'Cause you're what I adore, babe // High Color Jewels Product Shoot

Photo by Rilee Jackson for High Color Jewels

It was 5:30 a.m. on a Monday at my parent’s house in Richmond. I woke up to the sound of silence after shutting off my phone alarm. I quickly took a shower, prep my skin and delicately put on my makeup for this photoshoot.

“Natural look? Smokey? Matte?” I thought. “Forgot, Katie wants the smokey-lined look. Wait. How do I do that again?”

It’s been over two years since I’ve freelance-modeled, so I’ve forgotten how to pose on camera (Instagram and Twitter selfies DO NOT COUNT as modeling, FYI.) Since I’m going back to school full-time, fully operating this site, and continuing to work as a stylist part-time, I might as well make some extra income to pay the bills.

Coincidentally, Katie, the owner of High Color Jewels, a new bespoke jewelry company based in Richmond, VA, contacted me via Instagram direct messaging. Professionally speaking, as a model this was/is nothing unusual. She told me she needed a model to model a bunch of exclusive jewelry pieces for the website, as well as social media. I had a phone call with her later that night. She was one of the nicest and most informative people about an inquiry, and kept in contact with me during the coming days, which is amazing for a gig like this.

Ok, makeup, done. Hair—oh my god, it’s 6:45 a.m. Katie is going to be ON HER WAY TO THE LOCATION—it’s not quite done.

Hair, finally, looks big and voluminous.

“Sure, totally rolled out of bed looking like this,” I thought.

I quickly grabbed my bags full of clothes for the shoot and tip-toed out of the back door trying not to wake my parents. I drove a peaceful 30-minute morning drive to the South end of the city, where I met Katie in person and Rilee, the photographer, at Rilee’s home studio. I’ve gotten used to the habit of not waking up before 8 a.m., so I needed coffee—desperately. Rilee gladly gave me a cup of coffee. I felt so much better after a full sip. Whew.

Then, the photo shoot swiftly began.

I felt like a million bucks wearing these pieces one by one or all in each collection—diamonds, rubies, morganite, aquamarine and emeralds—they were all beautifully crafted for a special meaning.

More About the Brand

The bespoke jewelry/gemstone company, High Color Jewels, was founded over a year ago by Katie and Will Wright. Katie told me she and her husband source their gemstones in Africa through various countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, design the jewels based on the client’s needs, and send off the design to an artisan to craft a perfectly precious gemstone ring. The brand is all about having a fun and modern, but elegant approach to their pieces of jewelry. Constellation sets, statement rings and tiny drop earrings are what make the jewelry line so unique. It’s not easy to find uniquely-crafted designs with precious gemstones, but this small local business is a diamond in the rough. (No pun intended.)

Alright, enough of me talking. Here are some more photos to end off that warm breezy morning + this post.