The horror stories: stolen items, copied ideas, last-minute collapses, unexpected chaos, stress overloads, and all the improvised saves that kept a shoot or campaign from falling apart. This is the mess behind the magic.
Rakel Sanchez
(Fashion Designer & Stylist)
Q: What was sold to you as a “big opportunity” and turned out to be a disaster?
“Collaborations” are often glamorized but can become traps. And education... total failure. I spent all my money and still didn’t learn basic pattern making or sewing.
Sebastián Bedoya
(Photographer)
Q: What’s the most chaotic thing that’s happened on set—and how did you not burn it all down?
Early on, I worked mostly with natural light in expensive outdoor locations. You basically had to do a spell for no rain—literally cross knives and hope.
We had to figure out ways to move fast if the weather or light changed. I’m good under pressure and have great supplier contacts, so sourcing props isn’t my issue—but moving them is.
Another chaotic part is managing space and timing—like setting up one set while the photographer shoots another, so we’re not wasting hours.
"
You basically had to do a spell for no rain—literally cross knives and hope.
Camila Barvo
(Textile Designer, Master’s Degree in Textile Art)
Q: Has everything ever spiraled out of control and you had to improvise? What happened?
So many times. I managed relationships with external suppliers—knitwear from Peru, embroidery from India—and deliveries could take up to six weeks, which was way too long for our design timeline. Often, by the time the samples arrived, the designer would change everything.
We had to improvise constantly—like coloring stripes with a Sharpie to shift the tone, dyeing feathers for a sample shoot, and for production, we’d request the updated tone. Once, I even took fabric home
and hand-painted it in my kitchen so we could use it in a dress that needed to be ready for a shoot the next day.
"
I even took fabric home
and hand-painted it in my kitchen so we could use it in a dress that needed to be ready for a shoot the next day.
Adrián Cuerdo
(Fashion Photographer)
Q: What’s the most ridiculous or unexpected thing you’ve had to deal with during a shoot?
One time, a singer paused the entire shoot for an hour just to meditate in her dressing room.
"
One time, a singer paused the entire shoot for an hour just to meditate in her dressing room.
Barbie
(Fashion Model)
Q: What’s the most chaotic thing that’s happened to you on set, and how did you manage to keep going?
I’m a very trusting person, which can be dangerous. More than once, I only realized something was off after a session ended. For example, I’ve had a couple of experiences with photographers who seemed super professional while shooting—but once the session was over and I was on my way home, they started messaging me asking to shoot again, this time with nudity or very sheer clothes.
They even invited me to do photoshoots at the beach and suggested we stay in a “hotel” together. And these were pretty well-known photographers, which made it even more shocking.
So I learned to always set clear terms beforehand—with the brand, the photographer, the stylist, the agency, everyone. We need to discuss exactly how the shoot will go. I now avoid nudity or overly sheer looks altogether. I also make sure to talk about things like schedule, logistics, meals, and payment, because clients often take advantage of models’ time and treat them like mannequins.
There have been times I’ve fainted from standing too long under the heat. So now I’m always extra cautious.
Gustavo Quiceno
(Art Director)
Q: What was that moment when you thought, “It can’t get any worse than this,” and then it did?
Once, we flew in a model from the U.S. for a lookbook. She arrived in the middle of the night and the call time was 7 a.m., so she asked to rest a bit. Everything seemed fine—until the makeup artist tells me she’s shaking, sweating, and having a panic attack. We rushed her to the ER, where she was diagnosed with exhaustion. The agency didn’t agree, but I decided to send her back to the hotel to rest.
Hours later, during a meeting, we checked her Instagram and saw she had posted a story from the hotel rooftop—drinking a Negroni with some guy she had just met. We confirmed with the hotel that they had gone out together. We canceled the contract, and legal told us that until she left the country, she was our responsibility.
It just kept getting worse: she started posting party stories all over the city, we lost contact, and eventually found her unconscious in her room from an overdose. The guy she was with helped her recover. She missed her flight, we had to buy her another one for later that day, and only relaxed once we knew she had boarded.
Beyond the logistical chaos, it really hit me how alone and exposed people in front of the camera can be.
I also realized that in situations like this, you're not just managing a production—you’re taking care of people. Definitely one of the most surreal and stressful moments I’ve experienced in production.
Manuela Alvarez
(Fashion Model)
Q: What’s the most chaotic thing that’s happened to you on set, and how did you manage to keep going?
One time during a photoshoot there was a blackout across all of Spain, and the whole team scrambled to save the lighting. They managed to get us a bit of light, and in the end, we kept going—and the photos turned out pretty impressive because of what happened.
