I recently wrote an article on Bored Panda about the creation of 2 of my photoshoots re-using some of the same elements and showing some of the process photos of creating the shoot. To check out the full article click here.
Since some of you are already familiar with my work I will just be adding the photos and some brief descriptions!
The model (Elena Balueva) is wearing fantasy armour made entirely out of leather. It has been hand carved, dyed, sealed and buff to a shine using traditional techniques. The Swarovski beads have been all hand sewn on to the leather. The pinwheels in the background compliment the designs on the mask and corset. The makeup artist (Ashley Skrocki) completed makeup that matched the background.
I designed the backdrop to appear like a large head piece when Elena stood in front of it.
The same pinwheels were used in this photo shoot with hair stylist/ model Karly Vedan. The makeup artist (Ashley Skrocki) incorporated various design elements from the pieces into her work.
This string of paper flowers were all individually hand shaped, arrange, and glue together with a "rivet" on top.
Tiny flowers were added to the makeup and a paper flower shawl was made for this "scene."
A different view of the paper shawl with some pins I made to match.
On to some behind the scenes photos, taken with my cell phone, of part of the creation of the pieces the models wore.
The pinwheels before putting them together for the background.
Shaping and gluing together the paper flowers
The final paper pieces (the crown I ended up using for a different shoot)
The larger pinwheel with the hand shaped flowers in the centre.
The mask before it was dyed, painted and had all the beads, stones and feathers added.
We are signed up for Western Canada Fashion Week on March 28th!! Doors open at 7 pm with the show to follow at 8 pm at the Transalta Arts Barn in Edmonton!
For this show we are writing a short story inspired by several Celtic myths we love. Shortly before the show we will share the summery of the story and later this year the full story to go along with all the runway photos. We decided to do this instead of a real collection since many of our pieces are so vastly different from each other. Also because each signature piece we make is usually based on a character we either made up or on a story we wrote that included the character.
Recently, we were published in January’s edition of Gilded magazine out of California. This photo shoot was also based on a short story we wrote.
We were lucky enough to meet a kindred spirit who really understands the stories and inspiration behind our pieces. The photographer (Breanne Marie Photography) captured the story line well through her photos! She has been amazing to collaborate with and you can check out more of her beautiful work here.
We will do a full blog post with the story and all the photos from the shoot soon! But for now below is one that we love of model Jen ferguson.
We are also very fortunate to have my sister, Ashley, as part of our team. We will be creating a line of complementary (to our items) stencils for airbrushing makeup by this summer!!
You can check out Ash's other work on her website http://skrockimakeupartistry.weebly.com
*Ash with model Carra Pischke Photograph by Brenda Lakeman
We were also featured in a local in print and digital magazine, T8N, with a photo essay. This shows never seen before shots of our studio, inspirations, quick drawings and water colour tests of various pieces we make. We asked one of our favourite models Carra Pischke to join us for the shoot! The interview was done by the editor Carmen and the photo essay portion was done by Brenda Lakemen out of St. Albert. For anyone interested in checking out a bit about our studio and a little bit about the makers of all these item T8N Magazine (March edition) is available on their website! For those that live in Edmonton or St. Albert the magazine is at dozens of different locations free of charge for pick up. A full list of available places is located on their website! Here is a link to the feature with the full print version at the bottom
T8N March Issue
Lastly we recently changed the pricing on our website to US dollars to be included on social media like “Pinterest.” This now makes all our items pinable! For our Canadian customers this just means you will see the Canadian amount on your bill. If you want to purchase in Canadian dollars you can also do that through our Etsy shop!
Details to follow soon about other photoshoots and publications!!
This shoot was based on a short story we wrote :) It's only very roughly edited to show the context and the ideas behind the shoot. I included the scene notes to further describe the items we used as well as the through process behind the shoot. The photographer was the fantastic Breanne Marie Photography.
This photographer was all for the crazy ideas we threw at her and added in some ideas of her own to create a truly unique set of photos.
The models were, Carra Pischke, Jen Ferguson and Randy Cusack. With Makeup by Ashley Skrocki Makeup Artistry and hair by Dani White.
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On a cloudless night the stars shone upon a forest through which no light could reach. Pathways once lush and inviting were consumed by branches long and short entwined like lovers against the twilight. Deep within the corridors of winding trees dark secrets aching to be told are disclosed in clandestine meetings by the shadows that keep them. The intones, crisp against empty air, hang in anticipation of the drums beat calling to those who have yet to appear. The circles completion draws nearer and nearer as they amass. Of blood and stone that which must be given is presented in the face of the full moon. Those who assemble beneath its watchful eye gather not for light and though the stars shine, their light is lost amid the branches, and tonight the moon shall turn its back on this forest.
