I got involved because I was inspired. For me my inspiration came from viewing an art exhibit for a couple friends of mine. Most of the artwork in the show was paintings but my friends were showing their prints from a conceptual photo shoot. I had seen photographs in museums but this was the first time seeing them showcased from ‘people like me’. I appreciated the art, the concept, the work, and how the photographs were finished in post processing. They were beautiful. I remember leaving that night knowing that I wanted to do produce art from photographs of my own. These photographs were from my very first conceptual photo shoot and Its been really cool to see the growth from that moment. But perhaps it can inspire you to chase after you dreams.
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| Behind the Scenes shot of Alice in her shrinking room. I constructed it out of a box covered with fabric and filled the bottom space with tulle skirts that I had on hand. By making use of our bamboo floor it cost me all together $0. |
I threw myself into the process of putting together my first conceptual photo shoot entitled ‘Malice in Wonderland’. I wanted to bring forth a fashion photography edge but when confronted with the characters of the White Rabbit and the Cheshire Cat I knew I could not have them appear cheesy. Through my networking as a hairstylist I met a body painter which inspired me to not go over the top with wardrobe for a very well known theme. In the end three of the characters were portrayed nude, two of which in stylized body paint. I enlisted a friend to portray Alice (Veronica from Key to my Tart) and found the rest of my models and my make up artist on the networking site Model Mayhem. I orchestrated the shoots in two parts, shooting half the models one evening and the other during the day. In the end I was ready for the exhibit which landed on Halloween and it sparked a creativity of photo shoots from there during the rest of my time in Hawaii.
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| I shot the portion with the White Rabbit and the Cheshire Cat just as the sun was setting. |
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| Melissa Hurley, make up artist, with models Veronica Daylight and Bess Marie. |
