Eyewear Campaign in Milan — Stellar Optical Photoshoot | Dmitrii Shmatov. Dmitrii Shmatov — High-End Portrait & Fashion Photographer in Milan

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.

Close-up portrait of female model wearing thick tortoiseshell eyewear, captured on location in Milan

Male model in vintage-inspired optical glasses and wool coat, photographed in front of classical architecture

Editorial-style fashion portrait of a couple wearing sunglasses, shot against a brutalist building in Milan

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.

Arcade architecture with marble floor and luxury storefronts used as backdrop for fashion photoshoot in Milan

Elegant Milanese building facade with classical sculptures, part of the fashion shoot location route

Map of central Milan showing the planned route of the Stellar Optical editorial fashion shoot

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

Fashion photographer captures female model walking confidently in wide pants and oversized coat during eyewear campaign

Full-body portrait of male model in formal fashion look, photographed in an urban Milan setting

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.

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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.

Fashion portrait of a man in silver glasses and gray wool coat with scarf in Milan

Close-up portrait of woman with oversized glasses and a confident expression

Fashionable man and woman in statement glasses posing against a modern architectural background

Close-up of men's transparent eyeglasses and accessories during fashion shoot in Milan

Man and woman posing in front of the Banca Popolare di Milano in elegant winter outfits

Man in dark sunglasses and grey wool coat leaning against modern marble wall

Eyewear campaign photography – woman in sunglasses walking past historic Milan architecture

Stylish woman walking across a Milan street in a long coat and wide-leg trousers

Stylish man in gray overcoat and scarf posing against stone wall in urban Milan

Stylish couple standing on a zebra crossing in Milan wearing sunglasses and tailored coats

Backlit portrait of a blonde woman in oversized coat and square eyeglasses in Milan

Location fashion shoot Milan – woman in designer sunglasses under architectural arcade

Smiling woman in oversized tortoiseshell glasses wearing an olive green coat on a Milan street

Fashion couple examining a watch together in front of a historic building in Milan

Elegant woman in sunglasses and long gloves posing with hand on head by a grey stone wall

Editorial eyewear shoot in Milan – male and female models walking confidently across urban street

Stylish portrait of woman in brown sunglasses and gloves – fashion photographer Milan

Fashion model with tortoiseshell glasses and pearl earrings posing in an olive coat and brown trousers

Fashion photographer Milan – duo portrait in grey suits and sunglasses for eyewear campaign

Female model wearing oversized sunglasses in front of iconic Milan architecture – editorial eyewear campaign photography

Fashion photographer Milan – male model in sunglasses checking time during eyewear campaign

Close-up of model with pearl earrings and round sunglasses – eyewear campaign photography in Milan

At the end

Client feedback message saying 'Everyone loves the photos! Great work!!' sent in a chat

Portrait of Dmitrii Shmatov wearing glasses and a turtleneck, in black and white

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.