Summer ‘20 Lookbook: A Collaboration

You will notice something a little different about the images for this lookbook. I didn’t shoot it!

Being under quarantine these last few months really got me thinking about how to make a photoshoot happen for this collection. Well, a challenge to make me think out of the box turned into a beautiful portrait of everyday life, showcasing 5 different families (plus mine!)

I asked the parents to be the photographer, stylist, wrangler, etc (all the things that go into making a shoot happen) - no small task!!

There is a special magic in the way a parent sees their own child, and how they take their picture. There is also equal magic in how a child reacts within their own space and family that we, as a brand, could never capture in a traditional photoshoot environment. This intimacy, a window into daily life, and true authenticity turned out to be just the right spirit for the summer collection. Isn’t that what summer is all about anyway? Long days spent all bunched up together as a family, on holiday or around the house. We love that the families shown live scattered around the states (and beyond) - at the beach, in the woods, in the city, in the ‘burbs. I love that these families show a variety of representation, the real beauty and reflection of what our customer looks like.

On a personal note, this was also about letting go (no small task for a bit of a control freak). A reminder to allow for accidents, to allow plans to be derailed (and this pandemic was a BIG one!), to allow for spontaneity and surprise. This was also a reminder to allow for the possibility that someone else may do it differently, but might even do it BETTER. Instead of being hemmed in by constraints and seeing roadblocks, allowing those restrictions to set the rules for something new to emerge, take shape, and blossom. I feel really good about this and I feel like my idea of our collection has been expanded to something else entirely.

This is also a wonderful reminder that you all, our customers and community, really do bring these collections to life. This collection is dedicated to family and the days spent together laughing, learning, exploring, struggling, crying, napping, NOT napping, playing, and LIVING everyday as a family. I couldn’t be happier with how this project came together. I hope you enjoy it and these images inspire you as much as they do me!

XOXO,
Anna - Founder and Creative Director at M&P

See the Collection here