That first shoot produced exactly zero usable commercial images by traditional standards. But it produced trust . What makes the Chanel-Gal partnership notable isn’t just the aesthetic—it’s the economics of how they work. In an era where influencers are often directed by corporate social media managers and photographers are hired per campaign, Chanel and Gal have flipped the script.
“A sneaker brand offered Chanel $80k for a solo post—no me,” Gal says. “Just her, their product, their in-house photographer.” chanel camryn, gal ritchie
“I’m not trying to capture Chanel dancing ,” Gal tells me, tucking her legs beneath her on a leather couch in their shared studio space in the Arts District. “I’m trying to capture the second before she decides to dance. The breath. The thought. That’s where the real image lives.” That first shoot produced exactly zero usable commercial
“Most brands come with a PDF,” Gal says, pulling up her phone to show me. “Color palette. Three keywords. A shot list. We throw it away.” In an era where influencers are often directed