Awhile back, I was at a local shopping center and noticed something I hadn’t really seen before. It wasn’t special, just a small runoff area between two buildings, ground lined with fake cobblestones to guide the water and debris out of the parking lot and behind the shopping center. The thing about being a photographer is that you start to notice little spots like this that could make fun photo settings, and I was intrigued by the stone walls, cobbled ground, and surrounding plants. I wanted to take L out for a photoshoot there before my cruise, but we didn’t have time. However, we were recently in the area for something unrelated and I decided to throw together a shoot last second.

Before leaving home, I grabbed my feathered caplet/pauldron and a woodsy circlet tiara. (And my camera, of course.) Then I stopped at a nearby Michael’s and grabbed a candle and lantern-cage on clearance, and we headed over to the runoff area. A few small props can go a long way in a photoshoot, and the candle matched L’s current hair color perfectly! The runoff area was shaded in the spot we set up, and I got a half-dozen fun photos to work with.

Ironically, I didn’t even use the cobblestone part of the runoff. These ended up being more close-up photos because we only had a partial costume. That just means I can use the same spot later if I wish! We didn’t stay long because it was midday and nearly 100 degrees out already. Way too hot! But L was a good sport about it all.

I wanted to capture a really ephemeral, gossamer vibe to these so I played a lot in post-production to add filmy texture and glow. Loved the way these came out so much!