A JOURNEY OF 1000 MILES BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP

“A JOURNEY OF 1000 MILES BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP”

Dao De Jing

This collection of student work is the culmination of a 3 day mentorship that Mike Ruiz and Alison Hernon led at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) while visiting the Savannah, Georgia campus in May of 2024.

Beyond extending years of industry wisdom, Mike Ruiz and Alison Hernon suggested to the faculty of the photo and fashion departments at SCAD that they combine their effort to produce a photoshoot at the end of the mentorship week hoping to shine a light on SCAD’s emerging talent. Being co-owners of PhotoBook Magazine, Mike and Alison went one step further and suggested that they publish the resulting images from the photoshoot in their magazine.

The students were able to push themselves outside of their comfort zones by collaborating with designers from SCAD's school of fashion utilizing one-of-a-kind garments showcased during SCAD Fashion 2024 with the guidance of the mentors, to create the striking images you see below. A wonderful step towards becoming artists in the real world of photography.


A portrait features a model standing in a nest with blue eggs, wearing a striped fuzzy cardigan, a tie, and trousers, surrounded by illustrations of blue birds.

Photographer: Cece Kirskey
Designer: Maggie Foster
Model:. Owen Gibson
Key HMU: Tre Knight

A two-panel portrait features a close-up of a model wearing a striped fuzzy cardigan and patterned tie with an illustrated blue bird perched on his right shoulder, while the other panel shows him sitting beside another model in a similar outfit.

Photographer: Cece Kirskey
Designer: Maggie Foster
Model:. Owen Gibson, Aaron Waters
Key HMU: Tre Knight


A portrait features a model wearing an olive-green hooded jacket posing against a ripped paper background, alongside text displaying "LULU HAMILTON".

Photographer: Lulu Hamilton
Designer: Amir Shaghaghi
Model: Finlay Saunders
Key HMU: Tre Knight

A two-panel portrait features models wearing unique outfits, with the left portrait covered in horizontal stripes and the right featuring vertical stripes.

Photographer: Lulu Hamilton
Designer: Amir Shaghaghi
Model: Ava Lindley
Key HMU: Tre Knight


A portrait features a model in a voluminous blue and light purple tulle gown illuminated by blue light, alongside text displaying the name "Nisha Pradeep."

Photographer: Nisha Pradeep
Designer: Poorna Buragadda
Model: Saumya Saumya
Key HMU: Tre Knight

A two-panel portrait features a model wearing ruffled layers of pink and turquoise tulle illuminated by blue lighting.

Photographer: Nisha Pradeep
Designer: Poorna Buragadda
Model: Saumya Saumya
Key HMU: Tre Knight

A two-panel portrait features a model wearing a structured iridescent gown and dramatic sunglasses against a backdrop with handwritten text, while the other panel shows the model from behind, highlighting the gown's sculptural design.

Photographer: Nisha Pradeep
Designer: Kylie Mulligan
Model: Jamie Domrude
Key HMU: Tre Knight


A two-panel black-and-white portrait features a model in a one-shoulder black top and intense makeup, with black lines, alongside text displaying "Will Foerster".

Photographer: Will Foerster
Designer: Aayush A
Model: Isabelle Leaf
Key HMU: Tre Knight


CREW CREDITS:
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director: Mike Ruiz
Chair of Photography, Savannah College of Art and Design: Michael James O’Brien
Associate Chair Photography, Savannah College of Art and Design: Josh Jalbert
Professor of Fashion, Savannah College of Art and Design: Mae Heidenreich
Photographers: Cecilia Kirksey, Lulu Hamilton, Nisha Pradeep, Will Foerster
Producers: Alison Hernon, Mike Ruiz, Aayush A
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine

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