Roles & Responsibilities

Concept Creation, Art Direction, Styling, On-Set Direction

Objective

Create an editorial portrait series for Flaunt Magazine that captured different sides of Durana Elmi's personality and leadership. The goal was to balance the confidence and discipline that have shaped her success as a founder with a more expressive and feminine side, creating imagery that felt both polished and unexpected while staying true to Flaunt's visual style (Los Angeles-based publication known for a provocative, avant-garde, and cerebral vibe that operates at the intersection of fashion, art, culture, and entertainment).

Creative Approach

Giving homage to the aesthetic of Flaunt’s theme, I helped create a glossy and bold look that reflects Co-founder of Cymbiotika, Durana Elmi. The black and white removes distraction and keeps the focus on shape, contrast, and expression. I used high-contrast lighting to define her silhouette and sharpen key features, giving the image a clean, structured feel. In the end I added a glossy, high-saturation finish to add a colored element to the soft tectures of the image to push the image into a more contemporary-editorial space. I incorporated a wet look to enhance that glossiness and add texture, giving the image a more heightened, almost surreal feel. Lighting was kept sculpted to define her features, with a controlled, direct I kept the lighting sculpted to clearly define her features, and directed a controlled, direct pose to anchor the composition. Her pose is minimal and controlled to show confidence without over-styling. The overall direction was intentional—stripped back, precise, and focused on presence.

Outcome

The final images were published in Flaunt Magazine, contributing to an editorial feature that showcased Durana Elmi through a bold and contemporary visual lens. The series successfully balanced classic portraiture with experimental editorial techniques, resulting in imagery that felt aligned with both the publication's niche and Durana's personal brand.