Your next girls’ date? Turn it into a movie From Uptown Girls to Marie Antoinette, the perfect films to recreate in a photoshoot with your friends
September is the Gen Z New Year, the month when we mentally prepare to get back to our routines, armed with good intentions and new boxes to tick off on the calendar. Winter doesn’t seem so scary when the agenda is also filled with plans for fun. A vineyard aperitivo, a walk through a pumpkin patch, and a themed Off Campus party: the golden rule is to have the right group of friends. I know, you’ve already marked all the dates of the city’s vintage markets, saved the name of the nearest charm bar, and noted down the address of that pastry shop that has started making realistic fruit to follow the trend. However, there’s one fun activity to do with your friends that, according to TikTok, is definitely worth trying and could literally transform your Instagram feed: organizing a photoshoot inspired by your favorite movies. Anyone who went through their teenage years in the early 2000s will definitely remember the photo dates designed to fill our Tumblr dashboards. Today, we’ve evolved, with cameras and perfectly curated makeup, but if there’s one thing that will never change, it’s having our adventure partners by our side. So, let’s take a look at which movies to draw inspiration from for our shoots.
Friendship photoshoot: 5 cult movies for group photos
Uptown Girls
Y2K style, fashion and a rock ’n’ roll attitude: plenty of users are trying to recreate the look of Molly Gunn, played by the unforgettable Brittany Murphy. To become true “uptown girls,” you’ll need a rolling clothes rack lo aded with colorful outfits to push around the city. Even the subway could become your underground set. As for the look: throw your hair up in a messy style, wear overalls or jeans with floral details, add some sunglasses with pastel lenses, and you’re ready to go!
Greta Gerwig’s Little Women
@capturedbyvivi My Little Women!! Can’t believe it’s been 2 years since that shoot! and I also still can’t believe they girls didn’t know each other before, the energy was so unmatched!! we took some photos indoors as well, do you want a part 2? :) #littlewomen #jomarch #gretagerwig original sound - Vivi | Super 8 & Photographer
In 2019, Greta Gerwig showed us the Alcott universe through her own eyes for the first time. Have you been a group of four best friends forever? You could step into the shoes of the March sisters. From golden autumn leaves to snow-covered rooftops in winter, a house surrounded by nature will be the perfect location for your photos. The goal is to recreate a dreamy, full-on cottagecore atmosphere. To put together the costumes, all you need are long skirts, knitted cardigans, capes and cozy shawls. As props, pick out key elements from the movie, such as flower crowns or a picnic basket. When taking the pictures, keep the scene’s sense of movement in mind: poses should feel spontaneous, with hugs and group dances.
The Sex and the City Girls
Take a time machine and leave behind the four girls from mid-19th-century Massachusetts to become four other girls living in early-2000s New York. Friendship is the collective protagonist of Sex and the City, along with fashion, obviously: the two essential ingredients of any proper photoshoot with your friends. Carrie, Charlotte, Samantha and Miranda made us dream with their looks, which have now become part of the collective imagination of Pop Culture. Just think of the pink top and white bubble skirt worn by the journalist in the TV series’ opening credits: an iconic outfit. For your photo date, you’ll have to turn the city into your own personal stage, making use of benches, crosswalks, taxis and street kiosks. One scene you absolutely have to recreate? Cosmopolitan in hand, arms raised toward the sky, and suddenly it’s a toast to friendship.
Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette
@tinavanderr Sofia Coppola inspired photoshoot results #photoshoot #fashion #sofiacoppola #sofiacoppolafilm #marieantoinette #letthemeatcake Playground Love (with Gordon Tracks) - Air
We can also raise a glass in the 18th century, perhaps at the banquet of Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette, played by Kirsten Dunst. Released in 2006, the film completely changed the rules of period dramas, becoming a style manifesto that blends coquette and pop aesthetics with those of the era. Pastel shades, lace, pearls, rosy blush, petals and glazed pastries should be the stars of your photos. The tablescape should be decorated with colorful macarons, cherry-topped cakes and sparkling drinks. Don’t forget to recreate the contrast between opulence and eccentricity that defines the film’s set design with unexpected elements: a lilac Converse is the ultimate wildcard.
New York Minute
Before saying goodbye to the spotlight, the Olsen twins spent one last crazy day in the Big Apple. Mary-Kate and Ashley are identical in style too: they are, after all, the co-founders of luxury brand The Row. However, the characters they played in the 2004 movie represent opposing archetypes. On one side, we have Jane’s polished, preppy aesthetic; on the other, Roxy’s rock and grunge attitude. We could call them the ancestors of the “clean girl vs messy girl” movement. If you’re a duo who sees yourselves in this narrative, you’ve found the perfect theme for your photoshoot. For the first look, go for minimal tops, plaid miniskirts and ballet flats. For Roxy’s outfit, choose a T-shirt featuring your favorite singer, ripped jeans, and finish everything off with the inevitable red beanie.
