Photoshoot: Summer Soderstrom and John Wick Style Car

I got a chance to spend a day in Los Angeles with a hot car and an even hotter model. The car will remind you of the one Keanu Reeves drove in the original John Wick movie.

The model was Summer Soderstrom who’s also an actress with over half a million followers on social media. Together, we would spend the day making what I would later cleverly title “Photoshoot: Summer Soderstrom and John Wick Style Car.”

Looking For The Coolest Parking Spot in LA

I needed the right atmosphere for the photoshoot. I wanted something with an industrial vibe drenched in sexiness.

In search of the proper mood, I didn’t settle for shooting on the streets of LA. Instead, I went underneath the streets.

I Got Tunnel Vision and Loved It

I was in one of LA’s famous urban tunnels called the Lower Grand Tunnel. Not only does it offer that hidden, subterranean edginess, but it also provides plenty of daylight. That’s right, daylight in a tunnel.

There’s a cutaway in the roof that delivers a surprising and stunning view of the LA skyline. All that light funneling downward in an artfully controlled manner makes it a great place for location shooting.

In LA, Even Tunnels Have Movie Credits

Look carefully. Does the tunnel seem familiar even if you’ve never set foot in downtown LA? Maybe that’s because it’s been a character in some of the most iconic movies of the past several decades, including The Terminator and Beverly Hills Cop II.

Today, it remains a favorite locale for car photo shoots. This time it was my turn.

The Ideal Car for a John Wick Prequel

The car is a 1965 Ford Mustang, a predecessor of John Wick’s 1969 Mach 1 version of the Mustang. In the movie, one of the bad guys refers to the car as a Mustang Boss 429 model. However, you car geeks will know from the difference.

The Boss 429 only shipped with a manual transmission, but Wicks’s car has an automatic transmission. Plus, the non-functioning air scoop on the hood of Wick’s car is identical to the one on the Mach 1 rather than the air scoop on the Big Boss.

Where Did I Find the Great Ride?

The car for my photoshoot belongs to Michael Lockridge, who purchased it from a friend four years ago. It’s powered by a 289 Windsor V8. The car even has its original black paint.

I had been dreaming about using a hot vintage car like this in a photo session for a long time so I’m thankful that Michael allowed me to make my dream a reality.

I can’t imagine using a vintage 1969 Mustang for daily driving, but Michael said he drives it to the grocery store. Of course, the car doesn’t exactly blend in with the everyday, normal traffic.

Michael said it turns heads. And gorgeous cars, like beautiful people, sometimes get preferential treatment. He revealed the time when the police were preventing other cars from entering a blocked-off parking area, but they waved him through after admiring his car. Oh, the life of hot sports cars.

It’s Time For Double-Duty Daria

The tricky part about this photoshoot was being without my stylist Daniel Alamillo. He had prepared the outfits but couldn’t attend the shoot. So, I had to be my own stylist, choosing the little details that help a model look fabulous.

Fortunately, the model, Summer, made my job much easier. This was my first time working with her and I was immediately amazed at how stunning she was even before she changed into any of the day’s outfits.

It was easy to discuss my overall ideas for the photo session wit her. I also ran through my vision of how we would channel certain high-fashion looks with specific pieces of clothing and jewelry.

What a Difference a Day and Traffic Makes

I had already used this location for another campaign. But that time, I chose to shoot upstairs. When you move downstairs, you get a completely different look.

The traffic surprised me. When I was there a few days in advance, the traffic was light. On my day there with Summer, the traffic was noticeably heavier.

But I had two things working in my favor. First of all, Summer was a pro, so she didn’t allow the cars going by to interrupt her concentration.

And secondly, it’s LA, one of the most photogenic cities in the world. The people who live there are so used to seeing photographers and movie crews on the streets that they don’t pay much attention.

That’s good. It would be hard to run a photo session if you were interrupted every other minute by some loudmouthed guy shouting pickup lines at your model.

The Lady in Red Latex

We started with Summer in a red latex dress which really popped against that black Mustang. The outfit gave Summer a very edgy vibe.

I then switched back to my stylist duties and got Summer ready for her next look involving a pair of red tights, a bra top, and a choker. I just hoped Daniel would approve of my choices.

If You Love Cars, Try Not to Lose Consciousness

We were all over that Mustang. I thank Michael so much for allowing us to climb on his prized sports car. I’m sure vintage car fans will have heart palpitations when they see Summer on the car’s roof, hood, and trunk.

Remember, that’s not computer-generated imagery. The model is actually sprawled on a classic car from the 60s. While car lovers are trying to regain composure, other viewers will have their own medical issues when they see how fabulous Summer looks.

Time to Take a Break and Bond

I took a few minutes to show Summer some of the pictures I’d taken so far. It was great that she really liked the shots.

I think it’s important to make the model feel like a collaborator rather than simply a mannequin to be moved around. By sharing pictures with your models, you can help them to better understand your goals for the photo session. Once they understand the look and feel you’re aiming for, they’ll be better equipped to help you meet your objective.

Having the Knack for Feedback

I also gave Summer lots of positive feedback. I didn’t shy away from letting her know when she struck a great pose. If you watch the video, you’ll hear me use the word “beautiful” again and again.

I wasn’t saying it just to say it. Summer’s work was exactly that, beautiful. And I believe you should let your models know how well they’re doing. They need and appreciate helpful feedback in their line of work just like the rest of us do in our jobs.

In the Black

Summer continued looking stunning when we moved to our third outfit. Her black tights and black knee-high boots made her blend so well with the car. When she sat on its hood, she looked as though she were part of the car. It was like my two models for the day had become one.

Final Shots

For our fourth outfit and final shots, we went inside the car. Summer’s all-black legless and sleeveless outfit gave us a nice contrast with the Mustang’s red interior.

Can you believe Michael let us pose Summer with her stiletto heels on the driver-side door? Once again, this photo session wasn’t for the faint of heart. That’s especially true when you consider Summer was even willing to lie on her back partially underneath the car as traffic zoomed past.

No Cars or Models Were Harmed in the Making of This Photo Session

I thought the photoshoot went extremely well, so I was relieved when Summer said she enjoyed it, too. She even referred to me as her new friend. I love taking great pictures, but meeting fascinating new people and making friends is even better.

She said the photo session was different from what she had experienced, giving her a chance to try an edgier look. She also stated a preference for working with female photographers. Yes!

I hope the Mustang feels the same way.

Written by Daria Koso – Fashion Photographer