The Runaways
We have an awesome shoot for you today, inspired by The Killers, Route 66 and Arizona…quite literally some of our favourite things! The colours, the detail and the models are all just completely stunning…and definitely bring a gorgeous tribute to the Arizona desert to Essex, UK.
Caroline, the photographer, explains her reasoning behind the shoot, and why it was important to utilise the references she did…
“A few years ago, driving through the Arizona desert on Route 66, a shoot idea began to form in my head. It was largely inspired by The Killer’s song ‘Runaways’: I pictured newly-weds driving out into the sunset across the desert, ready to start a new adventure together. I’ve always loved tribal and native American influences and these drove the style for the shoot. I really wanted to create a feeling of an exciting, nomadic fresh start and a couple ready for their next free spirited adventure.” Caroline
The Venue
Caroline held the shoot at the Barns at Lodge Farm; a venue local to her in the Essex countryside. It’s rare you find somewhere local, sustainable and so beautiful with all the rustic vibes and an awesome blank canvas to create exactly what you want…
“Obviously being in the UK and not the desert, we drew in some english influences from the location. With the combination of rustic barns, industrial style grain stores and hay stacks, Lodge Farm kept the original influences while adding an interesting range of backdrops.” Caroline
Amy from Anthology Vintage Hire did an incredible job of bringing Caroline’s ideas to life. She sourced an amazing collection of tribal soft furnishings, a low dining table setup and beautiful ceremony area with a wooden arch and peacock chairs. Vanderhume and Bohotanical also added some finishing touches, such as the handmade hanging on the arch (Vanderhume) and a huge macrame hanging as a backdrop (Bohotanical).
Flowers
“For this shoot I really wanted to use sustainable suppliers and Bohotanical was the perfect choice. With her range of faux flowers we could create the perfect florals whilst not needing any new stock. We opted for dried flowers and pampas to add interesting texture. Pampas are so versatile and blended in with the colour palette in such a beautiful way.” Caroline
Models & Hair/Makeup
Caroline had worked with Katie before and knew her look would be perfect for this shoot. Katie brought along her friend Claire to shoot with.
“I absolutely love when friends model together as it means you get real connection and joy in the photos. I am in love with the fierce, feminist vibes from our models.” Caroline
Lauren Siddons was on hand for hair & makeup – she was so enthusiastic about the shoot and came up with super creative looks for both the models. We absolutely adore the way she styled Claire’s hair with braids and hoops – it looks so fierce and unique. For Katie, Lauren opted for dark, smoky makeup to work alongside her hat and accessories, whereas Claire’s was a more subtle look to go with her eye catching hair and large earrings by Vanderhume.
Aneberry Bridal provided two incredible dresses for this shoot. Caroline opted for two different styles: Claire wore an effortless and elegant dress with a short train, while Katie wore a bohemian lace dress. We love the slit at the front and little lace details around the shoulders and chest.
Finishing Touches
Wonderland Invites was Caroline’s only choice for this shoot. Jenna created a bespoke suite of stationery with a rusty colour palette, tassels, dreamcatchers and tribal skulls, perfectly in keeping with the tone of the day.
Keeping with the sustainable requirements, Cakes and Leaves provided a vegan three tier lemon and poppy seed cake which went down a treat with the team! We absolutely love the shots at the dining area cutting in to the cake – it’s a rarity to see.
Caroline stumbled across Denim & Bone on Instagram a few months ago and approached the team there straight away about featuring a jacket. Inspired by her travels, Denim & Bone’s jackets stand out as boho treasures evoking a wild and fearless feeling. Her ‘Formally Wild’ leather sat so beautifully with the overall vibe of the shoot and complimented the other bridal accessories wonderfully.
The Car
The whole premise of this shoot centered on a road trip. To add the English flare, Buttercup Bus took part with beautiful Pushka the Camper! The 1972 babe was the perfect colour fit and totally brought the adventurous and nomadic side to the concept.
Supplier Love