Model Lara Menezes wearing a black strapless dress against a black background for the Exit Magazine Black Orchid project.

Model Lara Menezes seated on the floor in a black pleated skirt and top for Exit Magazine Black Orchid editorial

Model wearing a black fringed coat with large pink orchid flowers tucked behind ears against white background

Model Lara Menezes wearing a black outfit adorned with pink orchids for Exit Magazine Black Orchid editorial

Model wearing an oversized black hat with a pink flower and black trousers against a white backdrop

Model wearing a voluminous black dress and textured green scarf stands in a bright industrial studio space.

Model leaning against a white brick wall wearing a black jacket and matching skirt with white floral accents.

Model Lara Menezes wearing sculptural black top and white trousers against a white seamless studio backdrop.

Model Lara Menezes wearing a black suit standing wide-legged against a large white warehouse door for Exit Magazine

Model Lara Menezes wearing an oversized black leather jacket and white shoes against a plain white background for Exit Magazine.

Model wearing a black mesh hooded top holding a branch of pink orchids for Exit Magazine Black Orchid project

Model in a black halter dress with pink orchids draped over her shoulder against a neutral background

Model wearing a feathered pink mask with painted eyes and dark lipstick, photographed against a white background.

Model wearing a black buttoned collared top and white floral headpiece against a dark background for Exit Magazine.

Exit Magazine Black Orchid 2026

About

In Black Orchid, a compelling editorial project for Exit Magazine, fashion director Sam Ranger and photographer Ben Parks craft a visual narrative that thrives on the tension between architectural austerity and organic fluidity. This fashion photography series masterfully leans into the monochromatic, utilizing a stark palette of black and white to serve as a high-contrast canvas for the ethereal presence of pink orchids and lime green accents. Through a lens of editorial minimalism, the project eschews distraction, allowing the interplay of texture—ranging from dense black fringe and glossy leather to delicate floral petals—to dictate the mood. Model Lara Menezes anchors the work with a neutral, direct gaze that feels both grounded and otherworldly. The technical execution, captured through a blend of studio strobe and soft natural light, emphasizes the clean geometric lines of the curated ensembles, which oscillate between avant-garde sculptural forms and tailored sophistication. Makeup artists Karla Quiñonez Leon and Phoebe Walters elevate the portraits with precise, subtle touches that highlight the subject's features while maintaining the project's cool, composed atmosphere. By stripping away extraneous detail, Black Orchid reads as a refined meditation on contrast, showcasing how minimalist studio portraiture can breathe new life into classic luxury fashion tropes while maintaining a sharp, contemporary edge that feels entirely at home within the pages of a high-end publication.