I will forewarn you. This post is looooong. The story, the pictures, the whole shabang. I know there are “rules” to blogging in keeping it simple and short, only displaying those few photos most pertinent to your brand. But I broke all the rules on this one. I’m so hood.
I had been dreaming for months about photographing a beautiful horse in the sheer sunlight standing next to a gorgeous bride in a long flowy cream dress. I envisioned all things whimsical with a touch of enchantment. Bunny rabbits hopping about in the distance and a butterfly landing on the tip of my bride’s finger as she sang peacefully about her long awaited groom. Okay, maybe not that whimsical. In fact, I just made all that up. But for months I dreamed and then for several weeks I coordinated and planned this stylized shoot with a very clear vision of elegance, femininity and originality. Something fresh yet bold with a dash of edge. Because that’s how I roll. And I couldn’t have done any of it without the help of brilliant interior decorator, Amy Roberts. Amy helped bring all my crazy ideas into reality from floral arrangements, to choosing a location, to arranging the horses (thanks Wendy!), to pulling my car out of a ditch which I aimlessly drove into. This shoot started out hopeful and planned and unfolded into something stressful, crazy, and bizarre. And I wouldn’t have changed a thing! It was one of the most fun and creative outlets I’ve had in a long time.
The day started out cursed when my computer crashed at home. But I didn’t see the flag. What followed after was a series of events that would make this shoot unforgettable. First we encountered illegal gunfire at our chosen location, forcing us to scout out a new spot while trying to work on a time crunch due to lighting. During the search I literally drove my car into a drainage course and poor Amy, the decorator, had to get out and coach me to gently turn and floor it in an effort to unmerge the tire. I’m not much of an off roader, (obviously) so when the horrendous trench released us I was ecstatic and clapped like a baby seal. Only to find once hitting actual pavement that I had ripped off my front bumper. Amy put on her cape and came to the rescue, once again, with her macgyver kit, somehow rigging us up well enough to continue looking for a spot. Once we found it we unpacked everything and started setting up and then from nowhere came a wind storm! With everything blowing over I moved quickly to photograph what I could. In the midst of the mini hurricane one of the vases blew off the table and smashed our poor models iphone into pieces. I whined “I’m sooooorry!” as I began praying to God that nothing else would go wrong. Once we wrapped up I quickly started photographing the horses with the models as the sun was no longer waiting for us. In an effort to move things quickly I started running over toward a spot I wanted to try and I ate it face first in the dirt, squealing like an overweight pig as I went down. The girls laughed and made sure I was okay as I smiled and picked sticks out of my teeth. Next, as I was demonstrating to one of the models how I wanted her to pose with the horse she stepped a little too far back and the horse furiously kicked her right in the thigh. I could have died. I replayed everything in slow motion before coming to the realization that what just happened was real. She held on to me as we made a painful face together and I asked repeatedly if she was okay. I’ve never been kicked by a horse before but I have been dragged, I can’t imagine this being any better! Thankfully she has experience riding and handled it like a pro and even continued shooting!! This girl is a total rock star. I mean really… if that was me I would have for sure rolled around on the ground with my thumb in my mouth for a good three hours. We continued shooting until we completely lost all light possible and treated ourselves to a hot cappuccino when all was said and done. Thankfully we made it back in one piece and laughed about everything on the drive home. Definitely one I will never forget.
Thank you so much Tegan and Taylor for being so unbelievably kind, patient, and down to earth. Not to mention flawlessly beautiful, inside and out.
Special thanks to a great team:
Decorating and Styling - Amy Roberts
Hair & Make-Up – Katie Beaudin
Headpieces & Accessories – Haati Chai
Thought you may enjoy a couple shots of us hard at work.
This was literally RIGHT after poor Taylor got kicked. This wasn’t the bad horsey that did it, but they were both really mad at that point. Good thing the horse whisperer showed up.
I also do a great impression of Fire Marshall Bill.
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