Ailene x Pink Bits

Ailene Wu raw beauty shoot on film by Aaron VIII

Pink Bits did this illustration of Ailene Wu based on my original photography. Super cute!

Ailene Wu x Pink Bits illustration and fashion photography by Aaron VIII

Christine Yahya did this beautiful illustration of Ailene Wu based on an outtake from our story for Backyard Opera. I was not previously aware of her work but I love that she chose to illustrate one of my photos, and love that it was from this shoot which was a favourite over the last year.

The Pink Bits project is about illustrating and embracing those bits and shapes women are usually told by society they shouldn’t love, and for me this shoot with Ailene celebrates beauty at its rawest and most natural form. Simple shots of Ailene relaxing in her own clothes and my t-shirt, shot on film, raw and unretouched.

I’ve also included a nice selection of outtakes from our shoot, we shot quite a few rolls on Ailene’s night in Sydney so there were a lot to choose from.

I made the decision a while back not to retouch my photography, and despite that even I occasionally succumb to the temptation to touch up the odd spot here and there, I have mostly been able to stick to that for both fashion and beauty editorial work, which is something I’m really proud of. Everyone has access to apps on their phone that can completely alter their appearance, whether its changing skin tone, clearing up a few lines or completely changing ones body shape or face. To me that’s not interesting at all, this easily achieved untrue perfection is boring.

It’s not that I am anti retouching — some people eg my friend Chantelle Kemkemian do it very well and in a way that isn’t fake (I’ve seen her raw shots) but for me, leaving photos raw and as they are is something that takes confidence and honesty in ones work as photographer, model and makeup artist, and a small act of rebellion in this era of easily accessible fake beauty.

Love and respect to Ailene and all the models, clients and agencies who have understood and been supportive of my vision.

Model: Ailene Wu at Giant Management

Makeup: Mivia Pinniger
Hair: Yui Tanimura
Illustration: Christine Yahya

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