The Amazing Brains Behind Tanishq Bridal Campaigns: Sharon Nayak {Interview}

A while ago I told you about a special interview with Sharon Nayak, the brains behind the Tanishq bridal jewelry shoots.

We are so honored to have to take time out of her busy day to chat with us and even make a drawing. Thank you Sharon!

Tell us a little about yourself!
I studied art in Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath but was born and brought up (till I was 12) in Bahrain. I attribute most of my love for fashion, beauty, colour and aesthetics partly to being gifted those genes (and interests!) and having constant access to television and owning a few fashion dolls.

I loved creating dioramas and fashions for my dolls (most of which I still have). I also loved to draw and drawing has helped me discipline myself and learn the balancing of a picture with colour and composition. Comic books, graphic novels story books and Japanese stationery were some of the other inspirations.

In college, I thought I would become a painter. It was only later I realized one can get a regular salary by doing ‘commercial art’ so my painting took me in that direction.
 
Tell us about your design company.
I am the co-founder of Sharon Nayak Design which I set up in 2010/11 with my business partner Amit Jain in Bangalore. We are a boutique creative consultancy and specialize in luxury, fashion, and lifestyle.

Our goal is to deliver only the most stunning and breathtaking work possible to our clients. Our passion and a craving for perfection leads to develop some of the most campaigns possible.

We create anything from print to ads, logo design to packaging, signage to visual merchandising, catalogues to coffee tabke books. We constantly change the treatment and visual look of these to create something fresh and unique.

 
You have worked with some of the most famous brands, like Tanishq, when it comes to bridal luxury. How does it feel?
It feels euphoric to have worked on these brands. Together we changed how the bridal space is perceived in print giving feeling and beauty to the imagery, but keeping it real and candid at the same time.

 
What was the inspiration behind Tanishq collections like Blushing Bride and Zoya’s Marie Antoinette collection?
‘Blushing Bride’ was completely conceptualized as moments that a bride goes through before and during her wedding. Her moods, thoughts, her anxiousness. I wanted to capture these moods rather than just catalogue the jewellery and make the picture lifeless by just putting together the bridal outfits with the sets.

We accomplished a lot more by creating the new and real life bride rather than a model showing off a new collection.

Zoya and Marie Antoinette were inspired from the Zoya jewellery itself: you feel like a queen. Their boutiques are known to spoil customers and provide top notch service.

Marie Antoinette is of course the most known embodiment of luxury and opulence. She had a love for the latest fashion, the best champagne and exquisite food and deserts. I combined the two styles, and shot jewellery against, and on, caviar, pastries and cake.

 

What has been your most favorite collection you worked on?

That’s tough! I loved working on most of the collections since their inspirations were so diverse! But in terms of the photography styling and the end result I would have to say “Diamonds of Class” is my favorite.

I took a retro slant to the entire look down to the vintage car. Loved it! I even used one of my mothers tartan capes and that was very exciting.

There was a story and there was fashion; the Indian version of it. It was like taking Grace Kelly or Jean Shripmpton and adorning them in ethnic wear. A beautiful fusion of Indian and western.

 
I know you are not a wedding photographer, but can you give a South Asian bride-to-be a tip(s) on being the center of attention and photographed by everyone?

I think the best way to stand out is to dress differently. Go retro or exotic. Add something special. Customs and traditions do come from the past so it wont be unbecoming to take it forward. From hairstyles, to make up, to the actual outfit. And be happy!

 
How would you dress up a pair of jeans and a white tank top with something Indian?
I would do up the hair in a high bun, give swooping Indian kohl eye make up. Nude lips.

Jewelry: Add a bridal gold chain belt for the jeans and matching gold bangles. Maybe large chandelier earrings with uncut diamonds.

Shoes: 60’s white pumps.

Here’s a drawing I did to visually conceptualize it.

(That is pretty sexy! Reminds me of Chanel’s East meets West)

Thank you Sharon for taking time from you schedule to speak to us!

You can see Sharon’s work on her website or at Behance. Over the next few weeks, we will be featuring the Tanishq collections she’s shot.

Photographs are under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported