For our September issue this year, The Weekly decided to step out of the studios and into somewhere a little more exotic to showcase the best of summer layering.
And where better to do that than on the historic cobblestones of Istanbul?
So off our team went, sailing into the summer sun on the Bosphorus, armed with spring silks, bold stripes and exotic embroideries.
Shooting at the iconic Four Seasons, our stylists, directors and assistants teamed up with the best photographers and set teams in Istanbul to create one of our best editorials of the year.
But we can’t all be relaxing in one of the world’s most beautiful locations (some of us have desk jobs!), so our Style Director Mattie Cronan graciously agreed to take us behind the scenes and give us a glimpse of what it’s like to live life in the sun.
One of the beautiful images from our editorial.
Welcome the beautiful Four Season Hotel Istanbul at The Bosphorus, our picturesque location for the September main fashion photo shoot of The Australian Women’s Weekly. After a glorious breakfast at Aqua, I set off in the grounds of the hotel which was once an Ottoman palace to find our shoot locations I am excited to be shooting with local Turkish Photographer Kerem Yilmaz
We head to Ortokoy Pier just after sunrise to capture to first light, and before all the fisherman and market stall set up for the day. We captured two shots here. Our opening shot with the beautiful Ortokoy Mosque and the Bosphorus Bridge and fishing boats, our second shot captures the ornate details of this ancient yet modern city on a perfect summer day.
Back at the Four Season’s mid-morning. Looking out across the beautiful Bosphorus towards our first locations you see Istanbul spans across two continents Europe and Asia, East really does Meets West, we wrap this shot just as our yacht arrives… It is nice to dream! If only we could all jump aboard for a day on the water… still 6 shots to go! Our model Remy is looking elegant in her Trenery suit
Our fourth and fifth shot capture the palatial grandness of our location which was once a palace, Remy has a quick stop in the heat to check her phone and post an Instagram, keeping shady in her Nerida Winter ‘Maya’ hat
Lunch time, the weather is beautiful and the sun is bright, but a little too bright to shoot – so we all have a break, lie by the pool and have some lunch before we commence shooting in the afternoon light. Mezze plate, french fries and a bellini by the pool. This shoot feel more like a holiday than work.
The exterior of the palace and the perfectly manicured gardens are the host for the next shot. Hair stylist Engin and Makeup Artist Baris make final adjustments to model Remy seen here in her Easton Pearson frock, Nerida Winter Boater and local Turkish designer Djemist kilim loafers.
Our photographer Kerem and Assistants Anil and Ozkan at work. Remy pictured here, is modelling Australian designers Lee Mathews knit sorts and singlet, Nerida Winter hat and Dinosaur Designs orchid bangles.
Out on the streets beyond the Four Seasons we find amazing textured details from the Palace and textured columns that span back centuries and showcase this city and its incredible architecture. The Crew make their final touch ups and check the last frames before we call it a day shooting in this magical city.
And that’s a wrap.
Thank you to Sibel, Ipek and the Team at FS Bosphorus!
