was set to begin a whole new inventory of props.
Per the content plan, I sourced some simple but nostalgic small props. For this shot, I prepared the classic good morning towel often found across kopitiams and homes. To enhance the nostalgia, I also procured a set of Chinese clay rooster soup spoons.
I'd already styled the lontong chee cheong fun dish for a previous static shot – only that I needed to keep an eye on the oil separation as time passed. Building the kopi jelly iced teh was straightforward. I started with the ice, followed by liquid; topping it with the jelly.There was a bit of teetering with the whole jelly and a race against the melting ice but it worked.
The most surprisingly challenging was the red silk fabric. It was introduced for a pop of colour while adding to the national day theme. However, the slippery nature of the cloth made it too delicate – making it appear awkward with the smallest irregular ruffle or fold. With enough experimenting, we sent the client 2 final variations for approval.
Ultimately, all were pleased with the final output. If nothing else, I’ll never forget the finicky challenge of fabric styling for the rest of my career.