Photographer Sophie Elgort Shows Her Work At Adeam’s Pop-Up Store

For photographer Sophie Elgort (yes, from that highly creative family), it was a no-brainer for to have her work showcased at the pop-up store of the fashion brand Adeam on the Upper East Side. She has long been an admirer of the label and has on many occasions worn their designs. Her contemporary images with just the right mix of romance and idyll and the gentlest hint of nostalgia are very much in step with the collections designed by Adeam designer Hanako Maeda.

From now until July 16, a photographic series from the photographer entitled Summer will be on show at the Adeam store. Below Sophie discusses her work and how her partnership with Adeam came about.

How did this collaboration with Adeam come about?

I’ve worked with Adeam in the past on photo shoots and have a longtime friendship with Adeam creative director, Hanako Maeda. They approached me in early May about doing an exhibition at their new popup space at 770 Madison Avenue in Manhattan, which they opened in June.

What made you want to work with them?

They’re great to work with and also have a wonderful aesthetic. I love their designs. The popup space is beautifully designed and I knew it would be a great place to show the series.

What is the general theme of this photography series?

The Summer series, a collection of 18 photographs, is like looking at memories of summer – many of the images are snapshots from the past five years, with six of them newly shot for the show. The work is about light, color, movement and whimsy.

What about this work that aligns with their fashion collection?

The collections they are showing right now as well as the design of their popup space have a summer feel. It made sense to show a series of Summer images in the space and during this timeframe (June 22-July 16).

How long did it take you to photograph this series?

The earliest photo in the series is from 2017 and I shot the last six in the past month before the opening. It wasn’t a series I consciously began shooting, rather something I noticed coming together. Snapshots from different moments – often just one or two frames taken when I saw something good happen along the way. And it’s a series that will be ongoing. Maybe it can be a book one day.

What was most challenging about doing this work?

Finding all my negatives! Most of the series was shot on film throughout the past five years and to go back and find the negatives to make the prints was by far the most challenging point. I’ve learned my lesson about keeping a more organized archive going forward.

How did you decide on what to show from the series? How did you edit?

I was lucky to have a great curator in George Kocis from Staley-Wise gallery. I brought in about 60 4×6 prints and we laid them all out on a table and went through them together. He is a very good editor.

What is your creative process like?

It’s a mix. A lot of it is almost reportage. I see a good moment happening and I capture it. Other times, I have an idea for an image in my head and I set it up to create it. Either way, I’m always open to something changing the outcome of the original image I had in mind along the way, often times leading to something even better.

For those who can’t make it to the exhibit, how else can they view and purchase the photographs?

The complete list of works from the show is here – all work is sold through the Staley-Wise Gallery. In addition to what is listed, other print sizes (and corresponding prices) are available unframed as well. For more details / inquiries on specific images, people can reach out to [email protected]