Celeb photographer BJ Pascual defends Coleen Garcia’s maternity shoot after ‘copycat’ allegations

September 7, 2020 - 4:54 PM
15208
BJ Pascual and Coleen Garcia
BJ Pascual in this photo uploaded on his Instagram account on Aug. 30, 2020 (left) and Coleen Garcia on this photo uploaded on her Instagram on Sept. 6, 2020 where she is photographed by BJ Pascual for Preview magazine's September 2020 issue (right).

Celebrity photographer BJ Pascual called out a showbiz blog after it implied that the concept of actress Coleen Garcia‘s maternity photoshoot was lifted from American model Gigi Hadid‘s own photoshoot.

Pascual particularly slammed Fashion Pulis’ article showing similarities between the Rococo-inspired concept of Garcia’s recent photoshoot for the September issue of Preview and Hadid’s maternity shoot.

The Instagram account of the blog also pitted Garcia against Hadid in a “Who did it better” post where it compared the two would-be mothers’ photos and claimed that the American model’s was the “original version.”

“Who did it better: #GigiHadid vs. #ColeenGarcia? I’m partial to the version that was released first (original version) – Gigi’s!” part of the caption reads.

Fashion Pulis on IG
(Screenshot by Interaksyon)

Pascual said that Garcia’s photoshoot concept was not copied from Hadid’s, who first shared her pictures on Instagram on August 26.

Hadid’s picture that featured her in an olive-green dress was posted on August 31 even though her photoshoot took place on July 26, as stated in the caption of her post.

“A few more from 7.26,” the American model wrote.

Meanwhile, Garcia had her photoshoot on August 1, according to Pascual’s video clip where he showed saved pictures of the actress on a computer.

The files indicated that it was “created” on August 1.

“Hi @fashionpulis please be respectful naman of Filipino creatives. Some of us actually work hard on the conceptualizing shoots para to create these images. We shot Coleen’s AUG.1 Gigi’s (undeniably stunning) ‘ORIGINAL’ photos were not released until AUG. 26!” Pascual wrote on his Instagram Story.

“It’s so shady that you CROPPED and FLIPPED the image to suit your ‘copycat’ narrative. Please read my comment and watch my vlog na rin to see what our real references were. Thank you,” he added.

Fashion Pulis on its article featured Hadid’s Instagram post and highlighted her caption which noted the date of her photoshoot. However, the model only started to release her pictures on August 26.

A portion of Fashion Pulis’ article highlighting Gigi Hadid’s Instagram caption. (Screenshot by Interaksyon)

Pascual reiterated that the public only saw Gigi’s photos on August 26 through her Instagram even though it was shot in July as he defended the concept of Garcia’s maternity shoot.

“So, unless may psychic abilities ako, or baka sobrang close siguro kami ni Gigi, ‘di ko lang alam (lol), WALANG WALA talagang way para ‘kopyahin’ namin ‘yung shoot nila! Sadyang nagkataon lang. Stop making this an issue,” he wrote in his Instagram Story.

Pascual’s vlog also showed the scenes behind Garcia’s shoot.

 

Garcia’s photoshoot was inspired by Rococo paintings which originated in 18th century Paris and were characterized by soft colors and curvy lines.

The artworks in this style usually depict “scenes of love, nature, amorous encounters, light-hearted entertainment, and youth,” according to a global art market newswire.

Garcia is due to give birth anytime soon. It will be her first child with television host and singer Billy Crawford, whom she has been married for more than two years.

“I want to look back on this pregnancy and remember all the happiness that each milestone brought us,” she said in her Preview interview.

“I want to remember that, even in such a gloomy time, this was more than enough, and it was all we needed for us to be filled to the brim with joy and hope,” Garcia added.

She also shared in her interview the difficulties and joys of being pregnant amid a pandemic, as well as her preparations for giving birth at home.

Garcia announced her pregnancy last March.