An ’80s-Fabulous Photo Shoot

Photo courtesy of Peter Tung Photography

It’s not everyday you get to cover an ’80s-style shoot photographed by one of your best friends. Yes, I was in for a treat this month when Peter Tung of Peter Tung Photography invited me to collaborate on not one, but two ’80s-themed shoots! Today we cover the first, which took place in Peter’s photography studio. This artistic project would not have been possible without the help of many talented individuals…

Peter spearheaded the endeavor and invited Jonathan Reyes of Lustre Maravilloso (LM Photography) to take pics as well. Austin, TX-based vintage clothing shop New Bohemia gave us access to their retro fashion selection. With styling by Matthew Klimek of MDK Styling, hair and makeup by Trisha Vail of Russ and Company Salon and model Melissa Swanepoel of Wilhelmina Brown as our muse, amazing results were inevitable!

Below we see Melissa with her ’80s-tastic crimped hair thanks to the work of Trisha Vail, who showed us how to put a contemporary spin on the 1980s! Sideswept waves, dark eyes and subtle lips do the trick when geometric clothing and bold accessories demand attention. Snaps to Jonathan Reyes for this intriguing shot!:

Photo courtesy of LM Photography

Here’s another trippy image, this time with a background that evokes the color blending of ’80s eyeshadow:

Photo courtesy of LM Photography

Below we see a shot from Peter, perfectly executed. Let’s take a minute to talk about the fashion. Stylist Matthew Klimek got a glimpse of this black and white dress at New Bohemia, and he quickly realized its potential. A red flat-beaded necklace and teal bangles (both mine) were bright complements to the ensemble. Geometric earrings from New Bohemia and Melissa’s own ankle boots completed the look.

Photo courtesy of Peter Tung Photography

At this time, I have to praise model Melissa Swanepoel. As you can see in the image below (as well as the pic at the top of the post), she stopped at nothing to get the perfect shot. Not to mention, this pro had a deep intuition for how to turn each second into a photo opportunity. Things got even more interesting when Matthew Klimek spotted an old-school TV on top of the cabinets at the studio. The rest is history:

Photo courtesy of Peter Tung Photography

Aside from some background research and supplying accessories, my claim to fame for this shoot was helping to scatter red rose petals for the dreamy picture below! Like a still from an ’80s video, this image blends the best of romance and retro technology.

Photo courtesy of LM Photography

Ready to get wild?! We all know a tribal revival is in the works, which is why Matthew was delighted to find this glam tribal dress on the rack at New Bohemia. And I emphasize the word “glam,” because Matthew’s decision to take the look from “earthy tribal” to “glitzy tribal” is one I didn’t see coming. And it was one of the greatest surprises of the shoot, don’t you think?!

Photo courtesy of Peter Tung Photography

The hat and sunglasses were thrift store purchases, while the white beaded necklace and thick bangle are courtesy of New Bohemia. I bought the second bracelet–a ribbed elastic cuff–during last summer’s tribal craze at Forever 21. Here’s another stellar shot by Peter. So crisp and clean:

Image courtesy of Peter Tung Photography

We end with a stunning close-up by Jonathan Reyes. There’s nothing like the magic created when polished accessories and a chic hat meet tribal patterning and flowing locks…

Photo courtesy of LM Photography

Peter Tung, thank you for organizing this project and saving a seat front and center for Mirror80. Your eye for detail and ability to effortlessly capture dynamic images did not go unnoticed. Jonathan, Trisha, Matt and Melissa–I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed working with you on the shoot! And of course, a special thank you to New Bohemia for being so accommodating and inspiring us with their ’80s fashion. Tune in next week to see Peter’s second ’80s shoot…