Our cover photographer Ann He’s images have been featured in Elle Girl Korea and Vision Magazine, and she counts Nike and America’s Next Top Model among her clients. What else is remarkable about her? Uh, maybe that she’s 17 years old and is a student at Highland Park High School in Dallas. PaperCity sits with He to find out where she shops, what’s on her iPod and what inspired the stunning photo on our cover. Inspiration for our cover shot: “I’ve actually been working on a light painting photo concentration for my high school. Also, a recent visit to the “Youth & Beauty” exhibition at the DMA made me fall in love with the 1920s, so a combination of those variables and enduring inspiration from Paolo Roversi kind of came together to create this shoot.” Favorite photographers? “Nirrimi Hakanson (Firebrace), whose stories and portraits are simultaneously candid and idealist. Actually, she’s affected the development of my fashion aesthetic immensely, from the rich color hues to the selective capture of those fleeting in-between moments. I also can’t get enough of Paolo Roversi’s editorials from back in the day, when he still shot large-format Polaroids. And Sally Mann has always been one of my favorites.” Favorite stores in Dallas? “Free People, LF Store, Buffalo Exchange.” What inspires you? “Anything and everything — art museums, literature, dreams, conversations, films!” Favorite song: Currently, Simple Song by The Shins. First camera you owned: A Canon Rebel, though I became obsessed with 35mm-film SLRs and began collecting them off of eBay. Favorite color: Royal turquoise — but it changes with the seasons!
IMAGE: Photographer Ann He. Model Abby Williamson, Wallflower Management. Hair and makeup Al Tidwell, Kim Dawson Agency, Dallas. Styling Lauren Withrow.