Not far from the gathering there winds a dusty path outstretching its worn fingers through countryside’s and touching the hamlets where those unaware of these nefarious goings on blissfully unwind from the labours’ of the day. But the merriest of all were undoubtedly the traveling companies who setup their temporary quarters at some unexceptional whereabouts along the weaving roadside. Their day had passed in hours of toil hauling belongs, wares, and caravans onwards to a destination only determined upon arrival. When they stopped to await the coming dawn the fires were built against the embers of a slow sinking sun. With the cauldrons bubbling and the fresh game roasting it was song and bottle that beckoned most. But not all would find solace in such illusions and one such young man sought his retreat in the moons mesmerizing face. With little hesitation he blissfully set forth from the comforting nest of his encampment and the fuzzy warmth of friendship, security and ale onto the dusty path.
Along the path he strolled the air was crisp against his face and the silence was unbroken save for even pacing of his own footsteps. Lost in his thoughts on he wandered unaware of the distance he had travelled when a darkened wood consumed his view. The sound of a maiden’s sweet laughter drew the young man from his contemplation and step-by-step he travelled ever deeper into the woods. A glimpse of her cloak, the flash of her hair like smoke stranded against the dark draws him closer still. Her slender hand reaches from the shadows with but one finger out stretched and, as though it were the night itself beckoning, entices him onwards. Each step reveals another piece of her identity. Upon her face a black filigree mask obscures her identity and an intricately detailed ivory cloak with ornate trim wraps around her weaving her to the shadows that hold her. The gold of the ring on her beckoning finger captivates the young man and, as though in an anesthetized trance, he is powerless. So bewitching is her gaze he is oblivious to the rings razor edge against his skin or the body pinned tightly beneath the shroud just steps away. In her other hand she carries a mask with a dark visage and great horns. Those who have gathered in surreptitious amassment remain buried in the shadows but watching carefully the transpiring events. With but one drop of the young mans blood upon the tip of her index finger the transformation has begun. A horned creature, enslaved to that which commands these dark woods, now stands where once an innocent man stood its soulless gaze resting upon the risen goddess. Agape beneath the taunt shroud the mouth seems frozen in time like a marble sarcophagus in a forgotten mausoleum. Yet when the single drop of innocence is passed from bent fingertip a gasp can be heard like rustling leaves caught in the forests throat. Slowly beneath the shroud the body stirs as if reanimated from a state fit for the grave she moves again. There in the forest, behind the back of the moon, where the stars light cannot reach, stands a goddess of ancient will, at one side her noble sacrifice no more than a husk as he is, and at the other a body returned from the grasp of death. And from every shadow there appears another set of horns, another set of deep black eyes peering, their numbers are innumerable filling the night. Like a butterfly emerging from the hollows of the mortuary the shroud slips form her as she rises. In the eyes of the goddess the gold of her adornments shimmer. At her foot there lies a great horned mask its empty eyes starring back at the stars.
The End
The scene notes show roughly what items the models would be wearing, what the models might be doing.
Scene one: shows model in cape with filigree mask and Swarovski crystal cuff. Raising one finger to beckon the traveller. Black mask. Large armour ring. The woman is wearing a large skirt. Cape is golden or ivory with black trim.
Scene two: shows man and woman- no mask on the female model. She is tracing her finger with the ring down the front of he chest. Leaving a small drop of blood. He is holding the demon mask. He is wearing a cape with a large axe pendant.
(Various edits below) Breanne thoughts of smoke bombs, which worked amazingly with the sort of fairy tale shoot. I love the black and white version as well. This reminded me of a old fairy tale that would have been filmed in the 70s. The smoke from the bombs changed so rapidly, with the far right picture making it seem like the smoke is coming from the models hand.
Scene three: shows the woman now in large mask/with large skull necklace with drop of blood on her finger holding it over to silhouette on the table. No cape in this image. Cathedral cuffs.
A incredible image by Breanne Marie Photography with fantastic editing.
Scene four:
The woman on the table has the cloth sucked into her mouth like she is breathing air in. the man in the mask is faintly seen in the background. Large dragon cuffs with onyx. Horned mask, black filigree shoulder armour. Cape with trim. Potentially it is showing her rising from the table with the clothed still draped over her in the back ground there is multiple demon masked wearing men cloak off to show accessories underneath. Skull belt on male model .
Behind the scene shot with Tanner. This even makes it look more like some vintage film. On the right side you see the hair artist Dani White.
You can see the model Randy transformed. I love the shots Breanne Marie Photography did of Randy.
Totally surreal shot!!!!
Picture 5: solo pic of woman. shows the woman from under the blanket wearing the larger Phaedra set (large statement axe set, cuffs, belt, earrings). Shorter stone bodice/corset. There is the mask by her feet.
the blue smoke only adds to magic of the overall shoot.
Alternative edit by Breanne Marie Photography.
To see other photos done by Breanne Marie Photography please check out her website here.