The Timex for J Crew campaign, shot with Common Image and photographer Sam Nicklin, runs on playful still-life: a retro desk in one frame, a hand pressed into sand in another, the watch at the centre of each. Two very different worlds, shot in a day.
What links them is the hand, and that is harder than it looks. The hand in the cluttered office and the hand on the beach have to read as the same relaxed, in-character hand, even though the scenes share nothing else. It comes down to taking direction and holding it — keep the shape, adjust by a centimetre, hold again, and look as unforced on the fortieth take as the first. On a multi-setup day, that consistency is most of the job.
Stuart Reed did the hand work. He has been at it for over 25 years, as both a hand and a commercial model, with credits from Cunard cruises to Creed fragrances. A model who also works commercially reads the whole frame, not only the hand, which tends to show up on set as fewer resets and less explaining.
Campaigns like this come together when everyone is working to the same standard. Produced by Common Image, shot by Sam Nicklin, with Stuart on hand.
CREDITS
Creative Concepts by Sam Nicklin @sakegrni
Photographer Sam Nicklin @sakegrni
Production by Common Image @commonimage__
Producer & Agent Tom Burns @tombburns
Props Stylist Katherine Pickup @katherinepickup
1st Lighting Assistant Connor Egan @connortimothyy
2nd Lighting Assistant Sarah Wilson @sarah.wilso.n
Digi-op Anna-Sophia John @annasophiajohn
Groomer India Rawlings @facesbyindia_
Wardrobe Stylist Jessica Harris @nationalltreasure
Home Economist Maricella Espinosa-Blohm @maricellacelinedion
Props Assistant Lucia Barsegian @luciabarsegian
Runner Misa Mlambo @misamlambo
Hand Model Stuart Reed @stuartreedmodel
Retouching Sam Nicklin @sakegrni
