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You have no idea how much it means to me how much positive feedback and support that I have received from the images that I have posted already, it has taken me a bit longer than I intended to post this final part as I wanted to have the time to try and express in words what these images represent to me. You see I am better at taking photos than trying to express in writing how I feel, I wish I was a better writer and be able to express as I type what is in my head, I will try my best, so please bear with me. I mentioned on twitter last week that there was a story associated with this last part, so I think I will start there.
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a control freak at times and I will admit it, this shoot was so important to me but there were several things that I felt, lets just say “out of control” about. I was so thankful for all of the wonderful people involved that I tried to, in my husbands words “micro-manage” every last detail. My biggest fear was turning up on the day and letting someone down as I had not though of one crutial element to bring it all together.
This is where the story I guess starts. As I had not been involved in a shoot like this before I had in my head that I would meet with the dress designer the wonderful Melanie Ford and we would have a try on of the dress/ dresses so I knew all of the other elements that I needed prepare. It didn’t happen like that as Melanie was such a professional at what she does that she didn’t need us to come and try on the dress, I just needed to supply her with the height, and size of the model. I knew it would be totally fabulous but also was not wanting to assume she was bringing other things like jewellery etc.
So having not seen the dress I was trying to work out in my head how I could get everything to coordinate, this is where Stacey my friend and neighbour comes into the picture (and Leila the adorable flower girls mum). You see Stacey got married only six weeks before and we had many a long and involved conversations about weddings and her amazing bouquet came to mind, as it was a neutral colour and would match any dress Melanie selected to bring on the day. I guess that didn’t come out quite right, it wasn’t only that it was neutral, I just knew that Louise from WOW Flowers was the lady I needed to contact to see if she wanted to be a part of this opportunity I had been so gratefully given.
When I walked into Louise’s wonderful shop Worn Out Wares where WOW Flowers is also situated, and while I was waiting for her to come and speak to me the two hat boxes were spied out of the corner of my eye, as well as the little purple umberella that I thought would tie in perfectly. Louise was so positive about being involved from the start, even though she had three weddings, Mother’s Day and donating all of the flowers for the Hunter Medical Research Luncheon that week (I volunteered to take photos at that too). I took a deep breath and asked her if I could borrow the hat boxes and the umbrella for the shoot, they were new stock and she knew they would be an in demand item for Mother’s Day but she let me lend them all the same. I promised her with my hand on my heart that if they were damaged in any way I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase them.
Stacey, who had agreed to come and hang out and help me, Danielle the model and I were so careful with these hat boxes, I had taken a picnic rug out and at each set up we all ensured that they were returned to Louise in the condition we received them. Now you may remember from earlier details that I shared about his shoot the idea to bring Miss Leila along came to me only the day before in the shower of all places. We had been shooting for around an hour and a half maybe when Leila’s Grandma brought her out and she really didn’t want any part of it to start off with. Poor Danielle was fantastic with her, even when there was screaming and throwing herself on the ground tantrums.
As both Stacey and I knew if we tried to force Leila it would only make things worse so we all just kept focusing on Danielle and slowly but surely Leila came around and just started playing and having fun with her new pretty princess friend. Two year olds basically have a mind of their own and we just had to go with what happened, did she want to stand in the direction of the nice light – no she did not. Did she want to do anything I asked her to do – no she did not. That is what was so exciting to me was we just let her decide what she wanted to do and we just went with it. I would loosely give Danielle direction and I am so, so pleased with the images we were able to capture.
This brings us to the beautiful brand new hat boxes, Leila decided she didn’t just want to look at them, she wanted to be just like Danielle and carry them too. The reactions from everyone was a gasp and run towards her to take them off her, remembering how careful we had been for the previous two hours. I could see in the viewfinder of my camera that I loved what was unfolding in front of me and I just went with it. Basically I was almost hyperventilating with excitement as I could see how genuine and real the images seemed to be as we just let the two of them play together. I said let her go I’ll buy the bags I love it, so that is what we did. The moments with the bag falling there is no way that I could have set that up and the genuine reaction of Danielle I am just amazed at what can be captured in a photo. By the way, my mum got one for Mother’s Day and the other is in my studio.
I have spent years photographing children and I think that has stood me in good stead as I gently ease my way into wedding photography. I guess what I am trying to say is I have learned so much from shooting children how to capture moments as they happen and I believe I have learned by experience to carry that through to when I work with adults too. I am also touched and honored that Danielle has had a lady come into her shop and genuinely believed the images were from her own wedding day, as my husband Aaron said well that shows you achieved what you wanted to achieve. She said this woman was so persisent that she was a real bride that Danielle held up her hand and said “I’m only 21″!
If you have read all of this I hope that you get a feel for what I am trying to say and to thank each and everyone of you who have supported me thus far. I am in the process of putting together an online slideshow of the images for Melissa to send to all prospective brides and I am off to the annual photography tradeshow in Melbourne to select a new album to design so that all of the potential brides who come to Ironbark can see them. I would like to thank Melissa, David and the team again for giving me this opportunity. Guess what, I am meeting with a bride this Sunday who is getting married at Ironbark Hill in May next year, she wanted to meet with me after seeing these images and I am very chuffed about it!
Kind Regards
Kristin
xxx
I think this image sums up my photography style…I could not set this up even if I tried!
This one cracks me up… Danielle trying to protect the bags and Leila being determined as all hell to get it off her!!!
