Art team of the year 2011 - hob salons
HOB Creative Team was named Art Team of the Year at HJ's British Hairdressing Awards 2011.
It was the third time in four years that they have won the award and sees them enter the British Hairdressing Awards Hall of Fame.
We quizzed the team on what it took to put together their award-winning shoot.
Why did you decide to enter HJ's British Hairdressing Awards?
As one of the most prestigious awards in the industry, for us as a Creative Team, it is really important for us to get recognition for our hard work, as well as keeping the HOB Salons name known throughout the industry.
When did you start to think about your collection?
As soon as the awards are over, we are already thinking about our next collection. As creative individuals, we are constantly doing our own research and pulling ideas together. Then a few weeks later we sit down as a team, and collate our research together and discuss the direction we want to go.
What was your budget for the shoot?
For this shoot, we spent approximately £30,000.
How did you find your photographer, stylist and make-up artist?
We have been working with our photographer John Rawson, for a number of years, he understands our brand. After doing a number of shoots as a creative team, we feel we have now secured a strong, supportive team in place from make-up artists to stylist, which has contributed to our three-time win.
Tell us a little about your models. What do you look for in a hair model? How did you source them and how much did they cost?
In the run up to the shoot, we have a LOT of castings! Before we even look for models, we have our mood boards prepared for hair and makeup, and from there, we find the right model to suit the looks. We tend to do a mix of non-professional and professional models, and ensure the look that we choose for them is perfectly suited. For this shoot, our model fee was around £1,000.
How long did it take from the day of the shoot to sending off a collection you were happy with?
After two days of shooting, we actually choose the pictures then and there. This in itself is a very long process. Then the next stage takes about 4-6 weeks, with the chosen images going into retouch where we work together as a team to ensure everyone is happy with the finished result, and once that is complete we decide on a display order, print and send on.
How did entering the British Hairdressing Awards effect life in the salon - did your team get involved and did it mean you had to be away from the salon a lot?
We book a week off a year in advance for our prep and shoot days to ensure that as a team we are all available, as well as leaving the Academy schedule free as we all have full-time educator commitments. It's great how much the atmosphere changes in the run up to a shoot, as a team we really enjoy the process and look forward to how the finished looks will turn out.
What three tips would you give to someone thinking about entering the British Hairdressing Awards?
- One of the most important things is research! Looking into previous winners particularly will give you an idea of the competition you are up against and the looks that were created the previous year so you can move it to the next level.
- Another vital element is having the right team in place so that you are able to discuss your ideas openly, and in the end you are all of the same mindset.
- But most importantly, preparation, preparation, preparation! Make sure no stone is uncovered in every aspect of your shoot so that you aren't left with any last minute mishaps on the day!
