Concept shoots are fun, and this one proved to be no exception.  Lexie always enjoys time in front of the camera.  Erin Seddon is a makeup artist I recommend frequently, and we wanted to hookup to capture some of her work for various things.  The last part of the equation is Skellington Manor in the District in Rock Island.   They were perfect because I wanted a location out of the box and not seen 400 times.  After a while locations become very “ho-hum” when everyone uses them.

It was magic time.  Everything jelled. The three of us laughed, joked, planned, shot, and suddenly it was almost 3 hours later.

Skellington Manor is the old Masonic Temple in Rock Island. It enjoys a very 1930’s- 1940’s feel to the architecture and the lighting.  Most have not seen the upper floors yet.   There’s a little surprise about to be unveiled in the next few months.   Would you like a little sneak preview?

Remember “Terror In The Woods” ?  Surprise it has moved into town, and it is being set up for Halloween.  It takes months to move, upack, set up, and prepare for the season.  The second and third floor has some surprises.  There is and old theater complete with stage, curtains, and a balcony.  There are hidden rooms, closets full of horrors to be put in place.   Theme party?  Goth wedding?  Mystery theatre night?  This is the place.  I’ve invited myself back to photograph when it is all set up.

Erin in the short time we have known each other has done the makeup for an intimate shoot and several others for Studio D, and booked several of my upcoming weddings.  I am tremendously pleased with how people show up for the shoot looking their absolute best.

Look for more photos on Erin’s site, and of course Lexie will more than likely facebook ‘em!

I am joining together with a makeup artist, florist, and a location to do a concept shoot.   Lighting will already be set for another model who will be very avant garde in appearance.   I am looking for a bride that loves to play dress up and will get back in her dress for the camera.

Dates we are considering are the 27 of june and the 11 of july.   Let me have a shout out if you are interesed.

I’d consider more than one based on your love of being YOU in front of the camera.  You come play, and Studio D will give you images to have and hold and PRINT.

Steve, Andrea, Lexie and I got together 9am the day after their Saturday May 30th weddings.  Back in the gown and the tux.   Andrea wore a bird cage veil, a fascinator, and then added a veil.  For the day after shoot her hair was down.  Day after shoots are a lot more relaxed because the gown is already ready for the cleaners. No worries about getting it dirty at this point.  The couple is alone with the photographers with no schedule to keep, and they are riding the huge wave of love from the day before.

The day of the ceremony her hair was up and beautifully tucked in the bird cage. Five Star Salon did a supurb job.

The classic car arrived from Klimme’s to wisk our bride and groom away in fitting style for our bride.

Flowers were by the very talented Damian of Milan Florists.  Two weeks in a row he’s been the floral designer for weddings we have captured.  Lovey, beautiful, esquiste… and he stays to make his presentation to the bride.

We could go on and on with images, but in the interest of not writing a novel………

Quad Cities Trolly wisked the bridal party to the reception and stayed to shuttle guests

Video was captured By Tom’s Videography (great to see him again)

Black Tie Entertainment provided a beautiful love story they are so famous for, and music flowed beautifully.

There were individual cakes on every table with a beautiful chocolate covered wedding cake from Sweet Perfections.

The groom is in love with Barq’s Root Beer in the bottle.  A pallet was shipped from Louisiana or Mississippi..never did get that story fully.  Every guest got to enjoy a cold Barq Root Beer.

Still deep in processing.  It will be a few days before the wedding goes to the proof site.  The couple left us yesterday to drive to Detroit and leave on their honeymoon with assurances they would not be near a computer until they got back.

Our surprise guest at the reception was the Brandenburgs from Brandenburg photography.  They finished their wedding and came to join the bride’s parents to help celebrate.  Great to see them as well!

Handmade for the party

a bridal fashion show

a sink full of Bud Light

The Home Kid’s

What do all these images have in common.  See below!

Heather, of course!  Saturday she had a double header…….. a shower at noon……. and a batchlorette  party in the evening!   She’s on the downhill side of counting days now!  Their wedding is just around the corner.

Our service had 6 dancers comprise our dance team in performance.  There were hours of rehearsal, and costuming, and lots of extra planning and work.   I brought my cameras for another purpose, but who could pass up an opportunity like this?  Yes, I got good images of the dancers, but the four shown here are what I had a melt down to capture.

I was not motivated to shoot these for approval by others.  The driving passion was I had to shoot them, and then develop them in Photoshop until I could see with my eyes what my heart was seeing.  Risky?  Yeah!  Sometimes projects that start like this end up in a not so appealing outcome.  It wasn’t something to be thought through. It presented itself before me and the camera.

Why is sort of thing even important?  For you, maybe it isn’t important to you.  To me, it releases something in me that keeps creativity alive.  Creativity can grow first stale then die if not fed.

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Just a fun little afternoon shoot session.  Sip a little champagne.  Laugh a little.  Intimate photography always has the individual expressing to me how nervous they were before and how easy it turned out to be.  Today’s mystery lady thought every woman should do it  so they could feel good about their bodies.  She is all set to do a second shoot.

Sorry guys……that is all our Lady of Mystery is willing to make public.  The rest are for her eyes only.

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