Not Everyone’s Cup of Tea

Photography: Jessika Christine Photo
Creative Director/Florals: Flower Disco
Model: Melanie Elizabeth
Hair & Makeup: Beauty Vibes Only

With Flower Disco, Expect the Unexpected

We’ve had the pleasure of having Stephanie Mack of Flower Disco at Realm for a number of shoots, and we had high hopes of featuring this shoot as soon as we saw the “tea party” description come through on Realm’s booking notes. Stephanie always does something so extra in her creation process, so we are VERY excited to share what she and the team brought to life.

This quote (continued throughout this feature) sparked the idea for the shoot:

“You are not everyone's cup of tea...and that is OK. The world is filled with people who, no matter what you do, no matter what you try, will simply not like you. But the world is also filled with those who will love you fiercely. The ones who love you: they are your people…”

-Author Unknown

Never Play it Safe

Stephanie has a load of client work on her plate, but she still manages to prioritize styled shoots as her outlet for inspiring creativity and attracting her ideal clients. Stephanie noted:

“There will always be trends, and if you're drawn to them, that's fine, just make them your own and create from your heart. And never play it safe.”

Sometimes, You Need More Time

Almost everything fell into place as planned, but the creative team had so much fun exploring each look, that they added an extra hour of Studio time. That’s when you know you have a good vibe going.

Evolution

We’ve seen Flower Disco beautifully evolve ever since we first met, including a recent name change (from Velvet Armoire to the new, Flower Disco.) These days, Stephanie is often trusting her gut more and is open to changes, saying—

“Instead of trying to plan every exact detail ahead of time, I do my best to account for everything and then leave some flexibility to get inspired on the spot. And a lot of times, that's when the best ideas come.”

Remember that quote that inspired all of this gah-lory? Well, there’s more to it and it’s just too good not to share—

Inspo Quote continued:

“… Don’t waste your finite time and heart trying to convince people who aren’t your people that you have value. They will miss it completely. They won’t buy what you are selling. Don’t try to convince them to walk your path with you because you will only waste your time and your emotional good health. You are not for them and they are not for you. You are not their cup of tea and they are not yours...”

-Author Unknown

Why Realm

Stephanie and the Flower Disco crew have a tendency to do BIG things, which means she needs space galore. Realm’s Open Space studio is over 1500sf which includes our oversized corner Cyc Wall—Stephanie’s favorite part. Our ample light, high ceilings, pure white Cyc Wall and generous space allowed the team to bring this dream to reality and still have room to lounge.

Blank Slate Transformed

The blank slate quality of our natural light Cyc Wall means that you can create something fully custom while those infinity curves make everything pop. We love how many elements were involved in bringing this environment to life—from the flowers to the whiskey to the Rolling Stones magazine, every little detail was tended to.

Styling like Woah

We love the scene as is, but add in model, Marie Elizabeth, and it just comes alive. Her interaction with the camera and variety of moods she brings to the table is so powerful. So many styling elements played a role in creating the look as a whole.

Cool Tones

This shoot is a perfect example of how you can edit the pure whites of Realm’s environment to have an entirely different mood. So many of the edits incorporate a blue/green tint on the whites, making it hella vibey—and simply put, captivating.

Signing off with the last bit of the Inspo Quote:

“…Politely wave them along and you move away as well. Seek to share your path with those who recognize and appreciate your gifts, who you are.”

-Author Unknown

Special Thank You

We are honored to feature this incredible shoot. You can also peep it in this month’s issue of Surreal Magazine. Thank you Stephanie for sharing more about the shoot, and to Jessika for the incredible images!