There are few challenges I love more than trying to document other artists and creatives at work. There's something about trying to capture that passion, the lust for expression and creation that is so dynamic! So I headed into the studio with local indie dance rockers Ra Ra Rasputin for one of their final rehearsals before their 5-year anniversary show (which is tonight!) to document behind the scenes. There was dance-inducing rock music! Leather jackets! A few too many beers after! Lively discussions about the nature of communism, the DC creative class, and how Brock shouldn't wear jorts for photos! Generally top notch all the way around.
So, I'm happy to introduce Brock, Patrick, Josh, and Ken of Ra Ra Rasputin. Also, come to the show at the Black Cat tonight (tickets HERE), where I'll be hanging out and shooting for the band some more. Everyone and their mom seems to be coming, so you should too! Click through for some awesome rock 'n roll style and vibes.
If you haven't gathered by now, I love documenting the DC underground scene. I love meeting wildly creative people who have been doing what they're doing for years, deadly in their devotion and sheer talent. Since moving here a year and a half ago, I've set out, camera in hand, to meet other creatives in wide and varied fields and make friends. There's nothing I love more than adventurous, intelligent, banter-filled friends, and I often find myself spending the most time with other artists, musicians, and designers. That's how GoKateShoot was born - my desire to make work with and of my creative friends in the District.
STORY TIME:
Months and months ago, I met Patrick Kigongo during a particularly boisterous mid-week evening out. Turns out that we have 56,793 mutual friends and he always has some kind of Proust library book in his bag and has insanely awesome style and is the guitarist for the DC indie dance rock band Ra Ra Rasputin. Patrick and I became fast friends. We kept in contact via email as plans were made for gritty, behind the scenes photo shenanigans, until I was finally able to go to band practice with them last week. Since the epic underground creative haven Gold Leaf Studios shut down earlier this year (RIP), the band has moved out to a practice space in a Takoma warehouse, where I met them for their Wednesday night rehearsal.
Dude. The Music. Is. Amazing. At once both rock and holy-hell-I-can't-stop-grooving-like-a-trendy-French-punk-scenegirl (yes, that's a thing), I had a blast shooting as the guys tore through their set for their upcoming 5-year anniversary show at the Black Cat. YOU HAVE TO COME!
SERIOUSLY. COME. Get tickets HERE, put on something bitchin' and let me take your picture while you dance like a crazy person down in front, or cool out propped against the bar. It's going to be epic.
Anyway, our shoot. So I took a bajillion pictures of the guys rehearsing (sneaky sneak, I'm releasing them tomorrow or Friday, don't fret!), and then we got to talking about the space, and they casually mentioned that the women's room upstairs had epic wallpaper.
Of course I insisted upon seeing it.
So we traipsed upstairs into the ladies room, the entire band and I. Naturally, a photo shoot ensued, and then we went to the bar.
This is Ra Ra Rasputin, live in the ladies' room. I recommend hitting play on the video above and then checking out the snaps below; Studio Sessions photos to follow in the next day or two.
When I was in NYC a few weeks ago, I met up for a lovely lunch and shop with sweet photographer Caroline Lacey of The Concubines, who so happened to be in the city at the same time as I was. We were chatting most of the day away, but here are some little photos I took of her eating the most lovely little fruit salad. Delicious!
I just got the new Nikon D600 and two new lenses (swoon) so I'm off to play, maybe make a little movie, and do some work in this gorgeous weather. Have a wonderful Saturday!
I was more than excited to participate in a little shoot with fellow style photographer Nicole Aguirre for her newest venture, WornAbroad. She and our friend Eric will be curating and selling a sweet selection of mens and womenswear pieces from around the globe, coupling them with local and vintage pieces. Both Nicole and Eric have impeccable taste, so I'm very much looking forward to shopping!
Nicole and I met up on the street in Dupont Circle for a little golden hour shoot showing off some earrings she'll be selling through WornAbroad (earring details below). The shoot was fun, and funny - I'm pretty very tall and was wearing heels yesterday, so I had to de-shoe for our shoot so we could be at eye level. You know, just casually standing around in Dupont in my socks. Here are a few of the photos Nicole took of me - the rest will debut on WornAbroad as product shots and such.
I'm shooting the Worn 4 launch party on Saturday for Washingtonian Magazine - come out and say hey so I can take your picture, please!
