Memphis

Ettore Sottsass's children playing in a world made of squiggles, terrazzo, and primary color

Memphis aesthetic photography reference
Referencememphis
Shoot Brief · Call Sheet● TC 00:00:00:00
AestheticMemphis
Roll032
Status0 / 5 Shot
LightFlat overhead light with no shadow the gra
WardrobePrimary and secondary colors, geometric ac

Shot list

Tap a frame to mark it shot — grease pencil, saved on this device

FR·01A
Full-body shot of subject in a Memphis-patterned environment where wardrobe and background share the same geometric language
FR·02A
Flat-lay of objects in primary colors arranged on a terrazzo-patterned surface
FR·03A
Environmental portrait in a space furnished with Memphis or Memphis-influenced pieces bold, playful, structured
FR·04A
Close detail of a Memphis surface pattern: the squiggle, the checkerboard, the dot at a scale that reads abstract
FR·05A
Portrait against a background of hand-painted geometric shapes in primary colors, the subject the only neutral element
Roll
00 / 05
⌁ LightingFlat overhead light with no shadow the graphic quality of Memphis does not benefit from shadow, and the pattern language should be read in full without the interference of light and dark

flat overhead light with no shadow the gra ✦

⌁ WardrobePrimary and secondary colors, geometric accessories, bold graphic prints; the subject should look like a Memphis object that has come to life

primary and secondary colors

Director noteCommission a graphic designer to create a hand-painted backdrop before the shoot the cost of a genuine Memphis-influenced painted set is recovered in the images immediately, and no digital background replications come close

Locations

1980s Italian design interior if accessibleStudio with hand-painted Memphis set designDesign museum with 80s design collectionColorful mid-century modern diner

Explore the aesthetic

Style guide
Color palette

About this brief

How do I photograph the Memphis aesthetic?
Ettore Sottsass's children playing in a world made of squiggles, terrazzo, and primary color. Commission a graphic designer to create a hand-painted backdrop before the shoot the cost of a genuine Memphis-influenced painted set is recovered in the images immediately, and no digital background replications come close
What shots should I get for a Memphis photo shoot?
Capture: Full-body shot of subject in a Memphis-patterned environment where wardrobe and background share the same geometric language; Flat-lay of objects in primary colors arranged on a terrazzo-patterned surface; Environmental portrait in a space furnished with Memphis or Memphis-influenced pieces bold, playful, structured; Close detail of a Memphis surface pattern: the squiggle, the checkerboard, the dot at a scale that reads abstract; Portrait against a background of hand-painted geometric shapes in primary colors, the subject the only neutral element.
What lighting works for Memphis photography?
Flat overhead light with no shadow the graphic quality of Memphis does not benefit from shadow, and the pattern language should be read in full without the interference of light and dark
Where should I shoot Memphis photography?
Good locations include: 1980s Italian design interior if accessible, Studio with hand-painted Memphis set design, Design museum with 80s design collection, Colorful mid-century modern diner.
What wardrobe works for Memphis photography?
Primary and secondary colors, geometric accessories, bold graphic prints; the subject should look like a Memphis object that has come to life

Generate shoot references in the memphis style

Elio reads your visual references and generates images in your exact aesthetic. Use it to build a mood board before the shoot or create composite references for your client.

Join the waitlist