Shanina Shaik has been one of fashion’s most in-demand talents since she started in the business at the age of 17. The IMG model worked with every major fashion house and designer including Chanel, Tom Ford, and Jason Wu. Just last year, she graced the cover of Harper’s Bazaar Arabia shot by photographer Greg Swales in Abu Dhabi. When the two recently reconnected to work together again, the shoot took place under very different circumstances, this time a digital shoot for CR Fashion Book, where she served as the stylist, makeup artist, and hair stylist while Swales shot remotely over FaceTime. Lucky for them, the result was just as magical. We caught up with Shaik to see how she is staying creative while living in quarantine.

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How did the idea for this shoot come about, and how were you able to work through the creative concept remotely?

I had the honor of working with Greg Swales in Abu Dhabi for my Harper’s Bazaar Arabia cover. We created an amazing bond and have kept in touch since then. Greg reached out after I posted an Instagram and asked if we could do an at home video shoot. I’ve always loved his creativity and the way he captures women. After seeing how beautiful his work was for Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, I knew he would do the same for this project. It was a yes from me!

What were some of the logistical challenges putting this together and executing this idea during this time? 

I’m currently in Ibiza and I don’t have a huge selection of clothing so it was a little tricky styling things. We’re also on such different time zones so had to figure out a time that would be the most ideal for shooting – we wanted to make sure the lighting was perfect!

In what way was this project more challenging than traditional shoots? In what ways was this easier? 

I think the most challenging part of shooting at home is coordinating all of the moving pieces. You have to create your hair look, then move onto the make-up. You then have to figure out what you’re wearing, scout the location, think about the lighting and what time of day or position works best for the person on the other end of the camera. Wifi also comes into play as you want to try and capture a clear image!

It was a fun and an interesting challenge for me, and I certainly learned a lot. The easiest part is that you have a lot of creative freedom and control. Greg and I were able to be ourselves, work together, have fun and create something beautiful that’s out of the box!

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How has quarantine impacted your creativity? 

I’ve become way more creative during quarantine and have found my mind wants the escape and thrives off being creative. I’ve done a few photoshoots at home, created a Tik Tok account, am really focused on creating lots of content for my followers and have just launched an Instagram live series on @shaninamshaik called ‘Wellness Wednesdays.’ The series is focused on talking to experts and leaders in the wellness space, which is super important right now.

Do you foresee a change in the way you will shoot content down the line? How do you see the fashion industry changing after this? 

I think there will be great changes in the way the industry works and how we create and shoot content moving forward. Being in quarantine has certainly given me more confidence and has pushed me to be more present, using and use my voice and ideas to help others out there. I think for all of us, we will definitely be more aware and think about the resources we’re using and the processes that are involved when we create. I also think there will be a shift of focus towards supporting smaller businesses, fashion brands and designers.