I'm rocking the "Marl" earrings ($29) from a collection Nicole designed with Beth Lauren...I love how edgy but delicate they are. Need them? Yes, absolutely.
Happy Tuesday! I'm buried in work but happily clocking insane hours doing things I love. Isn't that the best? That doesn't mean that there won't be style here! I've had the pleasure of doing lots of stylish things recently, meeting lots of new people, and have gotten my own picture taken a new times, so I thought I'd share.
The first photo is from Washingtonian Magazine's Style Setters party, where I bumped into a passel of stylish friends and photo subjects. I wore my new buttery-soft Erro leather and suede leather pants that are tight tight tight but fabulously comfortable, a paper-thin classic white tee, a studded vest from my stint living in Barcelona, handmade leather earrings from Butler + Claypool, Dita glasses (I'm not-so-secretly a nerd girl), a lip (per usual), and some insane stilettos - I had just hopped off the plane from a week on the West coast and just couldn't do anything more involved. I was glad to do the whole model-off-duty relaxed thing though, and was impossibly comfortable for what ended up being a wild night at Que Sera for the after after party.
The second photo is from the Washington Post - they snapped me when I was out and about shooting in Georgetown for Fashion's Night Out (check out my feature in Refinery 29 HERE and all the other shots HERE) and included me as the header photo of their write-up, HERE. So sweet! I'm pretty tall, so when I saw a shorter girl with this sumptuous silk slitted skirt at the Gilt City warehouse sale, I followed her around for the better part of an hour until she realized it was too long for her. Score! I paired it with a classic white tank (trend?), a vintage Hermes scarf, and a vintage bangle from New York. There were also some serious red platforms here - so much fun!
More soon - I have wild photos to share, so stay tuned! In Uber news, I'm proud to announce this series of driver profile films that I produced to share the intimate insights of the drivers. Check it out, there will be a new one up each day this week.
Fashion's Night Out. Was. Huge. I shot this shopping night to end all nights for Refinery 29, hitting the streets for FIVE AND A HALF HOURS to capture the best of the best street style DC had to offer. And whoo boy, did they ever have some wild and wonderful style! You can check out Refinery's 28 picks HERE, but there are over 150 in this post. A million thanks to everyone who was so indulgent in my photographic inquiries, you all look incredible!
I started by attending the VIP media event in the Brightest Young Things lounge, which was beautifully decorated. Then I made my way down to Hu's Wear, took a quick shopping break to buy some perfect Erro leather pants and Jean Paul Gaultier cropped trousers, and then kept on shooting into the wee hours.
This shot above is one of my very, very favorites, but it's like picking your favorite child so you'll just have to hit up the ENTIRE post after the jump!
Happy Friday! I'm blogging live from my Virgin America flight to San Francisco - there's nothing like a little purple mood lighting to get me in the mood to share some style! ;)
Quincy Jones knows how to party, and look damn good doing it. My good friend and DC stylist extraordinaire had an intimate party celebrating an occasion that wasn't not his birthday. ;) Filled with stylish Washingtonians with distinctive taste in the glamorous, unique, and vintage, it was a perfect opportunity to get dressed for some serious Monday shenanigans. Monday's the new Saturday, haven't you heard?!
Above, Michelle German and Kimee Brown of Neon V Magazine, and below, Chloé and Birkin. BAG PORN! More after the jump.
My love for (shooting) men(swear) is well-documented, so when I was invited to the opening of the new Suit Supply store here in DC of course I went. One of my good stylish guy friends is helping to run it, so I was more than happy to find out that the Dutch retailer was arriving in DC. Of course, the party attendees were lovely and stylish and I was excited to see so many friends in one room.
Snaps abound, of course! Check them out, and enjoy.
Quick Kate updates before the jump:
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I'm shooting for Refinery 29 for Fashion's Night Out, and am looking forward to documenting all of the wild shopping style. Come out and find me to have me take your picture.
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After a night filled with leather, sequins, and my favorite subjects, I'm dashing onto a flight to San Francisco for another West Coast adventure. Hurray! This time, it'll be a couple of days in SF then off to Lake Tahoe for some serious end-of-summer fun with the Uber team.
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Then it's back to DC in time for Washingtonian's Style Setters party and loads of other fun things.
Also in there are an adorable pair of foster kittens named CUBBY and GIBS (baby kittens!), new sets of photos, and some completely killer new additions to my wardrobe for fall. You can follow it all here, on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, with different stuff on each.
