The Smile Slips is a creative photoshoot conceptualized, directed, and photographed by Lola LaChapelle. It draws from Stańczyk during a Ball at the Court of Queen Bona in the Face of the Loss of Smolensk by Jan Matejko, a painting of a 16th century court jester sitting alone, weighed down by the news of Smolensk’s fall in 1514, while a celebration continues around him, completely unaware. That contrast is what pulled me in. A figure whose purpose is to entertain and bring joy, yet he is the only one who understands the weight of what is happening. There is something unsettling and poetic about that kind of isolation, where performance and reality split, and the smile stops holding.

The Smile Slips centers on what happens after the performance ends. The clown exists to create joy for others, yet in doing so, loses sight of themself. It is that moment of realization, when everything has already been given away and there is nothing left. That contradiction drives the imagery. It is meant to feel unsettling, controlled, and slightly disorienting, while still holding an editorial edge. We kept everything stripped back so the focus stayed on the makeup and the emotion.

The direction leaned into restraint. A simple black dress and a clean bun kept the look grounded, allowing the expression, posing, and makeup to carry the weight. The blue gel lighting introduced a cold, introspective tone that borders on melancholic. The posing was intentionally raw and self-soothing. Hands around the neck, a curled, almost fetal position, and off-balance, bent forms create an uncanny tension that quietly disturbs the viewer.

This came together through a team that understood the intention. Violet Reil approached the makeup with precision, creating a minimal yet dimensional look using white elements and subtle glitter to catch the light. Natalia Andrade embodied the concept with control, delivering a quiet, restrained melancholy that never felt forced. The process was collaborative, focused, and genuinely compelling to bring to life.

Creative Direction and Photography: Lola LaChapelle
Makeup Artist: Violet Reil
Model: Natalia Andrade