Wayfinder Photographer Collective: Modern Vintage Styled Shoot

Savannah Carlson, model

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."

Leonardo Da Vinci

An antique writing desk, an old steam trunk, antique books and more made Modern Vintage the second and latest styled shoot and mini workshop for photographers I've ever hosted. The event is called Wayfinder Photographer Collective, and I'm trying to host an event once every 1-2 months.

Promotional video created by Kelsee Boyer at KBoyer Film & Photography

Mini Workshops
A completely optional and totally informal experience to learn the nitty gritty of topics like how to direct subjects into the poses you need and how to create the kind of light you want. The workshop is less a presentation and more of an interactive conversation designed for participants to learn just as much from as each other as they can from just myself. The workshop lasts 15-20 minutes unless the topic is more complex, such as learning off-camera flash (coming next!).

Styled Shoots
Pairing a styled shoot with a workshop offers two huge benefits:

1. Immediate opportunity to practice the topic discussed, and
2. High production value imagery for your portfolio.

I'll post an article about how to use that imagery to invite future potential clients, but for now I just want to share the fresh air that these beautiful subjects bring. 

If you're a photographer and want to participate in our upcoming styled shoots (and mini workshops!) this summer, come join my Facebook group!

Wayfinder Photographer Collective
Website
Facebook Group

Credits

Social media handles shown for Instagram

Models:

Madi Beckstead @madib_23

Savannah Carlson @_s.car_model

Kelsie Edwards @kelsiemarietaylor

Hairstylist: Kelsie Edwards @kelsiemarietaylor

Wardrobe: Dress Collective @dresscollective

Venue: Eleve Event Center @eleveeventcenter

Stylists: Wendy Hurst @wendyhurstportrait and Ashley Gardner @gardnerhousephotography

Production: Wayfinder Photographer Collective @hello_wayfinder

All portraits in this article photographed by Wendy Hurst Portrait.

Madi Beckstead, model

Aren't these victory curls by Kelsie Taylor GORGEOUS?
I made the bracelet by sewing a piece of real vintage fabric to a strip of lace
and then hand-sewed the buttons over the center stitches.
It goes on by tying it around the wrist and tucking in the ends (optional).

Kelsie Taylor, model

Behind the Scenes

Wardrobe
Dress Collective is a dress rental business, which means that these gorgeous gowns get worn many times over. Mild wear and tear is natural and can be easily hidden or disguised when wearing it around town, but it doesn't photograph very well. This is where my professional seamstress skills had an unexpected opportunity to shine. While or HMUA Kelsie Edwards was finishing up with each model's hair (including her own!), I was busy carefully snipping stray threads, reattaching ribbons and sequins, and repairing an exposed and fraying seam.

Lighting
The cloudy day diffused the sunlight through the large windows. That works really well when you're within a few feet of the window but the diffusion diminishes the distance the light can travel into the room. Working with three different models simultaneously meant we were scattered around the room, which sometimes meant working in a darker space. This is where off-camera flash helped me out.

I chose a single light in a 43-inch octa softbox umbrella and moved it around wherever I went. In the brighter areas I used it to fill in shadows to give more balance, and in the darker areas I used it as a main light. That might sound complicated but it was kind of fun using all my light knowledge in varying degrees at once. Probably because I'm just a nerd with an affinity for portability.

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Remember, if you're a photographer and want to participate in our upcoming styled shoots (and mini workshops) this summer, come join my Facebook group!

Wayfinder Photographer Collective
Website
Facebook Group