DIY Victorian-era Photo Session in the High Desert
The strange and peculiar.
This blog post is the groundbreaker. Ground zero. Everyone has to start somewhere, right? So, why not start with a fun Gothic Victorian-era-inspired photo sesh?
I was given a dozen backdrops that were dated, and I didn’t want to toss them, so I gave one a little DIY update. As I was in the midst of the spray paint process, I came up with a fun styled session idea.
Outdoor gothic meets Victorian-era photos, here we come!
My favorite way to update something is usually a good ole can of spray paint. I went to the shed and grabbed different colors for mixing.
I needed to cover a white and grey chevron pattern. Ahh, the mid-2000s style. Backdrops are pricey, so I wanted to repurpose this one, and the result came out pretty perfect.
I had my model do some smudgy makeup and put on a Halloween costume. Luckily, she brought some fun props too. Black lacey umbrella? Yes, please!
If you’d like to watch the spray paint process, you can watch my Instagram reel here. It was quick and painless. I used rocks to hold the backdrop down and help flatten it.
I sprayed the different colors, layering them, and added texture spray paint at the end. You can still see the chevron print in a few areas, but I’m not bothered by it. It adds extra interest.
Hello darkness, my old friend...
I let the paint dry for 24hrs, then the next day, I set up a Victorian-style “living room”. I used a tiny vintage chair, two oval picture frames, a candle, a birdcage, and of course a doiley to cover the makeshift side table. If you click the link above, you can watch me set it up.
I chose a shaded spot underneath a huge tree. Normally, I don’t love dappled light, but it worked for these images. I was very happy with the turnout and so was my model. Yay!!
Sorry mummy, I had to set the bird free.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes reel of me taking her photos. She had fun and we couldn’t stop laughing. There’s never anything serious happening when I’m behind the camera.
Okay, make a serious face. "I can't!"
Want a little help on deciding what to wear?
Curious about other photos? Click here for my portfolio.
This was such a fun impromptu session. And the images came out beautifully.
The photo session was fun, even though the frames kept falling, the wind tried to take us out a couple of times, and the sun was blinding the model through the tree leaves.
She wanted one printed on metal, and it’s my absolute favorite!
Do you love a DIY photo session? What other props would you have liked to see or use?
If you want to schedule a Gothic or Victorian-era photo session with me, I’d love to create some eerie images with you. Click the link below and let’s chat!
Cheers,
Annette
