By Nancy Corrales, Certified DRES Stylist

I just wrapped my first music video with client Jennifer Preston as she debuts her first single as "Jennifer Jean, Get Noticed". It was a new experience for me because I am usually on photo shoot sets or with clients, meeting for scheduled appointments, shopping and the occasional Fashion Emergency! This project consumed my life for TWO weeks preparing for every little detail and making sure I nailed my client's vision as well as my style concepts. So much goes into every scene:

• Color Scheme:Is there a color the artist identifies with? If not it should be the most flattering for her skin, figure, shape, and most important the Camera Lens! (An added 10 pounds). Figure out a color scheme you can keep consistent throughout the video, it doesn't all need to match but it needs to coordinate and make sense. Make sure the artist doesn't blend into the background, the main attraction needs to stand out creatively in all scenes AT ALL TIMES.
   
• Image: Who do you want to be? My advice to public figures is to have an alter-ego! You have to be able to separate your performer personality from your real self. In the world of entertainment it is vital to stay true to yourself and know how to connect with your audience through your public image. I could understand why the transition was a bit of a struggle for Jennifer who teaches elementary school. It is possible to have different passions in life, the trick is identifying with each. There's a transformation that occurs in all of us when we are in our element. Jennifer may be your everyday professional nurturing teacher, but on stage she transforms into an elite performer! Her Jennifer Jean image is very much playful and fun, with a touch of sex appeal through her fun dance moves.
   
• Putting it All Together:Anytime I have a new project, I like to create a story board. Even if it is just for me, the client, or in this instance, the entire cast. I create a vision of my style concept, take a few clippings from fashion and celebrity magazines, online trend research, style watch, etc. I create a story board from different sources to capture a visual for my client to be able to familiarize with the story behind it all. Jennifer and I worked very closely on this part of the project. The story board served as a check list and canvas to create and work through the process of putting it all together!  
   
• Inspiration: What is the story behind the video? In my client's video, "Get Noticed" and the objective is to be the center of attention to GET NOTICED. Jennifer has a deep appreciation for music videos and as a dance choreographer herself she wanted to replicate the energy from Robert Palmer's big 80's hit "Simply Irresistible". Capturing the essence of the inspiration in key, you must create something original that will tell a story of its own. Inspirations can come from anything, and my job as a stylist is to build on it with my fashion input.

Overall the Experience was fun and challenging! The video will be premiering soon and it will be my first Music-Video production. I believe I captured the essence of my client's inspiration through her style in the video. Esthetics plays a big part in every scene and it was a different task staying on top of every detail with so much motion on set. The hours were long but fun, as a stylist the pleasure is always getting familiar with my client and the project at hand.

At the DRES Academy I learned that everybody is a precious gem, with brilliance just waiting to be revealed.