We Dream of Spring
Well hello, hello! I am borrowing that opening from my new favorite Instagram account @clausdalby. We have been in strict lockdown for almost a year here in the Pacific Northwest and a few days ago were hit with about a foot of snow. We rarely get that much snow here so basically everything comes to a standstill until the snow melts.
I have to admit…the last year and frankly the last couple of years my inspiration and creativity for doll photography has been in a holding pattern. I just couldn’t for the life of me find a willingness to create images. That is so unusual for me. I did however, pour myself into different projects ( new landscaping and gardens and conversion of a play space into a home studio/craft space) that syphoned off the creative energy for a bit. As they say…such is life. My hope is that now that the new large projects are completed, I can find joy again in my collection and photographing it.
During this quarantine, I have found so many inspiring images and stories in my daily scroll of Instagram and Flickr. I am amazed every day at the creativity in this world and so thankful for all of those who share images and the comments and dialogue that others join in with. It has created a community in which we all could participate even when we could not visit in person with others.
This morning as I looked out at a landscape of snow and ice, I felt the old familiar stirrings of doll photography creativity and I was spurred to action by an image a friend shared on Instagram. These images came together easily and organically in a short amount of time. I had the miniature cherry blossom branches because I have been trying my hand at making miniature flowers for the past year. It was well past time to put them on camera. Let’s hope I am over my creativity hump and will move back into the blog and doll photos.
Model: Like No Other Nadja by Integrity Toys
Gown and Jacket: M.u.n.l.e on etsy at HOANGANHKHOI
Cherry Blossom Crown and flowers: handmade
Background: Replica Surfaces
Shopping bag: handmade
-Rebecca
Fall Fashion Week
Milan fashion week wrapped up day before yesterday and I was inspired by the Instagram feeds. I posted a photo of an outfit I felt would have worked at Milan fashion week and brought in the colors of the season.
The next step was to find a model to put it on and shoot.
Chanel purse is DollhouseAra on Etsy . Outfit is Barbie Look Urban Jungle.
Many of you may have already figured out that I have started posting preliminary images on Instagram of upcoming outfits or behind the scene things. I am also sharing on Instagram stories. The stories will include some videos of the doll room and new diorama or display items. If you are on Instagram, come and join the fun. Follow me to see the stories.
—Rebecca
Singing in the Rain
Trying to photograph things in natural light in the Pacific Northwest is pretty much a crap shoot even on a good day. Last week, we enjoyed days and days of 90 degree weather and loads of sunshine. This week it’s 62 and what else…rain. I would have shot this last week, if I had had what I wanted to shoot last week. Unfortunately, I didn’t receive the item I wanted to shoot until this week. Here was my perfect location…
Loved the natural texture of this and the green moss that spindled out like vines. But…
It was rather wet.
And not looking like it was going to change any time soon. So what do you do? You change your shoot location and make the best of it. So this is the rain part of the title so where is the singing?
Have you ever had that moment when you dressed a doll in something and it just “sang”? You know what I mean right? It just makes you go “ Oh man…that looks so amazing on her!” I had that happen this week and while my first choice for background did not pan out, I found a couple alternate solutions that worked out just fine. I was still singing even though it was raining.
Model: Out of Sight Nadja
Dress: SL Doll Fashion
Jewelry: Integrity Toys Inc. ( Lash Out Poppy Parker, Perfectly Suited Giselle and As Dusk Falls Eugenia)
Shoes: Bellissima Eugenia
This gown is gorgeous! Very well made and tailored. It arrived quickly and well packaged. Love this vendor on Etsy and have purchased a number of things from them.
-Rebecca
Inside the Fashion Doll Studio 