In Tha Cut Published in ROIDX Magazine (August 2026)
By Contagion Media
Every fashion editorial begins with an idea. But once the camera comes out, the team arrives, and everyone starts moving, the original plan becomes something else.
That was the energy behind In Tha Cut, published in ROIDX Magazine, August 2026. Created by Contagion Media as a test shoot designed to bring emerging creatives together, experiment with different approaches, and push everyone's skill set a little further, this fashion editorial was set in Downtown Phoenix, Arizona.
The shoot brought together photographer EJ Mañón, model B Bailey, wardrobe stylist Austin Castillo-Leovan of In Tha Cut Op Shop, assistant Maddie Tha Baddie, and producer KBR. Each person had a different role, but the project worked because everyone arrived with the same willingness to create.
And perhaps more importantly, nobody needed the set to feel overly complicated for the images to feel intentional.
Starting With the Right Team
The concept for the In Tha Cut came from KBR, who wanted to highlight Austin’s fashion brand while also recognizing that this particular group could work well together.
As producer, KBR handled the logistics behind the shoot—from determining everyone's roles to scheduling and bringing the team together—but the creative direction started with a simple idea: put talented people in the same space and give them room to do what they do best.
That's an important part of how Contagion Media approaches test shoots.
These projects aren't simply about producing another set of photographs. They're opportunities for artists to practice working together, test new ideas, strengthen their portfolios, and discover what happens when different creative perspectives meet.
For this shoot, the answer was a fashion story that felt polished without feeling overly constructed.
Downtown Phoenix Became the Set
There was no elaborate studio set surrounding the team.
Instead, the editorial moved through Downtown Phoenix—streets, alleys, and the architecture surrounding the city becoming part of the visual language.
That choice gave the photographs a natural sense of movement and place. The environment wasn't just a background. It helped create the contrast between the urban surroundings and the clothing.
EJ Mañón photographed primarily using natural light, incorporating flash when the image called for it. The approach kept the shoot grounded while still allowing the photographs to have the controlled quality expected from a fashion editorial.
The Evolution of the Looks
B Bailey's wardrobe helped give the editorial a visual progression.
The shoot began with sportswear, bringing a casual, contemporary energy to the photographs. Against Downtown Phoenix's streets and architecture, the look felt naturally connected to the environment.
Later, the wardrobe shifted. A suit introduced a more refined side of the editorial, creating a contrast between the earlier streetwear-inspired imagery and the sharper, more polished photographs toward the end of the shoot.
That change gave the editorial more range without requiring an entirely different concept. It demonstrated something that can be easy to overlook in fashion photography: sometimes a simple wardrobe change is enough to change the entire character of an image.
The Stylist Was Also in Front of the Camera
Austin Castillo-Leovan brought another layer to the project. Known for In Tha Cut Op Shop as a closet curator and wardrobe stylist, Austin was responsible for helping shape the looks while also modeling in the editorial himself.
Being both a model and stylist is a unique role in a photoshoot. You're thinking about how clothing works on someone else while simultaneously becoming part of the visual story. That dual role fit the spirit of the shoot. In Tha Cut Op Shop is Austin's fashion brand, and having its name attached to an editorial featuring his styling perspective gave the project a personal connection.
Rather than treating wardrobe as something secondary to the photography, the clothing became part of the identity of the shoot. The final photos moved comfortably between streetwear, urban fashion, and a more sophisticated editorial aesthetic.
When a Relaxed Set Produces Serious Work
One of the most memorable aspects of Contagion Media’s In Tha Cut fashion editorial wasn't a particular piece of equipment or elaborate production moment. It was how professional everyone remained while the environment stayed relaxed. There is a misconception that a serious creative production needs to feel intense to produce high-quality work. This shoot offered a different example.
The team could be comfortable while still paying attention to the details. Everyone understood their role. Everyone was willing to adjust. And the shoot continued moving without losing its creative energy. That kind of environment matters, particularly when emerging artists are involved.
A test shoot is a place to learn. It's also a place where people can begin figuring out what they bring to a creative team. For B Bailey, that opportunity carried even more significance.
The Last Test Shoot Before the Next Chapter
In Tha Cut became B Bailey's final fashion test shoot before signing with Contagion Media. Artists often look back at their careers and remember the obvious milestones, like the first major campaign, the first publication, the first big client, the first time their work reached a larger audience. But those moments are usually built on much smaller opportunities that happened beforehand. Test shoots are one of them.
Making Artists More Important
Contagion Media is an art agency built around a straightforward mission: make artists more important.
That means working across mediums and creating opportunities for photographers, models, stylists, musicians, designers, filmmakers, makeup artists, writers, and other creatives to develop their work and collaborate.
In Tha Cut as a fashion editorial represents that philosophy on a smaller scale. There was no massive production surrounding the shoot. No elaborate set was necessary. A group of creatives came together in Downtown Phoenix, brought their individual skills to the project, and made something stronger through collaboration.
Opportunities like these are often where the most interesting work begins. Not when everything is already perfect, but when artists are given enough room to experiment.
Behind the Images
Looking at the finished photographs, it's easy to focus on the clothes, lighting, locations, and final poses. Behind them was something much simpler: a group of creatives who worked well together.
In Tha Cut isn't about proving that an artist has already arrived. It's about what can happen when artists are willing to show up, experiment, collaborate, and keep creating before they know exactly where the work will take them.
Want to create with Contagion Media? Contagion Media specializes in content marketing and creative campaigns for artists and creative brands, while bringing together artists across multiple disciplines to create work with purpose.
Published by KBR on August 12, 2026
