The Abel Perfume Minis

Photographer Grace Yasemin Watson @gracegem /
Art Direction Base Design @base_design /
Prop Stylist Maja Secerov #MajaSecerov /
Stylist Tom So @sothatstom /
Assistant Duncan Mellor @duncanmellor /
Production Gabriela Ramos @gabrielaramos /
Talent Heroes @heroesmodels /

A Study in Scent: Abel Fragrance at Vandervoort Studio
Minimalist elegance and sensory storytelling came together in a recent shoot at Vandervoort Studio, where photographer Grace Yasemin Watson captured the essence of Abel Fragrance’s coveted perfume minis. Known for its commitment to clean, natural ingredients and evocative scents, Abel’s refined identity was given a striking visual language under the direction of a talented team and the controlled, artful atmosphere of our studio.

The brief for this campaign was deceptively simple: highlight the purity and individuality of Abel’s fragrances without distraction. To achieve this, Watson—celebrated for her precise, emotionally resonant still life photography—partnered with creative agency Base Design, whose art direction favored clean lines, tonal balance, and subtle tension. The result was a series of images that feel at once restrained and expressive, echoing the brand’s ethos: “Where art meets nature.”

The set was staged on our seamless white cyc wall, taking advantage of Vandervoort Studio’s ability to shape light with accuracy and intent. Prop stylist Maja Secerov crafted a highly intentional arrangement of fragrance bottles, each set at just the right distance to convey harmony and contrast. A silhouetted hand—an elegant, humanizing detail—enters the frame to create a quiet narrative of selection, evoking the ritual of choosing a scent each day. The overall effect is serene yet tactile, a perfect visual metaphor for fragrance.

Lighting was critical to the shoot’s mood. Soft, diffuse backlighting created silhouettes and gentle gradients that enhanced the transparency of each bottle, while casting sharp, elegant shadows across the surface. Watson’s attention to composition was complemented by the technical finesse of the team, including lighting assistants Duncan Mellor and Tatum Mangus, who helped execute the minimal look with cinematic polish.

The styling by Tom So brought an understated confidence to the talent, whose presence—though secondary to the product—added depth and warmth to the narrative. Working with models from Heroes, the team subtly reinforced the notion of fragrance as an extension of self-expression. Whether through gesture or composition, each shot suggested intimacy, choice, and connection.

Production was led by Gabriela Ramos, whose seamless coordination ensured the team could move swiftly and efficiently through a tightly planned shoot day. Her attention to detail allowed the creative team to focus entirely on the artistic intent, making the most of the natural daylight and the studio’s versatile space.

Vandervoort Studio was selected not just for its layout and lighting options, but for the level of control it allows a production of this precision. The adjustable in-house rigging, variety of backdrops, and access to modular props made it easy for the team to fine-tune their setup while remaining nimble. As always, our space offered more than just four walls—it provided a creative ecosystem that let the vision come to life without compromise.

This shoot was a clear example of how minimalism in image-making is anything but simple—it requires exceptional discipline, taste, and collaboration. The Abel Fragrance campaign is a testament to what happens when a world-class team meets a production environment built to match their standards.

We’re proud to have hosted this moment of visual storytelling and look forward to welcoming more thoughtful, detail-driven projects like it.