Photos by Eleanor; collages by Ben Giles. Thanks to Nao Koyabu for styling, and Arvida Byström for modeling. All clothing is stylist’s or model’s own unless otherwise noted. In this photo: rabbit ears by Vinti Andrews, bra by The Little Vicious, vintage bloomers from Beyond Retro, and gloves by Meadham Kirchhoff.
Fur coat by Meadham Kirchhoff. Shorts by American Apparel.
Striped tights and bag by Meadham Kirchhoff.
Dress by Meadham Kirchhoff. Sandals by Sophia Webster.
Vintage leotard from The Pocket Library in London.
Dress, bralet, and crochet shorts by Molly Goddard. Bat necklace by Meadham Kirchhoff.
Bag by Cram Cream. Stylist’s own shoes by Charlotte Olympia.
Vintage sweater from Beyond Retro. Fur gloves by Meadham Kirchhoff. Pumpkin stickers from John Lewis.
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Rookie is an online magazine and book series for teenagers. Each month, a different editorial theme drives the writing, photography, and artwork that we publish. Learn more about us here, and find out how to submit your work here!
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91 Comments
this is the best ever ever ever ever
Log in to replyOMG- this is actually perfection. This has to be the best shoot so far, hands down. I’m jumping for joy right now THIS IS AMAAAAAAAAZZINGGGGGGG GIRRRLS, now i know the true meaning of life
Log in to replyThese are great.
Numbers 9 and 11, she looks so much like Drew Barrymore.
Log in to reply+1 that’s exactly what i thought.
Log in to replyArvida is really pretty so are the clothes and photos ♡
This is one of the best albums on Rookie. Please take more pictures and share them with us Eleanor!
Log in to replySO GOOD
Log in to replybest shoot ever
Log in to replyAll of this is absolutely gorgeous!
Log in to replyi feel so stupid for not seeing arvida when i was in london now :( :( :(
Log in to replyEleanor, these are lovely and stunning and so original!
Log in to replyWHY CAN’T I HAVE YOUR SKEELZ
omigod BEST FUCKIN EVER
LOVE LOVE LVOE VLVOEVOOEOOVO <3
Log in to replyBEN GILES ON ROOKIE <3
Log in to replyTHIS IS THE BEST
LIKE, EVER
(p.s/ot the cereal background is perfect)
Log in to replyarggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhh TOO PERFECT LOVE BEN GILES AND ELEANOR OMG OMG OMG I HAVE TO GO LIE DOWN IN A DARKROOM NOW
Log in to replyBrilliant! x
Log in to replyTHIS IS MY FAVORITE SHOOT ON ROOKIE EVER EVER EVER. Holy crap, you guys, this is awesome.
Log in to replyThese are brilliant! So, so in love. What a nice treat for the eyes and brain on a boring office day. Arvida is so darling that I want to scoop her up and keep her in my pocket <3
Log in to replythis has to be my favourite rookie photo-shoot EVER!! so pretty :-) :-)
Log in to replyWow, the photos are aaaamazing!
Log in to replyThese are so, so, so perfect. I love the collage and Meadham Kirchhoff!!! I want to print them and put them on my binders so I can get away from the ugliness of school :)
Log in to replyI really like the collages on this shoot! How are they made? Is it digital or just hand work?
Log in to reply1, 3 and 10 are my favourites, but all are beautiful!!
Log in to replythese r so cool! i just saw the first one on tumblr and i thought ‘oh, the rookie crew would be proud of that collage’ and then…oh look, they ARE on rookie!!xo
Log in to replyI have the same question as allier! The pictures look like you printed them and physically collaged, then scanned them again. Is it done on the computer? Same with other images for articles and stuff that I’ve seen on here…
Log in to replythese are the best ever ever ever distraction from late night trig homework
Log in to replyMost amazing photo album ever! Am completely in love with all of them! Beautiful
Log in to replySO GREAT OMG
Log in to replyLove these so much.
Log in to replyThese pictures are so…grool.
Log in to replywhoops! I meant to say great then I started to say cool ☮
three cheers for Arvida Byström, shes such a beautiful person inside and out. Gosh that sounded so cheesy :/
Can I redeem myself?
GROOL <3
Log in to replyoh my gOD THIS IS MY NEW FAVOURITE THING EVER IN THE WORLD ELEANOR AND BEN YOU KILLED IT ASDFGHJLDJHSJSJAKAJDJHFGHSHFHDJFH
Log in to replywow this white physically able conventionally attractive model is so aesthetically pleasing! good job you guys!
Log in to replywhen someone models (for photos), the result the viewer is left with is images, visuals, and while that may only communicate so much, i’d recommend maybe reading a bit about arvida. while one may believe her outward appearance is conventionally attractive, there could also be discovery that other facets of her as a person are not what would be commonly classified as conventional. (also, i’d like to point out that body hair isn’t conventional or usual on models).
i fully understand being excited about seeing someone i can relate to on the grounds of outward appearance because i get a lot of “??” from all kinds of people about the way i look/my ethnicity(ies). i think rookie is doing a great job at encouraging creativity, expression, self-esteem, & positive vibes–or, generally playing a part in making the world a place i’d like to live. yay! high fives!
it’s hard to have it all in every photo shoot, & not everyone may realize that as effortless as a lot of people (& awesome contributors) make it seem, it can be expensive & a lot of work. if you’re not paying $$, models can be hard to find (some people can be reluctant or find it creepy that a stranger wants to photograph them, & personally, i hate being photographed).
when you photograph friends, they’ll look…well, the way they look. people can create the things they would like to see & submit (cause anaheed just doesn’t have enough to read through already, har har) or put them out in the world through whatever venue possible.
Log in to replyIt seems you can be unconventional within the parameters of conventional beauty and it stops there. It seems rookie isn’t looking critically enough. You all know about beauty privilege, the images rookie puts out are still pervasively THIS WAY and its still bad for the rest of us. It’s a very disproportionate kind of climate. Empower us with something uglier. Make that the new pretty.
Log in to replyguys do you know anything about arvida? do you know how she stresses out when she realises that her “conventional” beauty makes girls want to be like her, blonde, pale and skinny? do you know she is terrified of making someone feel inferior? arvida doesn’t want to be “beautiful”. are you saying she shouldn’t be photographed because she is too “beautiful”? arvida’s stomach sticks out. her breasts are asymmetrical. her pubic hair does not match the hair on her head. big deal, you might say. to her it isn’t a big deal. but by being confident in her body she makes others confident.
Log in to replythese two photos helped me feel empowered in my own body and accept my “wrong” boobs and “extra” fat and my stretch marks because i realised there is a way to look at them and see them as something pretty. that is something that makes arvida more than a “white physically able conventionally attractive model” in my eyes. it’s fine if you don’t think so but please please please, instead of just critisising, maybe try to contribute yourself? rookie submissions are always open. if you realise the rookie team can’t do something you are happy with, do it yourself. reach out. people will only be happy to help because your causes are good!! have a nice day xx
i am blond, blue eyed, thin and white. I fit the bill for being “conventional” although i have never really thought of myself that way. I don’t want to be thought of that way. I think Rookie does a good job of promoting all body types and skin colors as of equal aesthetic beauty.
Log in to replyI agree with you that really, Rookie does a much better job at showcasing diversity than your average teen magazine (or any magazine, tbh). But it’s a really important issue, and it makes me feel empowered that we can have these kinds of discussions and make our opinions heard without being immediately shot down.
Log in to replyI agree. It really sucks that, as a plus sized teen, I still don’t see my body type practically anywhere.
I can appreciate Arvida’s struggles, and I think she’s really incredible. At the same time, she does have the privilege of being really pretty in a “conventional” sense. It’s not nice to define people by how they look, but people that are “ugly” or do not fit society’s standards face that on a regular basis.
Everyone that is saying “Well, she struggled and she’s not bad because she’s pretty”, of course that’s true. But, I think people that don’t fit conventional standards also need to be listened to. We really shouldn’t downplay what they’re saying, because not seeing your own body type or skin color or anything that makes you more unconventional really does hurt, and can hurt in the long run.
Rookie is actually my favorite thing in the world, and I love them with all my heart. Rookie does an incredible job of showcasing different types of people (especially compared to EVERY other teen magazine out there. Rookie rules my heart <3). Rookie is a one year old, small staffed production. I can completely understand that they cannot please everyone.
I'm really glad we can all talk about this on here! <3
Log in to replyI’m glad we can talk about this on here too. Thank you guys all so much for voicing your thoughts — I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a civil comments section on the internet? YOU ALL RULE — and for being patient with and necessarily critical of us.
Log in to replyWhile I agree with you that Rookie (like every other publication) needs to be constantly striving to depict diversity in all forms, I don’t feel that all this post was trying to achieve was presenting a “white physically able conventionally attractive model” for us to visually consume. The model in question, Arvida Bystrom, is an artist and a feminist herself and has tackled the concepts of conventional beauty and social norms in her work. In other words, she’s totally awesome, which is, I believe, the driving factor behind the collaboration (as opposed to her conventional beauty). I don’t mean to be a proponent of the “pretty white people are people too so let us look at them all day long while we ignore everybody else” argument as it holds no logical weight in a society that essentially ignores everybody who doesn’t fit into these parameters, I must say that I do not think it’s helpful to condemn something simply for the reason that it was created by somebody who is white, able, conventionally attractive, cis-gendered, or heterosexual, without looking into said person’s background (for reference, her is Arvida’s blog: ).
Log in to replyVery very Good! Collages fit perfectly the photos. Congratulations for your work and thank you for sharing it with us!
Log in to replyThese are gorgeous!!
Log in to replyOTHER LEVEL. top tier.
Log in to replylove this!!!!!!!!!!
Log in to replyThe borders are so great and she looks so pretty!
Log in to replyomggggg everything is so great and good, so gets me into the spirit of halloween
Log in to replyI AM IN LUURRRVVVE.
