Stellar Optical — Editorial Eyewear Photoshoot in Milan
Produced & photographed by Dmitrii Shmatov
In February 2025 I led the production and photography of an editorial shoot in Milan for Stellar Optical, an independent Canadian eyewear brand. They were looking for a fashion photographer based in Milan — someone who could take on both creative direction and full-scale execution. The result was a refined, wearable visual story, crafted for boutique presentation and digital platforms.
The brief
Create an editorial-style street shoot in Milan featuring 10 standout eyewear frames, blending timeless fashion with urban architecture and elegant styling.
Team and Location
As the lead photographer and producer, I assembled a small but professional team, including stylist, and sourced two models — a male and a female, with complementary looks. One of the key requirements was to find local fashion brands willing to collaborate via TFP (trade-for-print) to enrich the shoot with elegant and authentic Italian style. The focus was placed on creating versatile outfit combinations that would highlight 10 key eyewear models from Stellar Optical’s catalogue.
The photoshoot was planned along a walkable route through central Milan, balancing visual diversity and flexibility in case of bad weather. We focused on the architectural richness of Piazza Filippo Meda, Via Pietro Verri, and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, capturing each look in natural light with a cinematic, editorial approach. The route also served as our location fashion shoot in Milan, offering timeless Milanese backdrops within walking distance from each other.
In case of rain, we had a secondary plan centered around Corso Giacomo Matteotti, which provided covered passages and elegant facades ideal for quick repositioning.
Style
The visual idea was to contrast structured fashion pieces with soft editorial light. Our stylist worked with classic silhouettes — coats, suits, gloves, skirts, boots — mixing them across casual, business and evening contexts. The eyewear needed to feel like part of a full look, not just an accessory.
Outfits were carefully curated to balance sharp silhouettes with soft textures:
- For men: tailored coat, wool suit, tie, leather gloves
- For women: high-waisted trousers, oversized coat, soft knit top, elegant boots
Shooting and Behind the Scenes
I worked with:
- Natural light + flash
- Sony A7 IV + 28–75mm 2.8 Tamron
- Tethered shooting to iPad for immediate review
- Mist filter
The shoot took place over several hours, starting with styling and planning outfits, followed by walking routes between locations and adapting each scene to natural conditions. Shooting was fast-paced and dynamic, balancing fashion poses with more personal, emotive portraits.
Final Results
The final material includes:
- Over 40 edited images
- 3–4 distinct looks per model
- Editorial-level quality suitable for press, social media and campaign use
- Video
This project reflects my typical workflow when handling brand assignments that combine creative direction, production and photography — especially when international clients need local insight and on-the-ground support in Milan.
At the end
This project reflects my typical workflow when handling brand assignments that combine creative direction, production and photography — especially when international clients need local insight and on-the-ground support in Milan.
Thinking about a similar project for your brand?
Let’s create bold editorial imagery together — whether you’re launching a new collection or elevating your visual identity. Reach out to discuss your vision.
As a photographer, I’m open to collaborative opportunities. You might also find my additional portrait and studio projects of interest:
