Coffee, Prints, and a Plan
Creating a photo book is a journey, one filled with creative energy, curiosity, discovery, and just the right amount of delightful chaos along the way.
This week, I began what I like to call the “casting call” for my upcoming fashion photography book, Fashion & Editorial Photography: Sixteen Tales From Around the World.
From my archive of 5,266 photos captured during the shoots featured in the book, I printed 415 that made the first cut. It already feels like I’m working with a lineup of amazing characters waiting for their big debut.
As Ted Forbes from The Art of Photography and author of Visually Speaking often reminds us, painting is an additive process, while photography is a subtractive one. The same goes for creating a photo book. It is not about adding more, but about refining and revealing what truly matters. The process feels part puzzle, part play, and completely rewarding.
That act of refinement reveals the heart of the story. Now, I’m narrowing it down to about a dozen or so per chapter. Each image holds its own charm and becomes part of a larger journey, a collaboration that brings together people, fashion, and place in the most genuine way.
Printing them is not just for fun, though it certainly is. There is something special about spreading prints across the table, moving them around, pairing them up, and seeing how they connect. It feels like hands-on storytelling at its best, with moments of joyful chaos in between.
The table fills up quickly. There is coffee within reach, courtesy of Dolce Casa, music playing in the background, and me quietly watching as each chapter begins to find its rhythm. It is creative, messy, and full of pleasant surprises.
Curious to see what happens next? Follow along for updates.
Earlier Publications
- The Street Is My Studio. A zine that transforms Melbourne’s streets into open-air studios, celebrating spontaneity, light, and movement in every frame.
- The Melbourne Portraits Project. A Photographic Ode. A photo book capturing over 100 portraits from Melbourne’s creative community, shot during the pandemic. It is a tribute to resilience, collaboration, and the power of photography to connect us.
- Prelude: A First Look At Sixteen Tales From Around The World. A zine that sets the emotional tone for my upcoming photo book, blending fashion and editorial storytelling across cities and continents. Each image captures a fleeting moment of curiosity, stillness, confidence, and joy.
Each of these works marks a point along my creative path, leading to Sixteen Tales From Around the World.
For brands, designers, models, and other creatives interested in fashion and editorial work or in producing your own publication, contact us to discuss how we can help bring your next project to life.
© Paul Tocatlian. All Rights Reserved.
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