Kira Corbin
Kira Corbin
Prop & Interior Stylist
Portland, OR | New York, NY
www.kiracorbin.com
Instagram @kiracorbin
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WHAT DO YOU DO?
“My job as a prop stylist has two parts, one is the sourcing and curating of items before a shoot and the other is manipulating and arranging them for photography at the shoot.”
For example, I bring the plates, napkins, forks, etc to food shoots and set the scene where the food stylist will place food and the photographer will capture the image. I bring extra decor and plants to interiors shoots and make sure the rooms looks neat and organized. I'll do things like reorganizing shelves, fluffing couch cushions, or steaming curtains. I find things for shoots by renting them, buying them, or many stylists accumulate large prop collections over time that they can source from. My collection is always growing. It's like being a professional hoarder. With good taste. When I do soft goods styling usually that is much less prop oriented and much more about arranging clothing or accessories to look a certain way. For those shoots the clothing and accessories become the props that I am manipulating.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
I interned and then assisted and just kept working hard until I got here. Still working hard! Still moving forward. More specifically, I studied graphic design and then interned at fashion magazines and assisted on fashion shoots before transitioning into still life. All of that experience is the foundation for my work. It may seem unrelated but I think my education in graphic design and my experience in fashion really strengthens my vision as a stylist now, being in touch with other areas of design and having a developed eye is key.
Food Styling
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
I am about 15 minutes away from getting on a plane to LA to shoot a cookbook for a popular TV series over the next 10 days. Also working on setting up my new studio space and future prop rental house in Portland, OR.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
So hard to describe in words! I certainly have a style that is my own, but a lot of my job is being able to interpret a client's style and audience and help them communicate with that demographic in a way that represents them. I always bring my perspective, but sometimes my job is about finding a new perspective.
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
I'm pretty squarely in the still life photography industry currently, though I have been asking myself a lot lately the old "where do you want to be in 5 years? 10 years?" and thinking about what that evolution might be like.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
Anything that is not immediately pressing (like a shoot I have tomorrow) just seems to always drop to the bottom of the to-do list. Why do to-do lists always feel so endless? This past year I definitely struggled with making time for smaller personal projects and interests, but I did also have a very busy year- Moved across the country, bought a house, got married... It was a lot! I guess I could give myself a break for not checking off all of the little boxes, I checked off a lot of big ones. And there's a whole new year of opportunities coming up soon! To start fresh and try to prioritize those other things.
Interior Styling
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
This is such a good question and almost too tempting to think about... Ha! Definitely would have had them unpack and organize my whole prop collection into the new studio space for sure. That was so much work and would have been amazing to have extra help.
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
I love working on a variety of projects because I think that a little diversity strengthens the creative muscles. Recently I've really been enjoying doing shoots that are more lifestyle oriented and have models in them. I still do the prop part, but it's nice to have the human element interacting with the scene I set up, it brings so much life to the image.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
The first step is always just to get in touch and start a conversation!
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
Get stuck, switch it up.
This member profile was originally published in February 2017.