I’m not sure there was ever a time in my life when I didn’t dream of attending an early-twentieth century garden party. I’ve long been fascinated by tea sandwiches, bloomers, and the delicate simplicity and beauty of a pre-World War I Western-world. So it was with that in mind that I started brainstorming our most recent epic photo adventure. Those of you who’ve been following us for a while may remember our Feast of Fools shoot last October. I was interested in a summer version, more upscale, less ragamuffin, innocent, soft, and with flowers instead of skulls.
The Edwardians

The Edwardians

But there are lots of Edwardian garden party shoots out there, many with very lovely photographs. I didn’t just want lovely. TJ and I usually look for a twist, and when I discovered a 1912 photograph of three formally dressed women sitting on an extravagantly laid out picnic blanket, each holding her own bottle of wine, I knew I had found it. Despite the cold, drizzly day in June that our shoot fell on, we spent hours taking oodles and oodles of photos. I’ve split them up into two posts. Today’s photo installment is the formal portraits from our shoot. They’re lovely, sweet, and calm. Tomorrow’s photos… aren’t those things.
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A note on production- based on our experience from the Feast of Fools shoot, we knew we’d need an amazing team. Shoots like this are not unlike directing a film (albeit a really short film) and there’s only so much TJ and I can handle ourselves- like where to tell people to put their hands, and to twirl in the garden just ONE more time. Luckily I found Charles, who just happens to collect period wardrobe and turned out to be an amazing wardrobe stylist. It was not a small task to put together the equivalent of 16 outfits as well as hats and props and he pulled it off beautifully. Then there was Alexis, who was not only a tremendous help getting the hair and makeup exactly how I wanted it, but actually got things started when TJ and I were running late, which actually made us feel like professionals 🙂 And that’s not even to mention Lex who tracked down a vintage croquet set for under $15, Matthew over a Maggie Inc. for helping me painlessly finish casting, Tyler for running around to gather flowers again, all my amazing models for putting up with the cold (and the weirdness), and Howard for taking many amazing behind-the-scenes photos, which are almost as good as having had the whole day filmed- I can’t wait to shot those off too.

The EdwardiansThe Edwardians

You can check out Part II here.

*****Kayt

Credits:

  • Date: Saturday, June 27, 2015
  • Location: Harkness Memorial State Park, Waterford, CT
  • Photography: Kayt Silvers and TJ Bynes
  • Wardrobe Styling: Charles Rehill
  • Makeup and Hair: Alexis Steeley (Vibrant One Makeup)
  • Production Assistant/Skunk Wrangler: Tyler Haynes
  • Models: Lex Rudy @Orb, Carolyn Paine, Charles Rehill, Corinna Mickanin, Sierra Lanea @Maggie Inc., Winnie Kent @ Maggie Inc., Maggie Skinner @Maggie Inc.