The black backdrop may be the wise choice. It illuminates the features that model Rachel Desmet lugs in the production shoot, which grapples with a high-fashion intensity to reverberate the energy that funnels between her and the lens. The retro glam pervades the motif of this French Fries editorial, ushering in a laid-back, party-ready look through hair and makeup Juliette Foucque. Although the style and garments may depict a vibe that echoes a special guest in a red carpet premiere, photographer Laurie Basset pictures the unconventional facet of the subject. Such an attempt may not show up in the outfits, but the lighting, the rosy cheeks, and the poses beg to differ.

MB: If you took a break from photography, what would you do?

LB: I’d hunt for vintage furniture pieces and clothes.

MB: What's your go-to restaurant?

LB: l’Idiot in Lille. They have an amazing chef who cooks gastronomic meals at a reasonable price.

Where's your next holiday destination?

Scotland!

What's the most memorable life lesson you've learned?

Listen to your own intuitions.

What's your tip to emerging photographers?

True inspiration comes from experience.

The France-based photographer admires the spell of unorthodox. Her instructions to her subjects compose of being at ease at the shoot and express the sentiments they nurse at the moment. The aftermath before she presses on the shutter evokes emotions that range from a deer-in-the-headlights look to an ingrained melancholy. Before setting her ideas straight for an editorial, Laurie opens herself up to explorations of techniques and poses to maneuver the direction of the production. Her intuition to welcome serenity within her pops up whenever she is ready, a driver that speaks to her on permitting the inspiration and liberty to unfold on their own. 

Her photographs bristle at closed-up and full-body shots to fringe her signature with a variety of delectable allegories. Sometimes the lenses bridge the space between her and the model, enough to afford the view of the flecks of freckles and hues of eyes, while in other editorials, she steps away from the personal space of the model to demonstrate the garments, outfits, and bends and breaks of the subject’s body. Within these methodologies, a dazed and hazy tinge hovers over the anthology, hypnotizing the audience with her craftsmanship. “Toying between closed-up and full-body shots allows the shoot to incur depth and dimension to what they desire to convey,” Laurie tells French Fries Magazine.

Apart from her virtuosity to curate a space for her subject that is infused with liberation, the lighting plays a pivotal role in the photoshoot’s fragrance. In this French Fries editorial, the use of warm lighting with a shade of red appears evident in some photographs. The intention to adopt such a glint cracks as experimental instead of pre-planned. Her home in Northern France and its neighborhood burn bright as the beacon Laurie incorporates in her shoots. In this lockdown period, the somewhat safe activity she treats herself to is to walk around the almost empty streets of the territory she resides in. The architecture and design melds the contemporary wisdom and traditional art into a singular emblem of artistry. In such a space, Laurie stops walking when an image, either foreign or familiar, commands her attention.

“I treasure the city I live in as it rouses my creativity and senses that intertwine with the photoshoots I tend to. In this lockdown period, I walk around a lot. Sometimes, I come across my favorite locales, warehouses, and factories, and I find an object that piques my interest or notice the way the light hits the structures, and think of how I can bring it into the shoots,” she says.

The metaphors that Laurie picks up on her way home linger until it whispers into her mind during a photoshoot. Right there, the novelty sprawls across the moment, sweeping in to charge the atmosphere with her penchant for idiosyncrasy, yesteryear, and details.

Photography & Styling: Laurie Basset / bassetlaurie

Hair & Makeup: Juliette Foucque / juliette.fcq

Model: Rachel / rachel_desmet @ immmodels

Layout: Beatrice Panero / pane.nero

Words: Matthew Burgos / itsmatthewburgos