"In-Between Frames"

“In-Between Takes” is an exploration of creation as a living, ongoing state rather than a fixed destination.

This project exists in a space between a working studio and a cinematic set. It embraces controlled chaos: Instead, the environment breathes, alive with adjustment, interruption, and subtle transformation. The work unfolds as a series of evolving moments. We observe creation as it happens: gestures being tested, forms being reconsidered, ideas layered and reworked in real time. The act of making becomes the subject itself. At its core, it proposes that meaning is formed in the in-between states, unfinished, imperfect, and constantly becoming. It is in these moments of revision and uncertainty that the work reveals its most honest expression.

A study of creation as something lived, the work unfolds as an “elevated BTS” where process becomes the point of focus. Nothing is fixed. Everything is shifting. What matters is not what is finished, but what is felt in the act of becoming. “In-Between Takes” holds space for the unfinished, the imperfect, the searching, the alive, where meaning is not declared, but slowly revealed through attention.

GET THE LOOK

There’s something intimate about watching a look come together in real time. The beauty direction for this project was built around that feeling: skin that feels lived in, texture that remains visible, and hair that moves softly rather than holding a perfect shape. Nothing overly polished. The result sits somewhere between preparation and completion, where the process itself becomes part of the beauty.

Inspired by the quiet, tactile world of backstage image-making and editorial portraiture, the look focused on velvety skin, diffused lips, and softly brushed pin curls that feel effortless and touchable.

COMPLEXION

The skin was kept luminous but controlled, with a soft matte finish that still allowed natural dimension to come through. Instead of masking texture, the makeup was built in sheer layers to create a blurred, almost powdered softness on the skin.

A lightweight serum and balm were pressed into the complexion first to maintain hydration beneath the makeup. Foundation was applied sparingly through the center of the face and diffused with a brush for a seamless finish. Concealer was only used where needed, keeping the skin believable and alive.

Cream blush was pressed softly into the cheeks and lightly powdered down to create that velvety, diffused finish that catches light without appearing glossy.

LIPS

The lip was designed to feel soft and worn-in, almost as though the color had faded naturally throughout the day. A balm was layered first for hydration, followed by a muted rose-toned lip liner and lipstick pressed into the lips. The edges were intentionally blurred to avoid anything too precise or graphic. The final effect feels plush, velvety, and understated.

EYES

The eyes remained minimal and quietly defined. Soft neutral shadow was washed across the lid, while mascara was concentrated at the roots of the lashes to maintain separation and softness. An ultra-fine eyeliner was applied to subtly elongate and frame the eyes, bringing just enough precision to contrast the softness of the look. The goal was subtle structure rather than dramatic definition.

HAIR

The hair centered around brushed-out pin curls to create movement that felt airy and romantic rather than overly styled. Sections were set loosely with clips and allowed to cool before being gently brushed through to soften the shape.

A lightweight styling spray and flexible hairspray were used to maintain softness while preserving movement through the lengths. The result is hair that feels touchable and fluid, echoing the project’s larger exploration of becoming and transformation in progress.

TOOLS

The products and tools moved through the project like quiet collaborators, each leaving behind traces of texture, softness, and form. Oribe styling sprays and Kevin Murphy brushes guided the hair into soft, brushed movement, shaping curls that loosened and shifted with every gesture. Together, the tools became part of the narrative itself, moving gently within its becoming.

CREDITS

Art direction by UP CLOSE and MAYILLAH EZEKIEL

Photographed and directed by UP CLOSE

Assisted by MAXIME GUAY

Motion by BOBBY LEON

Makeup & Hair by MAYILLAH EZEKIEL

Wardrobe by FRÉDÉRIQUE GAUTHIER

Retouched by MELANIE LAPOINTE

Featuring LILIAN BRAUWERS