Messenger Bag

- Digital Fashion

THE BRIEF

This messenger bag is based on a vintage bag I found in a charity shop. I'd been looking for a project that would push my texturing skills. While this bag is minimal in design, the vintage leather had a lot of character that I knew would be challenging to capture.

My aim was to then create a series of photoreal CG environments that were inspired by fashion and beauty photography to showcase the bag. With a limited use of assets, I focused on composition and lighting to differentiate each shot.

 

CREDITS

Self initiated

Leather handbag with detailed stitching on a sandy surface.
Elegant brown leather satchel bag with stitching details for women.
Stylish leather handbag placed on a rock surface for outdoor fashion.
Copper wire lying on rocks during sunset.

BREAKING DOWN THE BUILD

I started by measuring the bag and creating a sewing pattern.

Sewing pattern template with detailed measurements for clothing construction.

The pattern was then drawn out in Marvellous Designer. The advantage of using Marvellous is the accurate and realistic fabric simulation. The result was a natural resting pose for the bag that would've been time consuming to replicate by hand. Once I had a pose I was happy with, I then brought this into Cinema for clean up. I also added the buckles and rigged the lid for posing.

Child's school bag with checkered pattern and buckle closure.
Leather briefcase for professionals and business use.
Leather briefcase for professionals and business use.
Leather tool pouch for carpentry and DIY projects.
Leather briefcase for professionals and business use.
Leather briefcase for business and work use, stylish and durable.
Leather briefcase for business and travel purposes.
Leather bag with buckle detail placed outdoors against a wooden fence.
Leather briefcase for professionals and business use.

*please excuse the compost bin background!

THE LEATHER

The vintage leather has a lot of details that I wanted to capture. The wrinkles from years of use flowed along the creases of the bag. The stitch detail was very thick with a clear, prominent puncture point. The patina subtly changed the hue of the leather.

Starting with a fine leather material, I slowly layered up these details. For the directional leather creases, I built custom alphas in Designer.

Sand patterns illuminated by light, creating intricate textures and shadows.
Neural network pattern in black and white, illustrating complex interconnected structures.
Abstract light streaks on a black background.

FINAL ASSET BREAKDOWN

Elegant grey leather briefcase with buckle closure, perfect for professional use.
Leather briefcase for work, crafted with high-quality materials and stylish design.
Beauty0068-copy

DESIGNING THE SET

I had started out this project with the intention of re-using a pre-existing shot that had been cut from a different project. Because of this, I knew that I would be placing the bag in a rocky landscape of sand. Compositonally, I was inspired by the following perfume photography.

Black Khanjar perfume bottle placed on beach rocks and sand.

Photograpy for Oman Luxury by unknown

Leather crossbody bag with adjustable strap on sandy surface.

Final Shot

Les Benjamins perfume bottle on driftwood, minimalist style.

Photography by Zeynep Özkanca

Leather satchel bag on a dark surface with a neutral background.

Final Shot

Natural perfume bottle on wood with wooden cap, minimalistic design.

Photography by Studio Woork for Zenjiwa Living

Elegant leather handbag displayed on rocks, showcasing stylish and high-quality accessories.

Final Shot

Aman smoked body butter jar surrounded by rocks and sand, creating a natural and earthy aesthetic.

Photography by Jake Curtais for Aman Skin Care 

Leather briefcase on desert terrain with rocks and sand.

Final Shot

EVOLUTION OF INSPIRATION

The trickiest shot was definitely the last shot. I really liked the lighting in the original inspiration, but I had to reluctantly accept that it didn't work for this product. To pick out the detail and highlight interest on the bag, it broke the realism of the lighting and made the shot feel slightly off. I made the decision to relight it from scratch, trying out a sun & sky rig along with a more moodier, spot light set up.

MessengerBag_Still_040_001
Leather handbag on rocky desert landscape.
Leather handbag on rocky terrain with a clear sky.
Leather satchel bag, stylish accessory, on rocky terrain with natural lighting.

DISOVERING THE DETAILS

One of the most rewarding parts of creating shots like these is being able to find new compositions by exploring the set up. I was really pleased with  how well the lighting held up as the camera moved around. Finding these extra compositions allows me to highlight the details and care that has gone into creating the asset.

Leather handbag on sandy beach with shadows, showcasing style and craftsmanship.
Leather handbag with adjustable strap on a rock at the beach.
Elegant brown leather satchel bag with stitching details for women.
Leather briefcase with buckle closure, crafted for professional and business purposes.
Up of a leather bag handle showcasing detailed stitching and premium material.
Leather satchel bag with adjustable strap and classic design.
Leather satchel bag with buckle detail for stylish accessories.
Leather handbag with white stitching details, close-up shot.
MessengerBag_Still_030_003_Close_03 copy 2
Leather bag on sandy surface with rocks in background, showcasing stylish accessories for outdoor ad.
Elegant leather satchel bag for women, perfect for work or casual outings. Crafted from high-quality.

Got a project in mind? Get in touch!

jodie(at)jodieleedurkin.co.uk

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Contact

+44 7450144418
jodie(at)jodieleedurkin.co.uk
Caldicot, UK

Portrait of Jodie Lee Durkin, professional branding image.