As the saying goes, there’s no ‘I’ in team, and that was certainly true of this shoot. I had the pleasure of working with a group of talented, creative people, turning a personal project into something a bit special. Between us there were designers, a florist, a model, a makeup artist and a local shop, each bringing their own skills to a shoot that grew well beyond what I first pictured.
The Idea Behind the Shoot
The shoot started as a small personal project and grew as more people joined. Martin from Martin Dobson Couture and I wanted to make something different, something that would stand out. Martin was keen to design a dress specifically for the shoot, which gave us the perfect foundation for the theme.
I knew Liz from The Southwold Flower Company, a local florist who specialises in wedding flowers and bouquets, would be keen to take part, so we put a plan together. The idea was a whimsical, fairytale scene, full of rustic, autumnal touches with a bit of elegance. Working with creative people like this always brings a certain energy, and this shoot was no exception. We all had a good time, and you could feel it as everyone pulled together.
Building the Set
The set mattered a great deal to the whimsical, rustic feel we were after. Liz and her husband Roger built it in a barn on the outskirts of Southwold, which made the perfect backdrop. The barn’s rustic character was helped along by shutters and doors from the-barn.co, a local shop known for its vintage and artisan homewares. Those pieces added the final touches that brought the set to life.
The set wasn’t just a backdrop; it became part of the story. The wooden elements and floral decorations made a scene that felt both grounded and slightly otherworldly, exactly right for the fairytale theme.
The Dress and Floral Design
Our model, Eliza Mobbs, is Liz’s daughter and a natural fit for the shoot. Her poise made photographing her a pleasure. Eliza wore a blush pink dress, custom-designed by Martin Dobson, its flowing lines and delicate details suiting the theme.
Liz’s work went well beyond flowers; she built a whole floral world. She made a woodland-themed bouquet along with arrangements across the set, all of which brought a romantic, elegant note to the scene. The flowers weren’t just decoration, they were part of the story we were telling in the images.
The Finishing Touches
No fairytale is complete without the right finishing touches. Our makeup artist, Kirsty Woolnough, created a look that was both simple and a little mystical, with a loose, curly updo for Eliza that suited the mood. Her makeup was subtle but effective, drawing out Eliza’s natural looks and fitting the theme.
To finish the look, Eliza wore a tiara designed by Wisheart Tiara Design, adding a regal touch, while custom necklaces by Sue Stud of The Magic of Fireflies and Dragonflies added just enough sparkle.
Creating the Fairytale Atmosphere
To push the mood further, I used smoke during parts of the shoot. It added mystery, wrapping Eliza and the set in a soft haze and lifting the storybook quality we were chasing, so the images feel almost lifted from a fairytale.
Set, dress, flowers, accessories and smoke came together into something I’m really pleased with. Each part played its role in building the whimsical, autumnal world we’d imagined.
Behind the Scenes
The final images tell one part of the story; the process behind them is just as interesting. From the first conversations to the day itself, every step was a shared effort. Watching so many creative people bring one idea to life was hugely rewarding, and it’s always a pleasure to work with people as passionate about their craft as I am.
If you’d like a closer look at what went on, I’ve put a behind-the-scenes video on my YouTube page, and you’ll find more of my work across the site.
Conclusion: A Successful Collaboration
This shoot showed what’s possible when creative people come together around one idea. Working with Martin Dobson Couture, The Southwold Flower Company and everyone else involved led to something I’m proud of, and a project I thoroughly enjoyed.
If you’re a creative professional or a business looking to collaborate on something similar, I’d love to hear from you. You can also see more of my commercial photography. Working with like-minded people is always a pleasure, and I’m always open to new ideas.
For any enquiries or to talk through a collaboration, please get in touch.
Sources:
