May 12, 2016

The Tess Series

Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes of a fashion shoot….lots! Hauling of props and equipment, coordinating schedules, freezing cold weather, treats for animals, bugs, unknown interruptions….

Like with anything else, it’s work. And when the stars align, there’s magic!

The Tess Series started with a casual conversation about fashion blogging with Tess Ergen, fashion blogger of The Basic Bee. We later teamed up with Diana Sandoval of Capture Salon & Studios to create a series of images that tantalize the imagination and remind us of times or no time at all.

Wolfhound shoot behind the scenes with Diana at Capture Salon & Studios — Wolfhound shoot behind the scenes with Tess from the Basic Bee Fashion Blog & Diana at Capture Salon & Studios

Clothing: KMK Designs Location: Outing Lodge, Stillwater Minnesota Model: The Basic Bee

Animals are a key element and important emotive

Tess has a sensitive body awareness hence creates unique forms — Tess has a sensitized body awareness which creates unique forms

Hair & Make-up by Capture Salon Location: Gateway Trail, Stillwater Minnesota Model: The Basic Bee

Location: Capture Salon Loft, Stillwater Minnesota Clothing, Hair & Make-up also by Capture Salon Model: The Basic Bee

Tess of the Basic Bee in KMK Designs at Capture Salon Loft

Location at Capture Salon Loft, Stillwater Minnesota

Model: The Basic Bee, Clothing by KMK Designs, at Capture Salon Loft, Stillwater

Hair & Make-up: Capture Salon & Studios Location: St. Croix River, Hudson Wisconsin with Scarlet Tanager

We froze our arses off especially Tess in this scanty arrangement.

On the shores of the St. Croix, Hudson, Wisconsin in January — On the shores of the St. Croix River, Hudson, Wisconsin in January

Diana working her magic on Tess at Capture Salon & Studios

Tess getting warmed up for the camera at Barely Brothers Record Store

Fall at Fairy Falls, Stillwater Minnesota

Location: Fairy Falls, Stillwater Minnesota with Snowy Owl

September Light, Brown's Creek Park — September Light, Brown’s Creek Park

Muskrat Farm, Stillwater Minnesota October — Muskrat Farm, Stillwater Minnesota in October

Muskrat Farm, Stillwater Minnesota August — Muskrat Farm, Stillwater Minnesota in August

Tools of the trade are key. Tess, fashion blogger with the Basic Bee, spent days sourcing clothing for these shoots, and Diana’s creative prowess added a welcome element that pushed the look to another level. Thanks to KMK Designs for clothing in the loft and wolfhound shoots. When working with animals, be patient, calm and sensitive to their feelings and needs.

Photography Notes: Canon Digital SLR with mostly a shallow focus and natural light always.

Photography Tip: I discovered a great company that provides custom USB drives, USB Memory Direct. Quick turnaround, top notch customer service, and quality USB’s. I especially like the wooden drives which add a special dimension for wedding and portrait images to archive for a lifetime.

USBdrivedirect.com makes reliable and attractive USB's — www.usbmemorydirect.com makes reliable and attractive USB drives

See more of Laurie Schneider’s work at www.laurieschneider.com and wedding portfolio at www.lschneider.com

Laurie has been producing award-winning images for 25 years. Her background is in photojournalism, portraiture and fine art. She specializes in assignment and special project work that involves story development, animals, people, weddings, events and farm to table.

She received the Minnesota State Arts Board Artists Alliance award twice for documentary photography. The highly competitive award nurtures artistic creativity and recognizes contributions artists make to the state of Minnesota, made possible by the voters of Minnesota through the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

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