This week, I got the opportunity to assist in my second photoshoot! This one was a lot of fun. I came into the office early to steam clothes and prepare for the shoot. I packed up my boss’s car in a way to make sure all the steamed clothes wouldn’t wrinkle. We then headed 30 minutes out of the city to this industrial location to shoot. I first was confused how this was going to be a good place for a photoshoot, but my boss has a creative eye. She has been a photographer since she was 18, so it is really cool to see her vision come to life. My responsibility was preparing all the looks and keeping the clothes organized. So I would set up the clothes and shoes that needed to be used next to keep a smooth process. I would say I mostly worked as a fashion assistant for this shoot. This was an all day event that was a really cool experience to be a part of. 

Later that evening, some of my friends and I went to watch the last Sweden World Cup game against France. Even though we lost, It was a lot of fun! We learned new Swedish chants from the locals. The next day, I did another small shoot with my boss. On the side, she styles and photographs apartments that residents are selling. It’s kind of neat to see real residential houses here in Sweden, and I enjoy watching how she photographs different types of shoots. This weekend, I spent in Vaxholm and Uppsala. It was cool to see Sweden outside of Stockholm. Vaxholm was beautiful, I enjoyed lunch at a little cafe and spent the afternoon sitting by the water. In Uppsala, the weather was pretty bad, but I got to see the Uppsala Cathedral, which is the largest cathedral in Scandinavia. It was a beautiful cathedral, and someone was playing the organ the whole time I was in there which really added to the experience.

Overall, I have not found it very difficult to adapt to Swedish culture. Before coming to Stockholm, I expected there to be many cultural differences, but I have found that people are welcoming and the workplace hasn’t been too difficult to adjust to. Swedish people tend to be more reserved and quiet, but I also find myself to be that way. I don’t mind comfortable silence and I also don’t love small talk, so it doesn’t bother me. The biggest difference I have noticed is the pace of the fashion industry itself. In Sweden, people are a lot more punctual, but also more relaxed. Photoshoots aren’t super high stress, and the majority of tasks seem more laid back. I even told one of the makeup artists I was working with that I worked shows at New York Fashion Week and her response was, “wow that intense and stressful.” In New York, I am used to running around and rushing everything. If a task needs done, it needs to be done immediately. While here in Sweden, I feel a lot less pressure and just complete the task when I have time.

I don’t think it has been super difficult to adapt, it is just a strange change of pace. I feel like I was ready to be rushing around every day, but it doesn’t feel so stressful here. It is nice because I feel like I get more time to explore Stockholm. In New York, I would work 12 hour days during fashion week and feel very burnt out, with little time to spend doing anything else. I have struggled with a little unclear direction at my internship, but that is something I have also encountered at New York Fashion Week. This can be difficult for me, I like very clear direction and to do exactly as I am told. It can be hard for me to figure out how I want to do things without any sense of direction. Overall, I am really enjoying my time in Sweden and the experiences I am gaining through my internship. I can’t wait to apply the skills I am gaining here to my next New York Fashion Week in September.