Log in to replyHow did they add all of the graphics/images over the original pictures? If it was a computer program, what was it?
Thanks! These are gorge. :3
Log in to replyI love Arvida Bystrom, she’s so lovely and talented :) this is amazing
Log in to replyThese are so ethereal…I love it! It’s so… Halloween and candy and all things little-kid-fantasy! The colorful collages make everything look right out of a children’s book illustration!
Log in to replyoh my goodness, yes
Log in to replyBEST BEST BEST!!!!!
Log in to replyI am the only one who finds the albums like these that Rookie frequently posts pointless and substance-less?
Log in to replytell me more about what you’d like to see. : ) i love that people ask these things and wonder about it and look critically at photos… i think there’s a real need for that and i think it’s awesome to hold people who’re in control of what a lot of people will see accountable for things… i’m finding within myself that it’s best to be understanding and positive so no one feels guilty, discouraged or confused… like… i like to paint a picture of how i’d want to see things or try to explain why i feel the way i do… i think this approach will lead to real, positive progress for everyone and it’s exciting to be able to work together in that way kind of. : ) i’m very much open to this discussion. it’s my responsibility to care and work hard otherwise i wouldn’t allow myself to contribute work for magazines and such…
also, elle i like these a lot… i’ve been thinking of kids dressing up a lot lately and these remind me of that somewhat. one person trying on many different identities kindof and just getting excited about it and playing around, experimenting, having fun. i think a lot about how people might look if there were no societal guidelines and the article about “is it ok for a little boy to wear a dress” comes to mind. kids don’t know yet what is wrong and right… they’re just putting on what they are drawn to, trying on different colors and identities. i’d love to see this on much more of humanity. just to see lots of different types of people who see their physical appearance as something more flexible and abstract instead of seeing it as something restrictive
Log in to replyWe’re not a conceptual art collective. I think it’s perfectly fine that the photography on a website for teenagers is just a visual, eye candy extension of the monthly theme. If you’d like to offer some more specific ideas on how our photography could be more substantive, we’d love to hear it.
Log in to replySO GOOD, PROBABLY MY FAVORITE ONE SO FAR!!
Log in to replyThese are lovely.
Log in to replyThis is so lovely!
Log in to replywow! my favorite so far! the styling is gorgeous, Eleanor’s photography is genius and the collages are absolutely creative, hands down!
i love rookie :)
czarina♥
Log in to replyAMAZING!
Log in to replyThere is much whimsy and fantasy in these photos! Its delightful!!!
Log in to reply10 is gorgeous.
Log in to replyLoving the way these awesome photos are made awesomer (is that a word?) through the collaging/editing. Such a wonderful photo album and it really gives off a surreal feeling.
Log in to reply:D
Wonderful photos.
Log in to replyoh my god, I am in love with these photos
Log in to replyOh beauty!
Log in to replyThe whole shoot is so beautiful, although the first three are my favourites! xxx
Log in to replyThis is the most awesomely beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
Log in to replyThese are wonderful, I love them!!
Log in to replySO BLOODY LOVELY.
Log in to replycrushing on #9.
THIS IS BEYOND AMAZING! :O
Log in to replyThese are nice but typical and catering to only a portion of rookie’s audience while excluding the people who are rarely represented here. These people have spoken up time and time again and rookiealways humours them with apologies and promises of more effort to be inclusive and I have yet to see any real sincerity to prove you are trying. Photoshoots are perfect opportunities to branch out from the thin white pretty girl image. Give a voice and face to the people who are constantly under-represented in feminism.
Log in to replyAwesome!!!!! These are so magical!! <3
Log in to replyThese are very good!
Log in to replyNumber 4 is my favourite.
These are wonderful and brilliant and magical and thank you Rookie!
Log in to replyFavourite! mad collage skills
Log in to replyI really like how you break unsaid rules. It’s a convention of our society that girls shave their legs and armpits and I like that you really do not seem to care about these conventions.
Log in to replySorry for my bad English…
I love this editorial/photo album. It looks like a Prada Fantasy lookbook, except with Meadham Kirchhoff. Rookie should do more stuff like this!
Log in to replyThis is incredible.
Log in to replylove these! especially no 4! haha
Log in to replyThese are AMAZING!
Log in to replyThese are actually breathtakingly beautiful she looks so Tim Burton crossed with splatters of colours I have fallen in love!!
Log in to replyobsessed with the blue sequin leotard. want.
Log in to replyB. Giles does perfection once again
Log in to replyThe second photo <3
Log in to replyGah amazing photos and effects :-)
Log in to replyThis is literally the best thing ever.
Log in to replyEVER.
I am so in love with this
Log in to replyMolly Goddard is increds I am so happy Rookie shares my love for all her stuff!
Log in to replyThis is like a gigantic collage of everything that is great about GREAT STUFF!
This is so great! I love everything <3
Log in to replyThis is the most amazing and beautiful album on here so far. I’m entranced and my imagination is all fired up :) I’m gonna print out every single one of these. *in love*
Log in to reply