How Shine Supplied Instruments for a Paris Jackson x ELLE Shoot
By Kat
In the summer of 2023, we got an unusual phone call. A production coordinator for ELLE Spain was looking for instruments, not to buy, but to use as props for a fashion shoot in Barcelona featuring Paris Jackson.
The Brief
The concept was “rock and roll meets haute couture.” They needed electric guitars, a bass, a vintage-looking amplifier, and something unexpected, a banjo, as it turned out. The shoot was happening at a warehouse in Poblenou and they needed everything delivered the next morning.
We said yes before they finished the sentence.
Choosing the Instruments
Sascha spent the evening pulling instruments from the shop and the back room. The brief called for instruments that looked great on camera but also felt real. No plastic props, no toy guitars, Paris Jackson is a musician herself, and the creative team wanted authenticity.
We sent over:
- A 1970s Fender Stratocaster in sunburst, the kind of guitar that photographs itself
- A black Fender Precision Bass, classic, clean lines
- A Vox AC30 amplifier, arguably the most photogenic amp ever made
- A vintage Deering banjo that had been sitting in the shop for months waiting for its moment
- A handful of guitar straps and picks for styling details
The Shoot
Paris Jackson showed up and immediately gravitated toward the Stratocaster. She plugged it into the Vox (which we had wired to actually work, not just look good) and played a few bars of something bluesy between takes. The photographer kept shooting. Some of the best photos from the day came from those unscripted moments.
The banjo ended up being a hit. It showed up in several shots as an unexpected texture against the high-fashion styling. Sometimes the weirdest choices make the best images.
What We Learned
This kind of work is not our core business, but it reminded us why we love what we do. Instruments have a visual and emotional power that goes beyond making sound. A well-worn guitar tells a story just by sitting in a room.
If you are a photographer, filmmaker, or creative director and need instruments for a project, we are always happy to talk. We have hundreds of instruments in stock, from pristine to beautifully battered, and we know how to match the right instrument to the right brief.
And yes, the Stratocaster came back safe.
